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.
MAKING THE TRIP NORTH
Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.) safety Brian Branch will be among the many prospects headed to Columbus this weekend (see below) to see the 115th edition of Ohio State-Michigan.
And like many others, Branch will be taking his visit to Ohio Stadium with the intent of learning as much as he can about the Buckeyes' players, coaching staff and culture.
Branch, a 6-foot, 175-pound 2020 recruit, had other offers to visit on the table this weekend. But his reason for choosing Columbus was rather simple: "I chose this school because I feel like this is the one I want to attend after high school," he said.
That's obviously an early positive for head coach Urban Meyer, who Branch says he hopes to spend time with. He also wants to see co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch again. Both Meyer and Grinch have kept in contact with Branch.
"I hope to see coach Meyer and coach Grinch, and the rest of the staff," Branch said. "And I hope to see Ohio State's defense get back to the way it used to be."
Branch will be accompanied by his mother and brother. He currently has offers on the table from Louisville, Cincinnati, Indiana and South Carolina, among others. Ohio State made its offer to branch on Nov. 5. Saturday will be Branch's first visit to the Shoe.
BUCKEYES GETTING 'BIG' VISIT
It's not everyday that you see a 6-foot-8, 360-pound offensive lineman. But for Ohio State, Wednesday was that day as Indianapolis (Ind.) Ben Davis tackle Dawand Jones visited.
247Sports' Steve Wiltfong reported that Jones, a three-star prospect that's considered Indiana's 13th-best overall in the class of 2019, visited Ohio State after taking an official visit to USC two weeks ago and an unofficial visit to Michigan this past weekend.
Indianapolis (Ind.) Ben Davis 2019 OL Dawand Jones visits #OhioState this week: https://t.co/SBFUBIc56d #Buckeyes @Bill_Kurelic @BillBankGreene @alexgleitman
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) November 19, 2018
Jones, a senior, just completed his second season ever playing organized football. So, the talent is there but it's raw. Still with his size, multiple programs have already offered including USC, Michigan, Florida State, TCU and Indiana.
Jones is the nation's 85th-ranked tackle in his class and the 986th-best overall recruit.
FRESHMAN QUARTERBACK RETURNING TO OHIO STADIUM
Back on Sept. 22, Centerville (Dayton, Ohio) freshman quarterback Chase Harrison made his first visit to Ohio Stadium. On Saturday, the 2022 prospect will return to the Shoe.
Harrison, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound signal caller, attended camp at Ohio State this past summer. His only offer, so far, is from Louisville but you can certainly expect that list to grow continuously.
After his first visit to Ohio State, Harrison told 247Sports, “The visit was awesome. It was cool seeing the locker room and just the atmosphere overall. It was a great experience.”
Harrison, who keeps in contact with offensive coordinator Ryan Day, won the starting quarterback role midway through his freshman season. He passed for 1,446 yards and rushed for 203 more. As his skills continue to develop, Ohio State will certainly keep an eye on him. The Buckeyes already have an early insight into what looks to be a bright future.
BUCKEYES GIVE PWO OFFER TO IN-STATE TIGHT END
After giving out a preferred walk-on offer to Massillon safety Kyshad Mack this weekend, Ohio State did the same for another in-state prospect in Tallmadge tight end Jason Grassie.
STOKED to receive a Preferred Walk-On offer from Ohio state!! pic.twitter.com/oGdv98xDb3
— Jason Grassie (@GrassieJason) November 19, 2018
Grassie is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end in the class of 2019. He currently has Division I offers from Georgetown and Stetson. He was also on Ohio State's campus for the Buckeyes' 30-14 win over Minnesota on Oct. 13.
| PLAYER | CLASS | SCHOOL | HT. | WT. | POSITION | STAR RATING |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAVON BUTLER (UK COMMIT) | 2019 | TOLEDO WHITMER (TOLEDO, OH) | 6-3 | 285 | DEFENSIVE TACKLE | ★★★ |
