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.
WHO IS KIERRE HAWKINS? WHAT DOES HIS OFFER MEAN?
This morning, the Buckeyes made another in-state offer to a pass catcher/potential tight end, Maple Heights' Kierre Hawkins. A 6-foot-4, 210 pounder, Hawkins is projected as a tight end by most, but according to those close to the situation at Ohio State indicate that he's more likely viewed as a wide receiver or H-back. Why is this important?
Jake Hausmann, the country's top tight end in 2016, and Ohio State's pursuit of him. Months ago, it was believed by most (including myself) that Hausmann was an Buckeye "lock," but time and change surely show, we don't know all what we think we know. Hausmann is the top tight end target, Perry's Luke Farrell is a close second and the Buckeyes, with the offer to Hawkins, clearly want to land all three.
The challenge right now is that Hausmann's interest, for whatever reason, may be waning. Yes, he visited Ohio State last weekend but he's got another trip to Notre Dame this weekend and the Fighting Irish should never be discounted for a player who is A.) from Cincinnati, B.) a catholic school student and C.) a pass-catching tight end.
As of today, I expect Hawkins and Farrell to be Buckeyes. Hausmann is up in the air, but right now I think the Irish have become the favorite.
BRUCE JUDSON CONTINUES TO EXCEL
One of the more discussed 2017 prospects as it pertains to Ohio State recruiting is Cocoa, Florida's Bruce Judson. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound athlete/quarterback is dominating week in and out. This past week, in a 37-28 win against Raines (Jacksonville, Florida), Judson ran for 122 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing for 191 and two more scores. His night was highlighted by a 92-yard run and a pivotal 35-yard strike to Ohio State commitment Jamel Dean.
Judson continues to be very interested in the Buckeyes and says they remain in heavy contact. While initially thought to be an early season commitment, Judson says that right now there's no specific timeline for a choice but rather "it could happen at anytime."
Ohio State remains a likely destination for Judson, who's taken to Twitter to try and recruit other players to join him for a late-November jaunt to Columbus. Check out his tweet to 2017 Coconut Creek wide receiver Emmanuel Greene, who was offered by Ohio State yesterday.
Good bro on the offer get Ya plane ticket ready cause we up the November 29 live in the shoe @EGreene_7
— Bruce Judson Jr (@4way_lilbruce) September 30, 2014
ETHAN TUCKY CAN FLAT OUT PLAY
Ethan Tucky is one of the state's best 2016 prospects and his up-to-date junior highlights show why. At 6-foot-3 and 220-pounds, Tucky's got top-end speed that's unusual for any person his size, let alone a high school junior.
Will Tucky be the next Ohio prospect to earn a Buckeye offer?
MEET JORDAN MCNAIR
We talked earlier today about Josh Myers' visit to Columbus this past weekend. Tonight we'll introduce you to another 2017 lineman who claims a Buckeye offer: Owings Mills, Maryland's Jordan McNair. The Buckeyes are one of two offers for the 6-foot-4, 276-pound sophomore; home-state Maryland is the other. Although he's not yet been on any college visits, it makes sense that his first comes this weekend as the Buckeyes travel to College Park to take on the Terrapins. It's the first of what he hopes will be a number of upcoming visits.
"I'll be at the Ohio State and Maryland game this weekend," McNair told 11W. "Ohio State and Maryland are the two schools that have offered me. I talk to Larry Johnson, Sr. from Ohio State. He's real cool."
Since his recruiting process is just getting started, McNair is trying to learn as much as he can about the schools recruiting him. He says the Buckeyes are recruiting him as an offensive tackle, and that's fine with him. His bigger concern right now is not how a school would use him, but what each opportunity can bring to him on and off the field.
"Because of my height and my length, I think I'm definitely a tackle," he added. "For me, I'm just looking at what each program is the best fit for me. Every school has different benefits so it's going to take time to figure it all out. I'm not in any hurry and will likely decide my senior year of high school."
