The Hurry-Up: Brian Hartline Says Jeremiah Smith “Never Wavered” in His Commitment to Ohio State, James Peoples Attends a Cotton Bowl Practice, Dominic Kirks Has Discussed an OV with OSU

By Garrick Hodge on December 27, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Jeremiah Smith and Brian Hartline
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Ohio State may have wrapped up National Signing Day for 2024 and is two days away from its Cotton Bowl matchup with Missouri, but there are plenty of recruiting items to touch on in the meantime.

No filler today.

Let’s dive right in.

Brian Hartline comments on Jeremiah Smith, Mylan Graham

It feels longer than a week ago when Jeremiah Smith had Ohio State and Miami fans holding their collective breaths on National Signing Day before he ultimately honored his commitment and signed with the Buckeyes. According to The Athletic’s Manny Navarro, Smith had both a Miami and Ohio State hat in his bag at his signing ceremony and decided on the Buckeyes two minutes before he announced his decision. 

On Wednesday, Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline commented on the recruitment of Smith, the No. 1 ranked player in the nation, for the first time since he signed with the Buckeyes. Ohio State's wide receiver mastermind never had any doubt regarding where Smith would end up in the end. 

“I guess I will say this about Jeremiah, he never wavered,” Hartline said. “His family never wavered. He can say what he wants two minutes before the hat came out. He always told me the same thing. His parents always told me the same thing. So from his family to him, the reality of college football is (the media sees) it, and (the media sees) the clicks and you see the conversations and all those kinds of things.

“Yeah, that's all I can say. His family is loyal. They always did what they said, and I can't thank them enough. I'll tell you, I'm really excited for him and we'll see him here in a couple of weeks, if that. Very excited.”

Hartline also took the time to praise Mylan Graham, the Buckeyes’ other five-star wide receiver signee in the 2024 class.

“Mylan (Graham), one heck of a football player,” Hartline said. “Talk about a guy that knew where he wanted to go, came and saw us a lot. He made no gripe about going anywhere else or whatever. His process was very different than Jeremiah (Smith), which is fine. They are both right in their own way.

“But I'm very thrilled to have him. He's been at camp a handful of times. He came to camp and worked with me multiple times. I feel like he's already a part of the room. Excited to be (with him) in June. He'll be a June guy. So we have to do a good job through the summer catching him up. He's a quick study. He will do a good job.”

Dominic Kirks has discussed an official visit with OSU

Ohio State may not be done adding to the 2024 class just yet. According to 247Sports, the Buckeyes have had dialogue with Ohio defensive lineman Dominic Kirks about an official visit, which would occur sometime in January if it occurs. 

Kirks, a four-star defensive lineman rated the 251st-best prospect and the 33rd-ranked defensive lineman, according to the 247Sports’ composite rankings, has been committed to Washington since June 30. However, he did not sign in the Early Signing Period due to his position coach, Eric Schmidt, leaving Washington for the San Diego State defensive coordinator job. Kirks has also spoken with USC and Syracuse in addition to maintaining contact with Washington. 

Kirks attended Ohio State’s game against Maryland earlier this season in October, but he has not received an official offer from the Buckeyes yet. Considering the Buckeyes only signed two defensive linemen in the 2024 cycle, and top defensive tackle transfer target Derrick Harmon returned to Michigan State, there’s certainly a need to add a talent like Kirks from Ohio State’s end. 

Still, Kirks maintains it’s likely he will sign with Washington on National Signing Day on Dec. 7.

“I do realize Washington has been with me since Day 1,” Kirks told 247Sports. “I think it would be a lot to flip me. They have to show me they want me instead of just offering me this late in the process. I think that’s the biggest thing, showing you want me, how you’re going to use me and not it’s just Ohio State (or USC).”

James Peoples attends Cotton Bowl practice

The Buckeyes had a special guest at their Cotton Bowl practice on Wednesday. Four-star Texas 2024 running back signee James Peoples was in attendance for Ohio State’s workout at AT&T Stadium, tagging alongside running backs coach Tony Alford and watching Ohio State’s running backs go through drills. 

