The Hurry Up: Four-Star Linebacker Payton Wilson Reopens Recruitment While Defensive End Target Jayson Oweh Among Visitors For The Game

A SECOND CHANCE

When Hillsborough, North Carolina, Orange four-star linebacker Payton Wilson opted to stay home and commit to the Tar Heels in early May, he cited proximity as one of the main factors in his decision.

Who could blame him? After all, North Carolina was only a year removed from a berth in the ACC Championship Game and looked to be building an annual contender under head coach Larry Fedora.

The Tar Heels have struggled mightily this season, posting a 3-8 record, and the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Wilson started to look around as a result. He took an official visit to rival North Carolina State earlier this month and visited Notre Dame last weekend, which prompted speculation of a potential flip and ultimately led to his decommitment on Wednesday afternoon.

Please respect my decision! pic.twitter.com/CV8oS64VyI

— Payton Wilson (@payton_wilson21) November 22, 2017

The Fighting Irish and Wolfpack are now, naturally, the favorites to land his pledge before or during the Early Signing Period on Dec. 20-22.

Wilson, who is among the finalists for the U.S. Army All-American Player of the Year, announced during his honorary jersey ceremony earlier this month he plans to take an official visit to Ohio State following the season. His first and only trip to Columbus occurred back in April, shortly after which he included the Buckeyes in his Top 4 alongside Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia Tech. 

Ohio State already holds commitments from four-star linebackers Teradja Mitchell, Dallas Gant and K’Vaughan Pope, so the position is not necessarily one of great need. However, the staff continues to court USC five-star Commit Palaie Gaoteote and California four-star Solomon Tuliaupupu, and would gladly accept their pledge at any time. 

With senior Chris Worley and junior linebacker Jerome Baker likely heading to the National Football League after the season, I’d imagine you could include Wilson in that group, too. 

DISTANCE HAS BEEN AN OBSTACLE 

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it gives me the chance to spend time with family I don’t see often and eat massive amounts of turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, macaroni and cheese and apple pie without feeling guilty. 

For Saint Simons Island, Georgia, Frederica Academy four-star athlete Jaylin Simpson, it represented the perfect opportunity to narrow his list of more than a dozen offers to five — Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Miami and Ohio State. 

T H A N K F U L && S/O my boy @MWTEditing for the edit pic.twitter.com/yfx6mwISlR

— Jaylin Simpson (@jaylinsimp) November 23, 2017

The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Simpson is considered the 16th-best athlete and No. 195 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he threw for 673 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 679 yards and eight touchdowns from the quarterback position this fall. He also has nine career interceptions for the Knights as a defensive back, stuff is where the Buckeyes are recruiting him.

Simpson and his teammate, four-star junior wide receiver Ja’shawn Sheffield made their way to Columbus for the first time for last year’s blowout win over Nebraska and have been eyeing a return trip ever since. The hoped to attend a game this fall, but their schedule did not allow it. 

Head coach Urban Meyer and quarterbacks coach and area recruiter Ryan Day have done a great job keeping in contact despite that, with the former notably FaceTiming Simpson and Sheffield earlier this fall. 

It’s paid off so far, but I’d wager it won’t be enough to secure a commitment from either of them. That means an official visit this spring — yes, juniors will now be able to take early official visits in conjunction with the aforementioned Early Signing Period — will be crucial. 

A LOT RIDING ON THIS ONE

Last season, Ohio State traveled to Oklahoma and put a beat down on the Sooners with top-rated cornerback target Jeffrey Okudah in attendance. He was already high on the Buckeyes, but the opportunity to see them win on the road in a hostile environment surely helped them land his pledge only a few short months later.

The staff is in a similar situation as Ohio State travels to Michigan tomorrow, as New Jersey four-star defensive end and Florida four-star offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere will be among the dozens of recruits set to attend the 114th edition of The Game. 

Now I’ve said several times how neither a single win nor a single loss will ever be the sole reason a prospect chooses to commit to or decommit from a program. But there’s no denying it can influence the way a prospect thinks moving forward.

Take Oweh, for example. He’s repeatedly talked about his desires to play for a staff that will be patient with him as he develops on and off the field, which means his relationship with the head coach and defensive line coach will likely be the ultimate factor in his looming Jan. 4 decision. 

But, on the other hand, Oweh wants to play for a winner. He’s acknowledged a subpar season from any of his top schools would have made him look in another direction entirely. 

So after months of Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State leading the pack, here comes Michigan with a chance to impress against its biggest rival — and seemingly biggest competition for Oweh. That means the Buckeyes must respond in kind by winning big, weakening the atmosphere and ending all hopes of the Wolverines stealing their top target at a position of great need.

Should be a good game.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS 

Before they tune into The Game tomorrow, several Ohio State commits will hit the gridiron for what may be the final time in their respective high school careers as the state finals draw closer each week.

The group of future Buckeyes are looking to go undefeated for the second weekend in a row, but there’s no denying tonight’s slate night present a challenge.

The full schedule:

*Playoffs

As always, stay tuned to Eleven Warriors on Sunday morning for the Supreme '18 Tracker, which will recap the weekend's events.