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 less-than-stellar home schedule in early 2015 means that – up to this point – there's been a shortage of big time recruiting visitors to Columbus so far this season. That changes this weekend as the Buckeyes welcome Penn State and a host of the country's top prospects and a handful of key names for 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Here's the most updated list we here at Eleven Warriors have been able to compile.
OHIO STATE COMMITMENTS EXPECTED
One of the perks of these big weekends is the chance for the currently committed #teens to get a chance to strengthen – and in some cases develop – the bonds that will get them through the beginnings of their Ohio State careers.
The last time @KingJames was at #OhioState these #dream14 members (and Mike Gesicki) took in the ambience. pic.twitter.com/Ia1ilk8RBI
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) September 5, 2014
For the Buckeye pledges, especially guys like Tristen Wallace and Wayne Davis who aren't often in Columbus, it's their chance to get face-to-face time with future coaches and teammates. For offensive lineman like Jack Wohlabaugh, Tyler Gerald and Gavin Cupp – and 2017 star Josh Myers – it's an opportunity to start really getting to know the guys they'll line up alongside, eat next to and live with for the next four-to-five years of their life.
The quiet and private Isaiah Pryor will be in attendance, giving him a chance to get to know his future teammates. It's impossible to understate how valuable these days are, just as much for class keeping as class building, especially when it comes to the out-of-state jewels.
THE BIG 2016 FISH
Ohio State's 2016 class, with 18 verbal commitments, is close to finished. There are a handful of spots left, four or five, and this weekend will see a couple of names that are likely to make their way into the mix. Who are the biggest visitors to watch?
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Binjimen Victor • Wide Receiver • Coconut Creek, Florida
- Victor is the big, fast, explosive outside wide receiver threat that the Buckeyes have been looking for to compliment Austin Mack in the 2016 class and he's making his official visit to Columbus this weekend. This is Victor's second official visit – he made one to West Virginia two weeks ago – and it could be the final touches on a South Florida coup for Zach Smith. His teammate, Georgia commitment Malek Young, a three-star cornerback, will also visit.
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Sam Bruce • Wide Receiver • Fort Lauderdale
- A long-shot, certainly, but Sam Bruce is the type of gamebreaking wide receiver that – given the chance – Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes couldn't say no to. He's a teammate of Nick Bosa at St. Thomas Aquinas and he's been committed to Miami since birth seemingly, but unrest in Coral Gables has at least opened the door for another team to make a play and the Buckeyes are going to give it their best shot.
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Antonio Williams • Running Back • New London, North Carolina
- A new name to Ohio State recruiting fans, Williams was committed to Wisconsin for the past 10 months but re-opened his recruitment this week as news of his visit to Columbus began circulating. The country's seventh-ranked running back, Williams isn't taking this visit to Ohio State just for kicks; it's being made to make sure he's comfortable with what is almost certainly going to be his home for the next four years. I expect a commitment from Williams early next week.
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Rashard Lawrence • Defensive Tackle • Monroe, Louisiana
- A 6-foot-3, 305-pound, five-star defensive tackle from Louisiana, Lawrence will make his second trip to Ohio State (he visited in June), an official visit. Lawrence is the country's 24th-ranked overall prospect in the 2016 class and one of only a few potential options left for the Buckeyes along the interior defensive line. The Tigers of LSU continue to be the runaway favorite to land him, but there's no doubt the Buckeyes are going to make every effort this weekend to impress upon him their need for help at his position.
THE 2017 DEFENSIVE BACKS
If there's one positional group that could have the most lasting effect this weekend, it's the defensive backs, especially in the 2017 recruiting class. The Buckeyes already have potential defensive back commitments from Shaun Wade, Isaiah Pryor, Brendon White and Marcus Williamson (Pryor and White may grow into linebackers), but there are still a number of players they'd like to join the fray who will be in the stadium on Saturday.
The two names that stand out the most are Clairton, Pennsylvania's Lamont Wade and Hinesville, Georgia's Richard LeCounte. Wade and LeCounte, both high four-stars ranked in the top 60 nationally, have each been to Ohio State many times already and this weekend is another chance for the duo to spend time together but also to get to know the other future Buckeyes.
Detroit Martin Luther King's Ambry Thomas, also a four-star cornerback, is reportedly visiting with his cousin, Cass Tech's Jaylen Kelly-Powell, and Thomas has been vocal lately about his respect and relationship with Kerry Coombs.
It's uncertain – although I'm beginning to think it's unlikely – if Jamyest Williams, a four-star athlete and teammate of Isaiah Pryor's will make the trip. One player who definitely won't be in attendance and who you can cross off the list for the Buckeyes' 2017 class is Pittsburgh's Paris Ford, who committed to his hometown Panthers Friday.
THE FULL LIST AS WE HAVE IT
2016 QB Tristen Wallace
2016 RB Antonio Williams
2016 WR Austin Mack
2016 WR Binjimen Victor
2016 WR Sam Bruce
2016 TE Luke Farrell
2016 OL Jack Wohlabaugh
2016 OL Michael Jordan
2016 OL Gavin Cupp
2016 DE Nick Bosa
2016 DE Jonathon Cooper
2016 DL Rashard Lawrence
2016 LB Khaleke Hudson
2016 DB Wayne Davis
2016 DB Malek Young
2016 P Drue Chrisman
2016 ATH Kierre Hawkins
2017 WR Caleb Stoneburner
2017 OL Josh Myers
2017 DL Jerron Cage
2017 DL Donovan Jeter
2017 DB Marcus Williamson
2017 DB Ambry Thomas
2017 DB Lamont Wade
2017 DB Richard LeCounte
2017 DB Isaiah Pryor
2017 DB Jaylen Kelly-Powell
2017 ATH Brendon White
2017 ATH Javonte Richardson
2017 ATH Jamyest Williams
2017 ATH Trey Pugh
2018 RB Jaelen Gill
2018 RB Ricky Slade