| D'VON ELLIES | 2019 | MCDONOGH SCHOOL (OWINGS MILLS, MD) | 6-3 | 280 | DEFENSIVE TACKLE | ★★★★ |
| JARED HARRISON-HUNTE | 2019 | CHRIST THE KING REGIONAL (MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY) | 6-4 | 286 | DEFENSIVE TACKLE | ★★★ |
| BRYSON SHAW (OSU COMMIT) | 2019 | THE BULLIS SCHOOL (POTOMAC, MD) | 6-2 | 175 | SAFETY | ★★★ |
| RENARDO GREEN (FSU COMMIT) | 2019 | WEKIVA (APOPKA, FL) | 5-11 | 164 | CORNERBACK | ★★★ |
| STEELE CHAMBERS (OSU COMMIT) | 2019 | BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC (ROSWELL, GA) | 6-2 | 215 | RUNNING BACK | ★★★★ |
| DOUG NESTER (OSU COMMIT) | 2019 | SPRING VALLEY (HUNTINGTON, WV) | 6-7 | 314 | GUARD | ★★★★ |
| NOAH POTTER (OSU COMMIT) | 2019 | MENTOR (MENTOR, OH) | 6-6 | 250 | DEFENSIVE END | ★★★★ |
| CADE STOVER (OSU COMMIT) | 2019 | LEXINGTON (MANSFIELD, OH) | 6-5 | 235 | LINEBACKER | ★★★★ |
| CRAIG YOUNG (OSU COMMIT) | 2019 | WAYNE (FORT WAYNE, IN) | 6-4 | 200 | ATHLETE | ★★★ |
| JACK MILLER (OSU COMMIT) | 2020 | CHAPARRAL (SCOTTSDALE, AZ) | 6-4 | 210 | QUARTERBACK | ★★★★ |
| PARIS JOHNSON (OSU COMMIT) | 2020 | ST. XAVIER (CINCINNATI, OH) | 6-7 | 285 | OFFENSIVE TACKLE | ★★★★★ |
| JAKE WRAY (OSU COMMIT) | 2020 | MARIETTA (MARIETTA, GA) | 6-5 | 290 | OFFENSIVE TACKLE | ★★★★ |
| LEJOND CAVAZOS (OSU COMMIT) | 2020 | IMG ACADEMY (BRADENTON, FL) | 6-0 | 186 | SAFETY | ★★★★ |
| TOMMY EICHENBERG | 2019 | ST. IGNATIUS (CLEVELAND, OH) | 6-3 | 225 | LINEBACKER | ★★★★ |
| JESTIN JACOBS (IOWA COMMIT) | 2019 | NORTHMONT (CLAYTON, OH) | 6-3 | 210 | LINEBACKER | ★★★★ |
| MJ DEVONSHIRE | 2019 | ALIQUIPPA (ALIQUIPPA, PA) | 5-11 | 170 | CORNERBACK | ★★★ |
| FRED DAVIS II | 2020 | TRINITY CHRISTIAN (JACKSONVILLE, FL) | 6-1 | 177 | CORNERBACK | ★★★★★ |
| DANE MIDDLEBROOK | 2020 | BROWNSBURG (BROWNSBURG, IN) | 6-1 | 310 | DEFENSIVE TACKLE | N/A |
| DEAMONTE TRAYANUM | 2020 | ARCHBISHOP HOBAN (AKRON, OH) | 5-11 | 215 | RUNNING BACK | ★★★★ |
| MICHAEL DRENNEN | 2020 | DUBLIN COFFMAN (DUBLIN, OH) | 5-11 | 190 | ALL-PURPOSE BACK | ★★★★ |
| JUTAHN MCCLAIN | 2020 | FAIRFIELD (FAIRFIELD, OH) | 5-10 | 180 | ALL-PURPOSE BACK | ★★★ |
| RAKIM JARRETT | 2020 | ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE (WASHINGTON DC) | 6-0 | 182 | WIDE RECEIVER | ★★★★ |
| DEVELL WASHINGTON | 2020 | BAY CITY CENTRAL (BAY CITY, MI) | 6-4 | 200 | WIDE RECEIVER | ★★★ |
| MALIQ CARR | 2020 | OAK PARK (OAK PARK, MI) | 6-6 | 215 | WIDE RECEIVER | ★★★ |
| IAN STEWART | 2020 | OSCAR A CARLSON (ROCKWOOD, MI) | 6-3 | 200 | WIDE RECEIVER | ★★★ |
| GEIREAN HATCHETT | 2020 | FERNDALE (FERNDALE, WA) | 6-5 | 275 | GUARD | ★★★★ |
| JAKOB JAMES | 2020 | ELDER (CINCINNATI, OH) | 6-5 | 260 | OFFENSIVE TACKLE | ★★★ |
| DALLAS FINCHER | 2020 | EAST KENTWOOD (GRAND RAPIDS, MI) | 6-4 | 260 | GUARD | ★★★ |
| TRE WILLIAMS | 2020 | ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE (WASHINGTON DC) | 6-2 | 308 | DEFENSIVE TACKLE | ★★★★ |
| JACOLBE COWAN | 2020 | PROVIDENCE DAY SCHOOL (CHARLOTTE, NC) | 6-5 | 265 | DEFENSIVE END | ★★★★ |
| DARRION HENRY | 2020 | PRINCETON (CINCINNATI, OH) | 6-6 | 260 | DEFENSIVE END | ★★★★ |
| JAHEIM THOMAS | 2020 | PRINCETON (CINCINNATI, OH) | 6-5 | 218 | LINEBACKER | ★★★★ |
| MEKHAIL SHERMAN | 2020 | ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE (WASHINGTON DC) | 6-3 | 234 | LINEBACKER | ★★★★★ |
| BRIAN BRANCH | 2020 | SANDY CREEK (TYRONE, GA) | 6-0 | 175 | SAFETY | N/A |
| ELIJAH EBERHARDT | 2020 | PRINCETON (CINCINNATI, OH) | 6-1 | 175 | CORNERBACK | ★★★ |
| SAMMY ANDERSON | 2020 | TROTWOOD-MADISON (DAYTON, OH) | 6-2 | 170 | CORNERBACK | ★★★ |
| DONOVAN EDWARDS | 2021 | WEST BLOOMFIELD (WEST BLOOMFIELD, OH) | 5-11 | 190 | RUNNING BACK | ★★★★ |
| LORENZO STYLES | 2021 | PICKERINGTON CENTRAL (PICKERINGTON, OH) | 6-1 | 170 | WIDE RECEIVER | N/A |
| WYATT MILLUM | 2021 | SPRING VALLEY (HUNTINGTON, WV) | 6-7 | 245 | OFFENSIVE TACKLE | N/A |
| JACK SAWYER | 2021 | PICKERINGTON NORTH (PICKERINGTON, OH) | 6-5 | 219 | DEFENSIVE END | ★★★★ |
| CHASE HARRISON | 2022 | CENTERVILLE (DAYTON, OH) | 6-2 | 185 | QUARTERBACK | N/A |
