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.
MORE ON PRIDGEON'S CHOICE
Wednesday the Buckeyes will find out if they have done enough to land Nassau Community College lineman Malcolm Pridgeon. Ohio State offered the 6-foot-8, 320-pounder in March, but as the recruiting class filled up early and Pridgeon scheduled official visits to Baylor, Florida and West Virginia, it seemed that the chances of him becoming a Buckeye were slim to none.
In December, Ed Warinner ratcheted up the interest and made Nassau Community College, and New York in general, a priority and began to really cultivate his relationship with Pridgeon. As the two discussed a potential visit to Ohio State, it became clear that interest was there on both sides, but could the Buckeyes make enough of an impact to overcome the longstanding relationship Pridgeon had built with Baylor? Could Warinner convince the powers that be that the Scout.com five-star was worth taking no matter what?
On his official visit, Pridgeon was blown away by the academic support staff at Ohio State and the Buckeyes' staff was blown away by his maturity and focus. He won over the entire staff and went home to make his choice, which brings us to now.
Can Warinner's relationships in New York, combined with the ability for his family to more easily see him play in Ohio compared to Texas, seal the deal for the Buckeyes? We'll know tomorrow around 10 a.m.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON BECKER
Let's get into the guys committing Wednesday and see if we can handicap the races.
Ohio State added a major piece of the puzzle on Monday night with the commitment of Jordan Fuller, but the Buckeyes would still like to add another defensive back if they can. Right now Carlos Becker is the top guy.
The Kissimmee, Florida, four-star, one of the country's fastest-rising prospects in recent months, made an official visit to Ohio State and Florida State, his final two schools, in January. The country's 15th-ranked cornerback has been in almost constant contact with new assistant coach Greg Schiano in recent weeks, and it's the depth of that relationship that has people on both sides of the decision wondering if maybe the Buckeyes' chances have been underestimated. Ohio State is absolutely in this race and are making sure the Osceola High School star knows he's a priority.
Of course, if it were a done deal, it'd have been a done deal already, but it's not. Becker's parents are deaf and there is one train of thought that suggests he'll pick Florida State because it's closer to home and to his parents.
However...
Multiple sources that I've talked to have said plainly that Becker's personality may be a better fit at Ohio State and that he really loved his visit to Columbus. He's a quiet, focused, kid and if I have to mention the "head vs heart" thing, I think his head actually is with the Buckeyes.
But heart usually wins.
I know I usually make a call on these players and I think that Becker will choose Florida State, but I'm not 100 percent sold because I know Ohio State isn't giving up the chase. The Buckeyes and Seminoles both want him in their class and he likes both schools a lot.
We'll find out Becker's choice at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
WHAT ABOUT WALLACE?
To add further intrigue to your Signing Day morning, Virginia's K'Von Wallace, who made his official visit to Ohio State this past weekend, will also make his college choice at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The three-star prospect, offered by Ohio State, Clemson and Michigan State in the last week, has been very reserved since his visits and there's not a lot of information coming out on him/from him but he has stated that the Buckeyes were the "dream school" growing up.
We all know that "Dream School" doesn't guarantee "choice" and it certainly doesn't when you're discussing a player that has only had one week to meet a coaching staff, take a visit, etc. Oh yeah, Wallace is still committed to Cincinnati, and according to folks in the Queen City, there's some optimism that he may spurn both Clemson and Ohio State and remain with the Bearcats.
I don't see that happening, but I also think that there's basically no way Wallace signs with Ohio State. The slight chance of that happening got significantly smaller hours ago now that Rodjay Burns has reconfirmed his pledge to the Buckeyes.
Either way, 9:30 a.m. will yield the answer but right now I say he's not going to end up at Ohio State and I feel pretty good about it.
ANY CHANCE OF A SURPRISE FOR HARRISON?
At 10 a.m., the Buckeyes should have some good news when it's expected that Malik Harrison will make his pledge to Ohio State official.
Harrison, who took an official to Ohio State in mid-January, canceled planned trips to Michigan State and Syracuse and will decide between the hometown Buckeyes, the Indiana Hoosiers and the Wisconsin Badgers Wednesday morning.
Wisconsin was, at one time, the leader for Harrison but the Buckeyes' offer he received in December changed the narrative of his recruitment completely. He's been told the Buckeyes will give him a chance to play offense if he prefers it and whether he ends up on offense or defense, it'd be an absolute stunner if he picked anyone other than Ohio State Wednesday morning.
ANY OTHER SURPRISES?
If you've followed recruiting for a while, you no doubt understand that–on signing day–anything can and has happened.
I do not expect any Ohio State commitments to flip to another school Wednesday. The Buckeyes' coaching staff withstood a late run by Maryland to retain Keandre Jones and he'll sign with Urban Meyer's team. They did the same with the Burns and Louisville.
That said, Drue Chrisman has confirmed to me that he'll grayshirt and go on scholarship next January, so he's not going to count directly against the 85 scholarship limit.
There have also been some rumblings that a current commitment may end up needing to take a JUCO/prep school route, but until that happens I will not put names to the rumor. If that comes to fruition, it would create another opening for next year.
Jamar King may very well pick the Buckeyes Wednesday afternoon, but almost all the confidence in his recruitment is coming from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I think he picks Nick Saban's Crimson Tide.
