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.
WINT MIGHT WAIT
After his official visit to Ohio State last weekend–and subsequent scholarship offer from the Buckeyes–it appeared that things could move quickly between the program and Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn) defensive back Jahsen Wint. However, a few new scholarship offers may cause him to slow things down just a bit.
Penn State, Rutgers and Boston College each followed the Buckeyes' lead this week and offered the Temple commit. Wint says that a visit to one or a few of those schools may be necessary but he can't help but wonder about the timing of the new offers.
"It's better late than never," Wint said about the new opportunities. "I might take a visit or two but my eyes are really set on Ohio State and Temple."
Does that mean a potential January–or later–decision?
"Maybe so," Wint said.
The 247Sports.com crystal ball for the 5-foot-11, 186-pound Wint currently reads 91-percent in the favor of the Buckeyes.
FULLER HEARING FROM SCHIANO
Last weekend, one of Ohio State's top remaining defensive targets in 2016, Jordan Fuller, made his first official visit last weekend when he took a trip to South Bend to see Notre Dame.
"It was great," The 2015 New Jersey Player of the Year told 11W of the trip. "It went great."
Great or not, it appears that Notre Dame isn't really in the mix just a week later for the country's eighth-ranked athlete.
From NJ.com:
"My focus has gotten smaller," said Fuller. "They change every day, pretty much. It's tough. But we're discussing between Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Michigan and Rutgers."
As the Buckeyes, Fuller has been in contact with new Ohio State assistant coach Greg Schiano. The two have a connection from Schiano's tenure at Rutgers: Schiano recruited his brother Devin–who signed with UCLA–and tried to bring him to Piscataway.
"I've spoken with (Schiano), a few days ago," Fuller told 11W. "My family knows him better than I do because of devin's recruitment. I don't know him very well."
After a senior season that included over 1600 all-purpose yards, 21 touchdowns and six interceptions, Fuller–who was nominated for the Lockheed Martin Air Defender of the Year, presented to the nation's best defensive back–is looking forward to a couple of weeks of downtime. Ohio State continues to hope for an official visit from Fuller, who could make a decision next month. For now, he's still playing coy about where his next round of visits may take him.
"I'm not sure what other trips I might make," the four-star added.
JETER HAS TOP EIGHT
The Buckeyes are in the top eight schools for 2017 defensive tackle Donovan Jeter, a 6-foot-4, 270-pounder from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
Again, thanks to all the schools that offered me.. This list can change but here is the TOP 8 pic.twitter.com/uqLFr1YFCe
— 5God (@JeteNificent34) December 18, 2015
Jeter, who visited Ohio State in June and whom they offered in July, is the country's 16th-ranked defensive tackle and 270th-ranked overall prospect.
GRIMES SHOWS OFF
It's highlight reel season and the country's top-ranked 2017 wide receiver, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) five-star Trevon Grimes has released his junior season tape.
Despite missing three games with an ankle injury, it's easy to see why the 6-foot-3 Grimes is so highly-regarded. His effortless speed, ability to high-point the football with strong hands and incredible balance make him a unique prospect.
Ohio State remains the favorite to land the Indiana-native Grimes, who is a two-time state champion with the Raiders.
HANSARD EAGER TO GET STARTED WITH SCHIANO
Another 2017 defensive tackle, Princeton, New Jersey's Fred Hansard, is also still feeling pretty good about the Buckeyes.
Can't wait to build this relationship with Coach Schiano #GoBucks
— Fred Hansard (@Fred_Hansard56) December 18, 2015
Ranked as the seventh best defensive tackle in his class, Hansard's recruitment feels like it will be an interesting one. He's a top target (obviously) for the home-state Scarlet Knights and new head coach Chris Ash, who is likely to be desperate to make a splash in 2017 in an attempt to stop the state's borders from hemorrhaging as top talent keeps heading anywhere but Rutgers.
Penn State, who used to own New Jersey, is heavily involved and Michigan, who has dominated New Jersey recruiting in 2016, is one of the only schools Hansard has visited thus far. Then you have the Buckeyes and Larry Johnson–along now with Greg Schiano–recruiting him and it's bound to get interesting, so stay tuned.
