The Hurry Up is your nightly dose of updates from the Ohio State football recruiting trail, keeping tabs on the latest from commits and targets from around the country.
TEXODUS
As it continues to comb the country in search of the next member of Supreme '18, Ohio State extended a scholarship offer on Wednesday night to Cypress, Texas, Cy Springs four-star safety Leon O'Neal Jr.
More Than Blessed To Receive An Offer From Ohio State University #GoBucks #WAKEEMUP pic.twitter.com/FB86h0zn27
— LeonNumbaNine#9 (@WakeEmUp9) February 8, 2017
“[I'm] absolutely blessed with the opportunity,” O'Neal Jr. told Eleven Warriors. “It's just one of those dream schools everybody wants. I'm blessed to get this offer.”
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound O'Neal Jr. is considered the 17th-best safety and No. 166 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds nearly 20 offers from programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and UCLA.
O'Neal Jr. recorded a team-high 86 tackles and two interceptions, though the Panthers finished a disappointing 3-7 last season. He hopes to make his first trip to campus soon.
TRENDING UP
Would you believe me if I told you Ohio State's 2018 recruiting class could be even better than this year's second-ranked haul?
While it's far from finished, the Buckeyes are off to a great start with five-star quarterback Emory Jones, four-star safety Jaiden Woodbey and four-star running back Brian Snead already in the fold, each of whom was considered among the Top 5 players at their position in 247Sports' first post-signing day ratings update.
Jones comes in at No. 21 overall, while Woodbey and Snead sit at No. 60 and No. 86 overall, respectively. Ohio State also remains in pursuit of — and has a legitimate shot at landing — the following Top 100 prospects:
- No. 3 – Laurinburg, North Carolina, Scotland County five-star running back Zamir White
- No. 4 – Houston, Texas, Lamar five-star cornerback Anthony Cook
- No. 5 – Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman five-star linebacker Palaie Gaoteote
- No. 6 – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, five-star defensive end Micah Parsons
- No. 8 – Angleton, Texas, four-star safety B.J. Foster
- No. 9 – Atlanta, Georgia, Pace Academy four-star offensive guard Jamaree Salyer
- No. 11 – Los Angeles, California, Hawkins four-star wide receiver Jalen Hall
- No. 13 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida, American Heritage four-star cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr.
- No. 16 – Fairfield four-star offensive tackle Jackson Carman
- No. 17 – Owasso, Oklahoma, four-star safety Josh Proctor
- No. 19 – Bradenton, Florida, four-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent
- No. 22 – St. Louis, Missouri, Christian Brothers College four-star wide receiver Kamryn Babb
- No. 26 – Toledo St. John's Jesuit four-star linebacker Dallas Gant
- No. 32 – Lindenhurst, New York, four-star tight end Jeremy Ruckert
- No. 33 – Hillsborough, North Carolina, four-star linebacker Payton Wilson
- No. 37 – Clemmons, North Carolina, West Forsyth four-star defensive end K.J. Henry
- No. 38 – Westerville South four-star running back Jaelen Gill
- No. 39 – Santa Ana, California, Mater Dei four-star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown
- No. 42 – Stockbridge, Georgia, four-star defensive end Brenton Cox
- No. 44 – Houston, Texas, Alief Taylor four-star wide receiver Brennan Eagles
- No. 47 – Claremont, California, four-star linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu
- No. 48 – Tampa, Florida, Cambridge Christian four-star offensive tackle Richard Gouraige
- No. 49 – St. Louis, Missouri, Parkway North four-star defensive tackle Michael Thompson
- No. 50 – Virginia Beach, Virginia, Bishop Sullivan four-star linebacker Teradja Mitchell
- No. 52 – Hyattsville, Maryland, DeMatha Catholic four-star defensive tackle Austin Fontaine
- No. 53 – Owings Mills, Maryland, McDonogh four-star defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher
- No. 55 – Springfield four-star tight end/defensive tackle Leonard Taylor
- No. 56 – Jacksonville, Florida, Trinity Christian four-star safety Tyreke Johnson
- No. 59 – Cypress, Texas, Cy Springs four-star safety Leon O'Neal Jr.
- No. 70 – Snellville, Georgia, Brookwood four-star wide receiver Matthew Hill
- No. 72 – Norcross, Georgia, Greater Atlanta Christian four-star athlete Kyler McMichael
- No. 79 – Concord, North Carolina, four-star defensive tackle Rick Sandidge
- No. 81 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida, St. Thomas Aquinas four-star cornerback Al Blades Jr.
- No. 83 – IMG Academy four-star running back T.J. Pledger
- No. 84 – IMG Academy four-star cornerback Brendan Radley-Hiles
- No. 92 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Imhotep four-star safety Isheem Young
- No. 93 – Marietta, Georgia, Lassiter, four-star Derrik Allen
- No. 98 – Katy, Texas, Taylor four-star defensive end Max Wright
- No. 99 – Lakeland, Florida, four-star offensive guard Cleveland Reed
- No. 100 – IMG Academy four-star wide receiver Brian Hightower
TOO GOOD TO PASS UP
Though he held scholarship offers from several FCS schools, Lakewood St. Edward's outside linebacker Kevin Dever accepted a preferred walk-on opportunity at Ohio State.
Excited to be continuing my athletic and academic careers at The Ohio State University! #GoBuckeyes #9Strong pic.twitter.com/4JXjz4arsR
— Kevin Dever (@kdev22_) February 3, 2017
“Going to Ohio State has always been a dream of mine since I was a little kid,” Dever told Eleven Warriors. “Being from Ohio, me and my family would watch the games and go down to Columbus as much as possible, so to actually be able to be a part of something like this is an indescribable feeling.”
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Dever recorded 136 tackles, two interceptions, two tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and one defensive touchdown to help the Eagles to the regional finals this season. He was set to choose between walk-on offers at Miami (Ohio) and Ohio University and scholarship offers from Fordham, Lehigh and Youngstown State until Ohio State came calling two weeks ago.
“After the visit, I really fell in love with everything that was going on down there,” Dever said. “The energy was so positive and intense. Everything just felt right to me. I felt this was an opportunity I couldn't pass up, and going to the school and being a part of the football team will develop me into the best possible and most successful man I can become, [which is] something I didn't see in some other schools. I want to be around successful people and be around the best, and that's what Ohio State is. I think what is going on in Columbus is special, and I'm really excited to be apart of it and to get started.”
Of course, Dever's goal is to one day earn a scholarship. But he said his mental toughness and physically will set him apart from the other walk-ons.
“I feel they see a lot of potential in me both on and off the field, and I'm grateful for that,” Dever said. “I couldn't be more thankful.”
DA U
Though he once included Ohio State in his Top 5, Orange City, Florida, five-star running back Lorenzo Lingard committed to Miami on Thursday evening.
I would like to think everyone around me that has made this possible and I'm to excited about making a commitment to The Ucan't wait pic.twitter.com/dZ0BkyMuFv
— Lorenzo Lingard (@d1champ99) February 9, 2017
The 6-foot, 180-pound Lingard took an unofficial visit to Columbus for last year's win over Michigan, but distance always seemed like it would be an issue compared to his other top schools. He casually dropped by Miami for an unofficial visit on Wednesday and made the call shortly thereafter.
Nevertheless, the Buckeyes are among the favorites to land the aforementioned Gill and/or White to pair with Snead.
