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.
WELP
The problem with air travel is not the massive crowds or lack of leg room for tall people like myself. No, it’s the fact that getting to your destination on time is ultimately out of your hands.
After my original flight from Columbus to San Antonio was delayed — thus would have resulted in a missed connection in Dallas — American Airlines rerouted me through Chicago with the promise that I’d be on the Riverwalk by midnight.
That didn’t happen.
Instead, I spent the night at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport waiting for a flight that wouldn’t put me in San Antonio until well after today’s U.S. Army All-American Bowl practices and subsequent media availability.
I’m happy to report I’ve arrived in San Antonio this evening albeit more than 24 hours after I left the comfort of my own home, and look forward to making the most of the next four days in terms of our coverage of the event.
MEANWHILE AT THE ALAMODOME
With that said, practice for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl continued on Tuesday morning with the East and West coming together for the first time ahead of Saturday’s game.
Of course, several Ohio State commits stood out, including four-star defensive back Tyreke Johnson, who laid the boom for the second day in a row. He's also been extremely physical in one-on-one drills against wide receivers, showing every bit of the confidence that made him one of the country's most sought-after defensive backs.
Five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent was a handful for opposing linemen, as well. Between him, JUCO transfer Antwuan Jackson and four-star Tommy Togiai, it’s clear defensive tackle is the position of strength for the Buckeyes in this year’s class.
Four-star Dallas Gant showed why every Big Ten power wanted to add his signature with several pressures on the quarterback from the outside linebacker position. If it were live, this play would have ended in a sack. Instead, pulling up in a practice rep allowed future teammate and five-star tight end Jeremy Ruckert to haul in a touchdown pass.
I’ll be on scene at the Grant Hyatt tomorrow morning for media interviews, which will be followed by the Army All-American Challenge later in the evening. Though there’s no set itinerary, last year’s event included push up, sit up and hot dog eating competitions.
TRY AGAIN LATER
Distance has made it tough for Allen, Texas, four-star quarterback Grant Tisdale to make it to Columbus as much as he’d like, so he hoped to attend one of Ohio State’s practices leading up to the Cotton Bowl against USC instead.
AT&T Stadium, where the Buckeyes practiced and played last week, is — after all — roughly 45 minutes away from his hometown. However, that trip didn’t happen either.
“I was not able to make it out there,” Tisdale told Eleven Warriors. “I really was [looking forward to it].”
The 6-foot-1, 204-pound Tisdale is considered the sixth-best dual-threat quarterback and No. 213 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he threw for 2,100 yards and 30 touchdowns rushed 1,090 yards and 15 scores to lead Allen to its fifth state title in school history this season — and that was despite usually playing roughly two and a half quarters per game as the Eagles blew out most opponents.
Even if he would have made it to Arlington, the college football recruiting dead period meant Tisdale wouldn’t have been able to speak with the coaching staff and he would have been forced to watch practice from the stands instead. So with juniors now able to take official visits in April, I anticipate we’ll see Tisdale back in Columbus sooner rather than later.
“I’m trying to plan a trip up there sometime soon,” he said.
Ohio State offered Tisdale a scholarship last May, and he made his first and only trip north for a one-day camp just one month later. He holds more than a dozen offers from programs such as Baylor, Houston, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas Tech, but the Buckeyes are considered the favorite in his recruitment and should make a push for his pledge whenever that visit happens.
