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.
TWO BUCKEYES AMONG IMG CONTINGENT HEADING TO THE OPENING
As mentioned earlier Sunday, Ohio State commitments Isaiah Pryor and Marcus Williamson, participating in Nike's The Opening in Orlando, were among the first players picked for the summer's premier recruiting event.
Congrats to the 5th invite to #TheOpening Finals, IMG Academy DB Marcus Williamson (@WW_Marcus). #GOTOPEN pic.twitter.com/FqNsTKDrTk
— The Opening (@TheOpening) February 21, 2016
The full list of Sunday's invitees has a whopping six players from the IMG Academy, including the Buckeye pair, with only Hinesville (Georgia) defensive back Richard LeCounte setting the exception. For good measure, new IMG quarterback Kellen Mond, taking over the reins in Bradenton from Ole Miss signee Shea Patterson, was the first quarterback selected to the Elite 11 –– Mond transferred in weeks ago from San Antonio's Reagan High School.
Congrats on earning a spot in the premier football experience of the year. Welcome to #TheOpening Finals. #GOTOPEN pic.twitter.com/iOwHDhjm7i
— The Opening (@TheOpening) February 21, 2016
Williamson, named as MVP of the defensive backs, says he recognizes the uniqueness of the chance to earn this offer with his roommate and future teammate.
"It feels good to get invited with a future teammate in college," Williamson told 11W. "That doesn't happen all the time so that's special."
Williamson, according to 247Sports.com analyst Steve Wiltfong, was also special today. He was named the "alpha dog" of the entire event.
Marcus Williamson was the overall top performer at the event according to 247Sports immediately flashing in position drills and it carrying over to 7-on-7. A polished outside corner, Williamson has great feet and outstanding hips and he can run. He was the only defensive back on the grounds who could cover Top100 Baylor receiver commit Jhamon Ausbon.
Fellow Ohio State pledge Shaun Wade made the trip to Orlando, but did not participate in the event as he nurses a minor leg injury.
SPEAKING OF WILTFONG, IMG AND THE BUCKEYES...
Earlier Sunday, Wiltfong–one of the country's most dialed-in and well-respected recruiting analysts–made some noise when he made a 247Sports.com crystal ball prediction that five-star defensive end Joshua Kaindoh would ultimately pick Ohio State.
Kaindoh, 6-foot-5 and 250-pounds, is the country's top-ranked weakside defensive end and since he's originally from Maryland, is a player that is far more likely to leave the "south" for college than the average Florida star. A future early-enrollee, Wiltfong's intel comes from those on the ground in the Sunshine State today, and he's not someone I'd ever bet against when it comes to intel, but I decided to try and shake the sugar tree to see if anything else about this prediction was worth noting.
"He wants to visit (Ohio State) soon," one source said of Kaindoh, confirming that he's got a serious interest in the Buckeyes.
Still, the source cautioned to not get too ahead of things.
"I wouldn't be that confident yet," he said of the crystal ball pick.
Stay tuned. Larry Johnson will continue to be all over Kaindoh, who the Buckeyes offered during his freshman year.
LYNN BOWDEN MAKES SURPRISE COMMITMENT
One of Ohio's top 2017 prospects, Warren G. Harding's Lynn Bowden, has been in somewhat steady contact with Ohio State, has a scholarship offer from Michigan, Tennessee, Wisconsin, West Virginia and others, but Saturday he surprised many when he committed to Indiana during a weekend visit with the Hoosiers.
Citing trust with the coaching staff in Bloomington, Bowden's commitment came earlier than expected, helping launch the Hoosiers into the No. 24 spot in the 2017 national rankings. Bowden is one of the country's most dynamic athletes, and if he sticks with Indiana, would be a huge win for Kevin Wilson and his staff.
One person I've spoken to said that the early commitment is a smart decision.
"He's a really talented player," the source said. "But I don't see him ending up at Indiana if a place like Ohio State or Michigan was to really push for him. That'd be a surprise, because he's got special talent between the lines."
GREENE WANTS TO GET BACK TO OHIO STATE
Speaking of IMG...
Remember Emmanuel Greene?
Greene, the four-star wide receiver originally from Coconut Creek High School but now at IMG, spent almost a week in Columbus last summer and was a player that many expected to try to make a commitment to Ohio State shortly thereafter. That didn't happen and Greene backed off a bit, deciding to let his recruitment play out some more.
Now, several months later, Greene said he's still hearing from Ohio State a bit and wants to get back to see the Buckeyes.
"I haven't finalized any plans yet," Greene told 11W. "But I want to visit Ohio State, West Virginia, Tennessee and a few others."
At one time a regular in communication with the Buckeyes. Ohio State and Greene haven't been talking quite as much lately.
"We've been talking a little bit," the country's 33rd-ranked wide receiver said about the Buckeyes. "The recruiting process is pretty difficult."
With numbers tight in 2017 and playing a position that is so crowded with interested prospects, it's tough to see where or how Greene fits into the class as of today with players like Tyjon Lindsey, Trevon Grimes, Jaylen Harris and others so firmly in the mix for Ohio State.
