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.
Welcome to your Sunday evening Hurry Up. This night is a special night, as we sit roughly 24 hours before Ohio State’s fourth national title appearance since 2002, so if you don’t mind, we’re going to do things just a bit different than normal. In lieu of our normal updates, thoughts, etc., we’ve reached out to a number of Ohio State verbal commitments and prospects for their thoughts, predictions and discussion on tomorrow night’s contest.
As you'd expect - since we’re dealing with all Buckeye verbals or targets - the predictions are slanted heavily towards an Ohio State victory. Whether or not that comes to fruition we won’t know until late Monday night, but one thing is clear: confidence in Ohio State’s coaches, players and execution is not lacking from the stars of the future.
A big “thank you” to all the Ohio State “Elite ’15” members who took part in this story.
“I think (Ohio State) is going to win, 38-35,” Lakewood St. Edward’s wide receiver Alex Stump said. “I think that we win if we run the ball well. I feel Ohio State is the best team in the country and that they’re going to silence some doubters.”
Lake Braddock, Virginia athlete A.J. Alexander is excited to see the first playoff in major college football's conclusion. He thinks the game sets up as a classic.
"This is a great way for the first football championship playoff to start with two great teams like OSU and Oregon," Alexander shared. "I think that the Buckeyes will bring it home, especially if the take care of the ball and stay disciplined against Oregon's confusing offense."
Grant Schmidt, who will start classes tomorrow at Ohio State, also sees a close game that ends in a Buckeye victory.
“I think it’ll be something like 42-28,” Schmidt told 11W. “Ohio State is more physical on both sides of the ball and will run the ball really well.”
Justin Hilliard, a linebacker from Cincinnati St. Xavier, agreed with that notion.
“(Ezekiel Elliott) is going to go off,” Hilliard said. “If he can run for 450 yards against Bama and Wisconsin in back-to-back games, two of the country’s top run defenses? God bless Oregon’s defense.”
Utah lineman Branden Bowen, who committed to Ohio State in November, also thinks the Buckeyes’ offense will give the Ducks trouble.
“Oregon’s defense is going to get torched,” Bowen shared. “They haven’t seen a team like Ohio State. I think we’re looking at an offensive shootout. 49-45, Ohio State. I feel like no matter how great our defense plays, Oregon will put up points, it’s what their offense does and has done for a while. That said, I think (Urban Meyer) and the rest of the staff will have the guys prepared and ready to play the games of their lives.”
“I think we’re going to win,” Jashon Cornell, who, like Schmidt, begins classes at Ohio State tomorrow, said. “We have one of the best coaching staffs in the country and they’ll prepare this team to win this game. Our staff has coaches who have already been in this situation, so I think they’ll be a bit more prepared. 42-28 Buckeyes.”
No one is expecting the Buckeyes to shut down Heisman winner Marcus Mariota and the Ducks, but renewed faith in an Ohio State defense that eradicated both Melvin Gordon and Amari Cooper means an optimistic outlook.
"We're ready for Oregon," Cleveland Benedictine linebacker Jerome Baker said. "Ohio State will have to establish the run early. I just don't think Oregon is going to be ready. If we play Ohio State football, we'll be the champions."
“I’m sure Mariota will make some plays,” Schmidt added. “He won the Heisman for a reason, but I don’t think it will be enough to beat Ohio State.”
Hilliard sees a high-scoring game ahead.
“It will be high-scoring,” the five-star prospect said. “Coach (Urban) Meyer will have the offense ready to put up points; Oregon’s defense is ranked 84th in the country. Oregon’s athleticism and Mariota will no doubt put up points for them. Ohio State 48, Oregon 44.”
Of course, Oregon isn't the only team playing Monday night at Jerryworld that has a high-powered, dynamic offense. Ohio State's quarterbacks have put up numbers that rival anyone in the country collectively and long-snapper Liam McCullough says to expect Cardale Jones to shock the world.
"Cardale will hit Devin Smith with at least two long-balls, and one of them will be a touchdown," McCullough, a US Army All-American said. "When that happens, they'll have to spread out their defense and unpack the box and Ezekiel will break one up the middle for a big gain, maybe a touchdown. Don't forget that we're going to see a long field goal from Sean (Nuernberger) too. Bucks over Ducks, 31-24."
Nordonia's Denzel Ward also see a big game coming for Cardale Jones.
"I think Cardale will be the game's MVP," Ward said. "He's going to be that dual-threat guy, dominating through the air and using his legs."
"Monday is another opportunity for the Buckeyes to showcase that they're the best team in the country," New Jersey lineman Kevin Feder said. "Oregon's defense won't be able to keep up with Ohio State's offense. Ohio State wins 34-27."
"Ohio State can compete with anyone,” Wayne defensive tackle Rob Landers said. “This is going to be a fun game to watch. It will be fast, hard-hitting and I can’t wait to watch it.”
Add Rashod Berry to the list of those who think that if the Buckeyes line up and play a game similar to their last two, that Monday will end up with a Scarlet and Gray celebration.
"They have to play as hard and as motivated as they did against Bama," Berry said. "If there's adversity, handle it. I think Ohio State wins 42-32. Every guy on that team will make a difference if they just do their job."
Lineman Mirko Jurkovic, Jr. doesn’t think it will be close. He sees the Buckeyes running away with a victory.
“Ohio State is going to dominate,” Jurkovic told 11W. “Buckeyes are going to win 52-28.”
Valdosta, Georgia defensive back Josh Norwood also sees a big Buckeye win coming.
"The Buckeyes are going to get the job done," Norwood predicted. "I think they like being the underdogs. Ohio State by 13. (Mariota) hasn't been hit much this year and it is about time someone gets some licks on him."
2016 wide receiver Austin Mack, thought by many to be leaning towards Ohio State, thinks the Buckeyes and Ducks could go either way.
“If the Buckeyes can contain Mariota, I think they win by three or so,” Mack said. “It will be a great game, but Oregon doesn’t really come close to Alabama in size or speed and I think their offense can be contained if you slow down the quarterback.”
Big-time 2016 tight end Jake Hausmann sees a tight game as well, but he thinks the Buckeyes will come away victorious.
“Ohio State should win,” Hausmann said. “Whatever team doesn't turn the ball over and can avoid bad penalties wins. Ohio State will have to be physical and get after them.”
2017 quarterback Danny Clark is optimistic.
"I don't think it will be close," Clark said. "The Buckeyes will physically and mentally wear down Oregon the whole game and Urban and the guys will leave Dallas with smiles on their faces."
One recruit who doesn’t think we’ll see a high-scoring game? 2016 North Carolina running back Robert Washington.
“I think the Big Ten wins it, Ohio State 24-21,” Washington told Eleven Warriors. “If the Buckeyes can slow the game down a bit and make Oregon play Big Ten football, then they can win. They have to muscle them and play great defense, if it’s a shootout I think Oregon will win. These are the types of games that as a running back, I love.”
Miamisburg, Ohio 2017 five-star lineman Josh Myers says the game is a toss-up.
“I think it could go either way,” Myers said. “It’s going to be close. Ohio State obviously has to play well on defense, and that’s going to determine the outcomes. I couldn’t even make a score prediction.”
Of course, when you want a truly decisive quote from a member of the 2015 recruiting class, there's only one place to go get it. Woodbridge, Virginia's Matt Burrell.
"We're the best team in the world," Burrell said. "Period. Quote it. 49-35."
