The Hurry Up is your nightcap of Ohio State recruiting news, catching you up on the day’s event with an ear on the ground for what’s next.
BIG OFFER FOR BUTLER
Although he's currently visiting Michigan, Lakewood St. Edward 2016 defensive back Tony Butler added a big new offer last night.
#Clemson offers 2016 Lakewood St. Edwards' DB Tony Butler (@TonyKnows2)
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) July 14, 2015
Butler, the country's 57th-ranked cornerback, had been committed to Pittsburgh until his recent decommitment and is, at least temporarily, taking a step back in his recruitment to examine new offers, such as the one from Clemson.
Ohio State has continued to watch Butler and he's got a number of supporters inside the Buckeye program, but at this point they've held off on offering. If he leaves Ann Arbor without committing this week, don't be surprised if his recruitment stretches into the football season, giving the Buckeyes a better chance to evaluate where they stand with other defensive back options.
BOCKHORST NOT PLANNING ON FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS' TRIP
When he camped with the Buckeyes in June, Cincinnati St. Xavier 2017 offensive lineman Matt Bockhorst earned a big offer: from Michigan State. The Spartans called the 6-foot-4, 290-pounder and extended an offer in his direction, but he left Columbus without an offer from the Buckeyes. Days later, he visited Notre Dame, thought by many to be his eventual landing spot, but the Irish, like the Buckeyes, didn't offer...yet.
During the Ohio State camp, Bockhorst had a few "wow" moments but struggled a bit in 1-on-1's, especially while Urban Meyer was present and it was supposed by some that he'd return to Columbus for Friday Night Lights to try and earn the offer from the Buckeyes. Bockhorst, however, said that's not likely to happen.
"I'm not planning on it," Bockhorst said when asked if he was attending Friday Night Lights. "
MATT DOTSON UPDATE
Another top 2017 Queen City target, Archbishop Moeller's Matt Dotson, will not participate in camp events at Friday Night Lights. Dotson, a four-star tight end who has a Buckeye offer, recently had wrist surgery to correct an injury he suffered during a basketball game this past winter. Unable to camp, Dotson says he's still likely to make the trip north with teammate and 2016 Ohio State commitment Jake Hausmann.
"I might still come up," the 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior-to-be told Eleven Warriors. "I will most likely just ride with up with (Hausmann)."
The recovery time on Dotson's wrist is expected to be three months minimum, and while he's frustrated he'll miss playing time, he's trying to stay upbeat and positive.
"My doctor says that if I rush this to get back faster, it could take me out permanently," Dotson said. "I'm just happy it happened now and not my senior year. Once I get to 100-percent, I'll be a totally different player. It helps knowing that I have another year after this one, but my off-season will be crucial (for recruiting)."
GREG LITTLE THOUGHTS
Gregory Little, the country's top-ranked offensive tackle, re-opened his recruitment on Monday night. The Allen, Texas lineman had been committed to Texas A&M since June of 2014, but committing so early left him thinking he might've made a premature decision according to his mother.
From BleacherReport's Damon Sayles
"At the time he committed, he knew that was the place he wanted to be," Little's mother said regarding Texas A&M. "Fast-forward [to now], he felt it was too early in the process to commit. Because this is such a life-changing event, he feels he has to go through the recruiting process to evaluate where he wants to go."
Ohio State has been lobbying for a visit from Little for some time, but it appears that Alabama and Ole Miss are the front-runners to land him at this point. Is another commitment on the horizon? That's hard to say, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Buckeyes received an official visit from Little during the season either way. With three commitments along the offensive line, Ohio State isn't actively searching for a fourth, but a player like Little would be too good to pass up if the opportunity presented itself.
HUDSON TALKS FNL VISIT
There may not be a player in Ohio's 2017 class with more upside than Toledo Central Catholic's James Hudson. A 6-foot-5, 270-pound two-way lineman, Hudson's recruitment has not yet taken off like some expected it to following his dominating performance during last December's state championship game against Joe Burrow and Athens. He holds four offers (West Virginia, Iowa, Kentucky and Toledo) and has been to Michigan State, Notre Dame and Kentucky this summer. Noticeably absent from the list of schools he's visited this summer is Ohio State, and Hudson isn't sure if he'll make it to Friday Night Lights either.
"I should be there," Hudson told 11W. "But I'm still deciding. I think they'd try to get me to play offensive line like they did at Michigan State camp, but I don't practice pass blocking at all, we're a running team."
Hudson's potential as an offensive lineman is exciting, but his development as a defensive lineman makes him feel a bit more comfortable in that role.
"Most coaches have said they see me as a defensive lineman," he said. "I think I could be a good three-technique lineman in college. I have seen people on the internet saying that I don't have good enough feet to play defensive line, but you have to have even better feet to play offensive line. That writer was basing it on one camp where I had a bad day playing a position that I don't really play. They've never seen me play on the field during an actual game."
I've seen Hudson play and his frame, athleticism and explosion are rare for a player his age. It'd be in his best interest to make it to Columbus next week if he wants a chance to impress the Buckeyes heading into his junior year.
