The Hurry Up is your nightcap of Ohio State recruiting news, catching you up on the day’s events with an ear on the ground for what’s next.
A PEEK INTO ZEKE
As noted above, last night's E:60 story on the decision by Ezekiel Elliott to leave the cozy confines of home and legacy for a shot at the brights and high expectations at Ohio State, drew some attention to the Buckeyes.
Fred Hansard wasn't the only Ohio State recruit to take notice.
S/o @EzekielElliott pic.twitter.com/xwSu6rohPL
— DAMAR HAMLIN (@HamlinIsland) August 19, 2015
That's Damar Hamlin during a visit to Columbus with Ezekiel. For a player like Hamlin, from a place that values hometown loyalty the way Pittsburgh does, Zeke's success and story is one that the Buckeyes can point to as an example of why occasionally leaving home for something big is the best way to honor your heritage.
The future of the Ohio State running game meets the present and the lessons are invaluable.
Elliott's impact extends to the next wave of the Buckeyes' ground game as well. Zeke has been upfront with Kareem Walker during visits to Ohio State about what to expect in Columbus and what to expect when he leaves the hometown team for the Buckeyes.
"Zeke was there to help me out at times when I've had bad thoughts, and he always gave me good advice," Walker said of the Heisman frontrunner. "He told me that he knows how it feels to be a big recruit in your home state and that 'turning your back on home' is hard, but it's what is best for us as individuals in those cases, there's going to be people saying certain things."
The developing friendship between the pair of running backs hasn't revolved around football, but the parallels between their lives.
"(Elliott) makes sure I'm good on and off the field," Walker added. "I got a chance to be with him a bit during the E:60 thing and got to experience what it's like to be around him and the things we've talked about will be good for me to know when I get to Ohio State. I know I won't regret my decision, and (Zeke) told me that I'll be successful if I just buy into the plan.
I can go and honor my state by doing something, and being successful and they can't hate me for that," Walker concluded. "The real people (in my life) will respect it."
THIS WEEKEND IS IT FOR PRYTS?
Rumblings from the Happiest of Valleys today indicate that a potential decision date has been pinpointed by Pennsylvania 2016 safety Andrew Pryts. Nearly every recent 247Sports crystal ball that's been cast has been for Penn State and the talk has been that a Saturday decision is imminent, although Pryts has denied that being the case as of a 4:15 p.m. conversation with 11W.
Still, the Buckeyes have been at the top of his list since March and there's not been any loss of optimism on their part.
The last visit Pryts took to Penn State was just over a week ago, the last visit to Ohio State was just over a month ago, so the Nittany Lions – where the safety's father played – are the freshest in his mind, as well as the place he's most familiar with. Comfort and relationships is always key in recruiting and there's no doubt that Luke Fickell and Chris Ash have done a great job giving the Buckeyes a real shot in this race.
Pryts is the country's 19th-ranked safety and a four-star prospect according to the 247Sports.com composite rankings.
HANSARD FEELING GOOD ABOUT BUCKEYES STILL
The Buckeyes are in the hunt for a number of defensive tackles still in the 2016 class, but they're looking ahead to 2017 as well. One of their targets in next year's class is New Jersey's Fred Hansard, who – if his tweets are to be believed – is fond of the Buckeyes as well.
- Ohio State is high in my recruitment
— Fred Hansard (@Fred_Hansard56) August 15, 2015
Hansard, a 6-foot-4, 310-pounder who hails from Princeton, has an offer from Ohio State, as well as Miami, Penn State, Michigan, Rutgers and more.
He's visited Miami, Rutgers and Penn State in the last month, but has yet to make a trip to Columbus, although he was impressed by the story of their star running back.
Have so much respect for @EzekielElliott
— Fred Hansard (@Fred_Hansard56) August 19, 2015
Hansard is one of a handful of defensive tackles in his class that have already earned an Ohio State offer and a name to keep monitoring as he enters his junior season.