Peoples got a taste of things to come in his near future, as the San Antonio-based back will be an early enrollee and be on Ohio State’s campus on Jan. 7. The 5-foot-10, 192-pound tailback had to miss half of his senior season due to injury, but still put up monster numbers in six games, running for 1,374 yards on 138 carries with 16 touchdowns. 

Peoples wasn’t the only signee to attend the Buckeyes’ bowl practice, as four-star Texas linebacker signee Payton Pierce stopped by earlier in the week. 

Jared Curtis puts Ohio State in Top Six

One of Ohio State’s top quarterback targets for the 2026 class has started to narrow down his recruitment. Five-star Tennessee product Jared Curtis released a top six on Saturday consisting of Ohio State, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and Texas A&M. 

Curtis visited Columbus earlier this season for the Buckeyes’ game against Michigan State on Nov. 11 and was blown away by the atmosphere.

“It was amazing down there for sure,” Curtis told 247Sports after his visit. “I want to get down there a couple more times. The coaches are great and it feels like family when I go there. Excited to get back down there. I think that they are really great at developing quarterbacks and I could see myself being there. I would have to put Ohio State in the top three for sure. Something is just different.”

In 12 games this season for Nashville Christian (Nashville, Tennessee), Curtis completed 180 of 321 passes for 2,522 yards with 25 touchdown passes to nine interceptions. He also ran for 543 yards on the ground and scored a whopping 13 rushing touchdowns.

According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, Curtis is considered the 20th-ranked prospect and the No. 2-rated quarterback in the 2026 cycle. Other quarterbacks in the 2026 class Ryan Day has offered include Julian Lewis – a USC commit – and Will Griffin, each of whom visited Ohio State earlier this season as well.  

With quarterback recruiting in 2025 already wrapped up with the commitment of Tavien St. Clair, Day can focus solely on finding a 2026 signal caller, and Curtis may be the top option. 

Max Granville includes Buckeyes in his top 10

Ohio State has also made an impression on four-star 2025 defensive end Max Granville, who included the Buckeyes in a top 10 list Tuesday that also consisted of Alabama, Baylor, Penn State, Kansas, SMU, Texas A&M, LSU and Oklahoma. 

Granville, considered the 128th-best player in 2025, was offered by the Buckeyes on Oct. 9 and has more than 30 Division I offers. He’s the son of Billy Granville, a former Duke linebacker who played in the NFL from 1997 to 2001 for the Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans.

Jayvan Boggs named Florida Player of The Year

An Ohio State wide receiver commit in the 2025 class was honored for a terrific 2023 prep season on Tuesday. Four-star Florida wideout Jayvan Boggs was named The Florida Dairy Farmers 2S Player of The Year after leading Cocoa High School (Cocoa, Florida) to a 14-1 record and a state championship. 

In the 2023 season, Boggs caught 93 passes for 1,493 yards and 23 touchdowns. Boggs, the former high school teammate of Ohio State safety Cedrick Hawkins, committed to Ohio State on Oct. 9. 

“It’s kind of crazy, growing up Ohio State was my favorite college team,” Boggs told Eleven Warriors after his commitment. “I watched all of their games. It was my favorite team. It’s crazy to be able to say I’m committed to them, and that I’m going there to play football.”

Purdue DL Nic Scourton hits the portal

The Big Ten’s sack leader in the 2023 season has entered the transfer portal. Purdue pass rusher Nic Scourton opted to transfer on Tuesday after a terrific sophomore season for the Boilermakers in which he recorded 50 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and 11 quarterback hurries in 11 appearances for Purdue. 

The 6-foot-4, 280-pound Scourton could be a fit for multiple defensive schemes, ranging from an interior defensive lineman to an edge rusher. He recorded two of his 10 sacks against Michigan and also had a strip sack against Ohio State in his 2023 campaign.

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