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.
BARON BROWNING HOPING TO VISIT OHIO STATE THIS MONTH
A little over a week ago, the Buckeyes offered the country's top-ranked 2017 linebacker, Baron Browning, a five-star prospect from Kennedale, Texas. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior-to-be talked with Eleven Warriors about his interest in the Buckeyes. He says he's hoping to make a trip to Columbus this month.
"I will be (at Ohio State) sometime at the end of this month," Browning said. "I talk to Ohio State once a week I'd say."
The Buckeyes have had recent success in Texas, and new quarterbacks' coach Tim Beck has continued their momentum in the Lonestar State. Browning was clear that his interest in Ohio State was legitimate.
"I wouldn't waste my time, or theirs," Browning said when asked if he felt Ohio State was a legitimate option. "If I wasn't really interested."
The recent attention he's received – he's sitting on 25 scholarship offers – hasn't been a big surprise for Browning, although it took some time getting used to being a big-time prospect.
"It was a surprise, especially my freshman year," Browning said of what it's like to be regarded so highly nationally. "But now, I mean, I guess I'm kind of used to it, but I try to not pay attention to that stuff really."
Browning doesn't have a specific date in mind for his Ohio State visit yet, but says he should know soon. He also hopes to get out west this summer for a few key visits.
"I'll know in a week or two," he said when asked if he knew when he'd be in Columbus. "I'm also trying to get out to USC and UCLA."
BOCKHORST BEGINS BIG COLLEGE TOUR
Perhaps the second-best offensive line prospect in Ohio for 2017, Cincinnati St. Xavier guard Matt Bockhorst, is making the college rounds already this summer. On May 31st he was one of the best offensive linemen at Nike's The Opening regionals in Columbus, and since then he's been on the road almost non-stop.
"I was at Clemson (last) Saturday," Bockhorst said. "I'll be at Tennessee Thursday, Michigan State on Saturday, Ohio State next Tuesday and then Notre Dame next Friday."
Bockhorst, a four-star prospect and the nation's 7th-ranked guard, will camp for the Buckeyes on Tuesday, and he thinks the Buckeyes could be getting close to extending an offer.
"I speak mostly to (Kerry) Coombs, but I've been in contact with Ed Warinner here and there," he said when asked about his relationship with the Ohio State staff. "It sounds like to me that they want to see me live before they extend an offer. That hasn't been directly said, but I get that feeling."
The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder has offers from Boston College, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati, Louisville, Illinois and others but this month could be a big one in his recruitment. His father played linebacker for the Bearcats in the late 1980s.
OHIO SLEEPERS COMMIT TO NORTHWESTERN, PURDUE
Two of Ohio's best prospects in the 2016 class, Lebanon-native, linebacker Jango Glackin and Hamilton Township cornerback Jacob Long, have made their college decisions today.
Glackin, a 6-foot-2, 215-pounder now at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, selected Northwestern over Wisconsin, West Virginia and others. He had been a priority for Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats for months and had been consistent in his message and approach with the Glackin family. He had intended on camping with Ohio State next week, but recent conversations with the Buckeyes had led them to believe that no further linebackers would be a part of Ohio State's 2016 class. Northwestern is a great fit both on the field and off.
Long, a three-star cornerback with ten offers, chose Purdue today, giving the Boilermakers their second commitment of the cycle and their second three-star cornerback. Long is a 6-foot-tall, 180-pounder and one of my picks for a "sleeper" in Ohio.
DC CREW IN COLUMBUS THIS WEEKEND
Ohio State commitment Terrell Hall and a pair of his teammates at St. John's College in Washington, D.C. are tentatively scheduled to be in Columbus this coming Saturday. Hall and his teammates are on a bit of a college and camp tour that is scheduled to stop at Ohio State, primarily so that 2017 linebacker/defensive end Tyree Johnson can take his shot camping for the Buckeyes. 2016 linebacker Aaron Hansford, who holds an Ohio State offer, is also expected.
Johnson, 6-foot-4 and 210-pounds, added his first offer late last week from Rutgers and he hopes that this weekend could open Ohio State's eyes to his talents. He has been recruited by Larry Johnson, who he says he's seen a couple of times at his school. While NCAA rules prohibit the two from speaking during those visits, he's a player the Buckeyes are aware of and vice versa.
