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.
ALL-NAME TEAM
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer admitted after Saturday’s Spring Game how important it was to hold the annual scrimmage despite the threat of inclement weather.
After all, the Buckeyes had dozens of prospects from all over the country in town, and the staff didn’t want to miss the opportunity to show them how much the fanbase cares about an overall meaningless game.
That certainly resonated with Memphis Whitehaven three-star tight end Cormontae Hamilton, who was on campus for the first time this weekend.
Great Spring Game And Visit At The University of Ohio State #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/tnbr7tsuVI
— Cormontae Hamilton (@Cbvndzzz) April 14, 2018
“I enjoyed the trip,” Hamitlon told Eleven Warriors. “Seeing my position being used well and — although it wasn’t a regular-season game — the support people still showed for the Buckeyes [stood out].”
The 6-foot-1, 246-pound Hamilton is considered the 44th-best tight end and No. 1,215 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded just nine receptions for 189 yards and three touchdowns for the Tigers last season. He holds just one offer from Virginia Tech, but he’s been in contact with Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and assistant tight ends coach Trey Holtz for quite some time.
They were able to hang out a bit on Saturday.
“Coach Wilson was glad that I could make it and said to keep working hard and keep the connections that we have,” Hamilton said, noting the coaches plan to stop by his school to watch him practice this fall.
Hamilton also plans to return to campus for a one-day camp in June, at which time he hopes to earn an offer from the staff.
“It would be a great honor to receive an offer from Ohio State and to know that they’re very interested in me and my potential,” he said.
IMPRESSED FROM AFAR
With its sights set on four-star quarterback Grant Gunnell and four-star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, Ohio State has once again made recruiting the state of Texas a priority this cycle.
Another Lone Star State native worth keeping in mind is Richmond Fort Bend Bush four-star cornerback Erick Young, who listed the Buckeyes in his Top 6 on Monday afternoon alongside Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, TCU and USC.
— Erick Young (@Fvmous_ey) April 16, 2018
“I’ve loved them since I was a kid,” Young told Eleven Warriors when asked why Ohio State made the cut. “The defensive backs that come out of [there also stand out].”
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Young is considered the ninth-best cornerback and No. 100 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, though he recorded just 10 tackles and one interception for the Broncos last season. He was named first-team all-district in spite of that, as teams simply avoided throwing or running the ball to his side of the field.
Young has not been to campus since wide receivers coach Zach Smith offered him a scholarship last August, but a recent conversation between the two solidified the Buckeyes’ standing.
“Coach called the other day and I’m feeling his vibe just off that one phone call,” Young said.
Smith had been recruiting Young’s teammate — Oklahoma four-star wide receiver commit Arjei Henderson — since last February, which is why he’s served as the main point of contact so far. But Young will meet the rest of the staff sooner than later, as he’s in the process of setting up an official visit to Columbus.
THE ECHOS CHEERING HIS NAME
Seemingly lost among the pomp and circumstance of the Spring Game, Malvern, Pennsylvania, Prep three-star linebacker Keith Maguire Jr. included Ohio State in his Top 5 on Saturday afternoon alongside Alabama, Clemson, North Carolina and Notre Dame.
Top 5... Thank you to all the coaches that offered me and that gave me an opportunity to play for them. I will be committing to one of these 5 schools. pic.twitter.com/iX6XUxxnSC
— Keith Maguire Jr. (@Keith_Mag) April 14, 2018
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Maguire is considered the 27th-best outside linebacker and No. 430 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 170 tackles, three interceptions and five sacks and earned first-team all-conference honors for the Friars last season. The Buckeyes offered him a scholarship back in early February, and he made his first and only trip to campus late last month.
“I had a great time,” Maguire told Eleven Warriors shortly thereafter. “We got a nice tour of all the facilities and talked with the coaches. I was really impressed. They have a ton of experience and really know how to prepare someone for the next level.”
A long conversation with head coach Urban Meyer, defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and linebackers coach Bill Davis cemented Ohio State’s standing.
“I was really able to sit down and get to know them more on a personal level and a football level,” Maguire said. “It was great.”
Maguire does not plan to take any official visits before he makes a decision on his future within in the next month or so — not that it necessarily matters, as he visited Chapel Hill last summer; was in South Bend back in February; and dropped by Clemson and Tuscaloosa on consecutive weekends earlier this month. The Fighting Irish are the presumed favorite, though, and I’d be surprised if he ends up anywhere else.
SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE
Keeping with the theme, Waterbury, Connecticut, St. Thomas More three-star safety Tyler Rudolph also listed Ohio State in his Top 5 on Sunday afternoon alongside Clemson, Florida, Michigan and Penn State.
TOP 5 TOP 5 TOP 5 .. #Blessings pic.twitter.com/ioDwYp0jRB
— 4 (@TylerRudolph_) April 15, 2018
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Rudolph is considered the 26th-best safety and No. 324 prospect overall in the Class of 2019.
Rudolph has not been to Ohio State since the staff offered him a scholarship in early February, but he plans to take an official visit alongside fellow Connecticut defensive back Marquis Wilson — who listed the Buckeyes in his Top 10 just last week.
Both prospects plan to announce his commitment sometime this summer, and the Nittany Lions are their likely landing spot.
STAND ON GUARD FOR THEE
Expecting heavy turnover next offseason, Ohio State continues to leave no stone unturned in its search for wide receivers this cycle.
The Buckeyes have offers out to more than two dozen prospects at the position, and also recently welcomed Hagerstown, Maryland, St. James School four-star wideout John Metchie III for an unofficial visit last Wednesday.
“I like the campus,” Metchie told Eleven Warriors. “I mainly saw the facilities, the stadium and a little bit of campus.”
The 6-foot, 190-pound Metchie was born in Taiwan, spent his early childhood in Ghana and immigrated Canada when he was six years old. Though his family remains in Ontario, he moved to the United States to help further his football career.
It’s worked out for the best, too, as Metchie is considered the 39th-best wide receiver and No. 233 prospect overall in the Class of 2019. He’s hauled in 132 receptions for 2,506 yards in his varsity career, and now holds nearly 20 offers from programs such as Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Penn State and Syracuse.
Metchie watched practice and spent a considerable amount of time with wide receivers coach Zach Smith and defensive line coach/area recruiter Larry Johnson. And though they did not offer, the Buckeyes made quite the first impression.
“They are excited about me,” Metchie said. “[They] like how I play and hope to see me soon.”
Metchie hopes to return to campus for a one-day camp this summer, but the staff better offer soon if they hope to have a chance in his recruitment. The Nittany Lions have had quite a bit of success with Canadian transplants (notably four-star linebacker Jesse Luketa last cycle), which is why they’re the heavy favorite to eventually land Metchie’s pledge.
