Welcome to The Hurry-Up, which runs Sunday through Thursday, serving as your last stop for recruiting news and notes nightly. We'll recap the day as it happened and preview the days ahead while keeping our ear to the ground on the Ohio State recruiting scene.
BIG MAN ON CAMPUS
Ohio State's top in-state linebacker target for 2016, Brendan Ferns, will have a couple important visitors Friday. Ohio State's Luke Fickell and Urban Meyer are both planning a stop in St. Clairsville.
"(Ohio State) will be there tomorrow in two separate stops," Brendan Fern's father, Michael, shared with Eleven Warriors. "Luke Fickell will be visiting the school in the morning and (Urban) Meyer will be there tomorrow afternoon to catch warmups and pre-game stuff before heading to see another recruit."
Who the Buckeyes will see following the St. Clairsville visit is not yet known, but the elder Ferns says he's pleasantly surprised by the attention his son is receiving from the Buckeyes.
"Honestly," he added "I'm surprised their spending this much time on Brendan since he's a 2016. Urban Meyer at St. Clairsville? I'm concerned they won't be able to deal with it. Attendance at this game should exceed 7,000 already."
MORE LIKE KING, AMIRITE?
Very few players in the state of Ohio are as naturally gifted — or as presently raw football-wise — as Cincinnati's Prince Sammons. The 6-foot-8, 260-pound Sammons has offers from Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Tennessee, Penn State and others despite being relatively new to the game of football. While he stars at defensive end for Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, his head coach at CHCA says he could be a big-time prospect on offense or defense.
"Prince has been doing really well," Eric Taylor (Texas forever) told 11W. "He played some offensive line last week. He's getting better every single week."
I asked Taylor if Sammons himself had a preference about his position, and he does. That may not matter when he gets to college though.
"Prince prefers defensive end," Taylor added. "I think he can be an NFL offensive lineman. College line coaches are going to have one hell of an argument over him."
ADD ED TO THE MIX
Mike talked today about Larry Johnson's upcoming visit to Virginia to see Matt Burrell, but we found out tonight that Johnson won't be solo.
"Just found out that Ed Warinner will be coming to the game with LJ," John Harris, an assistant coach at C.D. Hylton told 11W. "Matt leaves for Florida State and his official visit there right after our game Friday night."
The Seminoles are one of three major competitors right now for the Buckeyes and their pursuit of Burrell. The visit happening hours before his departure for Tallahassee can't be a bad thing for the Buckeyes.
BIG OFFER FOR JONATHON COOPER
Gahanna Lincoln (Columbus, Ohio), offered by Ohio State following a strong performance at Friday Night Lights in July. Today, the 6-foot-3, 215 defensive end/linebacker prospect picked up an offer from Notre Dame.
"It's a big offer," Jude Moorman, Cooper's father told 11W. "We're very proud of Jonathon. God's been very good to our family."
Cooper has no plans to make anymore college visits this season, according to Moorman.
"There are no other visit plans (this season)," he added. "Jon wants to concentrate on his season. He just wants to win."
MORE ON UPSHUR
One of the most offered 2016 tight ends in the country, Naseir Upshur, was visited by Ohio State earlier this week. Ohio State's Ed Warinner visited Upshur at Imhotep Institute in Philadelphia, and the next day Upshur's Twitter reflected an obviously growing interest in the Buckeyes.
Ohio state probably have one of the coolest coaching staff's ..
— Pop (@NaseirUpshur) September 17, 2014
Upshur speaks primarily with Ohio State's director of player personnel Mark Pantoni, but the coaching staff seems to be making him a priority. Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Maryland, Auburn, Florida, Michigan State and South Carolina are among Upshur's bevy of offers.
