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.
A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION
Responding to the changes in legislation that brought on an Early Signing Period in college football, Ohio State sent out a flurry of offers in late January and into early February to prospects all over the country. One of them went to Charlotte Providence Day School four-star defensive end Jacolbe Cowan.
Blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University!!! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/xP4gNZ3V6v
— J C 12 (@JacolbeCowan12) January 30, 2018
“Ohio State is a very prestigious university and is well known for having one of the top football programs [in the country], therefore, receiving an offer from The Ohio State University really meant a lot,” Cowan told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Cowan is considered the third-best strong-side defensive end and No. 37 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, as he recorded 87 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries, three takeaways and two forced fumbles for the Chargers last season. He holds more than two dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Penn State, South Carolina and Tennessee, but few meant as much as the one from Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer.
“I think my size, quickness off the ball and physical style of play stood out [to him] the most,” Cowan said.
Meyer also extended scholarship offers that week to a pair of Cowan’s teammates, four-star linebacker Osita Ekwonu and four-star wide receiver Porter Rooks.
“We talk often about possibly having the opportunity to play together at the next level,” he said.
Cowan has never been to campus, but is in the process of finalizing a date with the coaching staff to attend a practice with his mother during his spring break next week. He’ll also travel to Ann Arbor, South Bend and State College.
THE HOMEGROWN OPTION
Though Ohio State already has offers out to a pair of sophomore quarterbacks in Arizona's Jack Miller and Georgia's Harrison Bailey, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ryan Day has been keeping tabs on Toledo Whitmer four-star pro-style quarterback Riley Keller.
“He asked how things are going and he said he’s planning on watching me throw,” Keller told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Keller is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites, but has already shown flashes of why he’ll be among the most sought-after quarterbacks in the Class of 2020. In fact, he’s thrown for 3,436 yards and 38 touchdowns in his two-year varsity career with the Panthers and already holds offers from Bowling Green, Iowa State, Ole Miss, Toledo, West Virginia and Western Michigan.
Like most in-state prospects — especially those at arguably the most important position on the field — the Buckeyes are in a wait-and-see mode with Keller. If he continues to perform at a high level and mature physically, though, it’ll be hard not to offer him a scholarship.
It would be difficult for Keller to turn down, too.
“It’s a team that — growing up in Ohio — your family watched every Saturday, so I’ve followed them since I was little,” he said “They’re a great offense to watch, as well.”
Keller, who attended Friday Night Lights last July and Ohio State’s games against Oklahoma and Maryland last fall, hopes to return to campus soon. He doesn’t have any specific date set, but expects it to be for a one-day camp or the Buckeyes’ mid-summer recruiting extravaganza once again.
B1G BATTLE BREWING
Avon, Connecticut, Old Farms four-star athlete Marquis Wilson announced on Monday night he plans to make a decision on his future this summer, and he’s set to take his official visit to Ohio State for the Spring Game next month.
The news was first reported by 247Sports' Brian Dohn and since confirmed by Eleven Warriors.
#DecisionTime pic.twitter.com/2xb4J3BsKR
— Armani (@MarquisArmani) March 20, 2018
The 6-foot, 175-pound Wilson is considered the 23rd-best athlete and No. 284 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, but he’ll play defensive back at the next level — scouting services are simply unsure if he’ll play wide receiver or defensive back in college, as he hauled in 37 receptions for 765 yards and six touchdowns and recorded 51 tackles, four interceptions, two pass break ups and one forced fumble for the Winged Beavers last season.
The Buckeyes offered Wilson back in late January and view him as a cornerback, as do programs like Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska and Penn State. The Nittany Lions are actually the favorite in his recruitment at this point time and are the only other program penciled in for an official visit at this time, and that will occur the weekend of their Spring Game on April 21.
He's been to State College numerous times, while this will mark his first time in Columbus.
LET'S SEE IF THIS HOLDS TRUE
Though he initially planned to take an official visit to Ohio State on April 14, Illinois four-star cornerback commit Marquez Beason told Eleven Warriors on Wednesday afternoon he’s shutting down his recruitment entirely and will not be on campus for the Spring Game next month. He then tweeted the following:
I will not be taking any other official visits other than Illinois!! #ILLgang19
— (@Ezmoneyquez) March 21, 2018
The 5-foot-11, 173-pound Beason is considered the sixth-best athlete and No. 54 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he's racked up 1,969 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns in his two-year varsity career at Dallas Bishop Dunne. He also recorded four tackles and one interception for the Falcons last season, his first playing defense.
The Buckeyes initially offered Beason — a one-time Nebraska commit — a scholarship as a wide receiver last May, then again as a defensive back in January. That persistence was a big reason why he included Ohio State in his Top 4 alongside Illinois, LSU and Texas A&M last month.
Beason then surprisingly pledged his services to the Illini two weeks later during an unofficial visit on March 10, giving them their first Top 100 commit since St. Louis four-star wide receiver Terry Hawthorne (No. 72 overall) signed with the program in 2009.
If Beason’s pledge sticks, he’ll be reunited with a pair of former teammates in 2018 four-star defensive tackle Calvin Avery and three-star offensive guard Kievan Myers. Surely that played a role in his decision to pick Illinois despite LSU being the heavy favorite in his recruitment.
ONE-YEAR RENTAL
After three years of playing power forward for the Iowa basketball team, former Huber Heights Wayne four-star wide receiver Ahmad Wagner has been granted his release from the Hawkeyes in order to pursue a career in football.
Ahmad Wagner Granted Release to Pursue Football: https://t.co/6HEjLeAQVs // #Hawkeyes
— Iowa Basketball (@IowaHoops) March 20, 2018
Ahmad has been a tremendous teammate and an absolute joy to coach the past three seasons. I have no doubt that he will be successful in his pursuit of playing football." Fran McCaffery pic.twitter.com/X7KA1KPsxD
"I have had recent discussions with my family and the coaching staff, and ultimately decided to leave the Hawkeye basketball program and end my college basketball career so I can finish my collegiate eligibility playing football," Wagner said through a press release. "My plan now is to train and get my body into football shape so I can be ready for when I decide where I will finish my athletic and academic goals. Thank you, Hawkeye Nation, for your support and welcoming me when I first stepped onto campus."
The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Wagner was a second-team all-state performer on the hardwood and committed to Iowa ahead of his senior year. He played his only year of high school football that fall caught 58 passes for 1,028 yards and 17 touchdowns and was named first-team all-state while helping the Warriors to the state title game. He had an 11-yard touchdown reception and returned a kickoff 90 yards for another score in a 31-21 loss to Lakewood St. Edward in Ohio Stadium.
Kentucky extended a scholarship offer to Wagner following the season, and Ohio State showed significant interest, as well — Meyer and executive director for football relations Tim Hinton visited his high school and told him there would be an offer on the table if he was focused on football. He stuck with basketball, however.
With that said, it remains to be seen if the Buckeyes will pursue him once again. I do think it would be a worthwhile investment to at least gauge his interest in playing for his home-state team.
“Ahmad has a unique blend of athleticism and strength to go along with a tremendous work ethic,” Hawkeyes head coach Fran McCaffrey said. “I have no doubt that he will be successful in his pursuit of playing football.”
Wagner plans to finish the semester at Iowa and he’ll have to sit out a year if he ultimately decides to transfer. He’d also have only one year of eligibility remaining, but there will certainly be a need at both the wide receiver and tight end positions heading into 2019.
In fact, Ohio State could lose its top six wideouts next offseason and the tight end unit is largely unproven. Adding another talented prospect like Wagner could help ease those concerns, especially if he can replicate his first and only season of organized football.
