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.
IMG WELCOMES HARBAUGH AND THE WOLVERINES…OR DO THEY?
Today, Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines descended on the Ascenders of IMG, the Bradenton, Florida-based prep school that has shaken up high school football in the last few years with their aggressive national recruiting. IMG, who houses more than 20 Division One football prospects alone, is opening their doors to the Big Ten's #winningest program in a move that is sure to bring copious amounts of publicity to both sides.
One thing that isn't going to happen, which stands directly against the presumed goal of this trip, will be recruiting.
Harbaugh asked what recruiting advantage is "I don't know if there is one"
— angelique (@chengelis) February 29, 2016
Ohio State commitment Marcus Williamson, who transferred to IMG in the beginning of January, told Eleven Warriors there will be no talking with the Michigan staff at all.
"There is zero contact with them while they're down here," Williamson said. "It's almost like they're not here. We're not allowed to talk to the players or the coaches."
From talking to other folks around IMG, I've heard a few terms thrown around about the Maize and Blue invasion, but it appears that, as least from a recruiting standpoint, there's been much ado about nothing. For Michigan, it's a spring break trip, but for the folks at IMG, it appears to be more of a nuisance.
Michigan brought two of their own compliance people to Florida to ensure that rules are adhered to, but in doing so have displaced some at IMG a bit, inconveniently. The Wolverines have all but taken over the facility, forcing staff that work at the school to avoid their own buildings in order to not violate NCAA regulations.
So, day one in Florida seems to have stirred up a lot of media for Michigan but not much else.
That's the point, isn't it?
MARTELL, LINDSEY AND GARRETT HEADING TO THE OPENING
We've talked a lot lately about Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman High School and, if yesterdays' results from Nike's The Opening regionals in Los Angeles are an indicator, that won't be slowing down anytime soon.
Three members of Gaels last state title team, including Ohio State commitment Haskell Garrett, were selected to The Opening. Five-star quarterback Tate Martell, a Texas A&M commitment, and former BG wide receiver, five-star Tyjon Lindsey were also selected –– Lindsey was also invited to last year's The Opening.
Martell and 2018 Bishop Gorman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, shared some thoughts on their weekend.
Martell and Lindsey, specifically, knew that being in attendance would likely end up producing the desired invite, but it's still an honor. Always confident, the country's top-ranked dual-threat quarterback said he was on his game on Sunday.
"It was probably the best day throwing I've ever had," Martell told 11W. "I had five incompletions the entire day."
His understudy under center, Thompson-Robinson, used the opportunity to get seen–necessary for a prospect that will likely not extensively see the field in high school until his senior year.
"It was a good experience, and I did well," Robinson-Thompson said. "I caught a lot of people's eyes that might have over looked me cause I'm behind Tate. I talked to Lavelle Durant, one of the QB coaches that worked with me during the camp, and it's not really (about me) making any big changes. It's just polishing up what I have, like sitting down in my base cause I'm a tall kid, and rearranging my feet at the top of my drop so I'm aligned to where I'm throwing and stuff."
Robinson-Thompson will visit Ohio State on March 24th. Haskell Garrett is scheduled to visit at the end of March as well, and it's been rumored that Lindsey will be with him. As for Martell? It's wait-and-see mode, but don't be surprised if he's decides to visit as well.
VICTOR TALKS ABOUT HIS RECRUITMENT WITH RIVALS.COM
One of the later additions, but undoubtedly one of the crown jewels of Ohio State's 2016 recruiting class was Binjimen Victor, the 6-foot-4, 175-pound wide receiver from Coconut Creek, Florida.
The fine folks at BuckeyeGrove.com were in Florida this weekend for the Rivals.com camp series and made a stop at at Coconut Creek to chat with Victor.
Victor talks about the changes in his life after signing day, how he committed the same day that Dwayne Haskins did and more.
GRIMES COMPETES TO COMPETE
When you're the nation's top wide receiver, one of the best track-and-field athletes and have scholarship offers from everyone and anyone you could want one from, there's not always a good reason to risk injury or–in some cases–embarrassment from a poor performance at the national recruiting camps and combines. The risk at those events, especially for a guy that's already got the acclaim and the name that Trevon Grimes does, usually outweighs the possible reward.
That hasn't stopped him yet, and if you believe what the 6-foot-4, 195-pounder says, it's not likely to. He feels showing up and camping, like he did at this weekend's Rivals Camp Series in Miami (where he earned the wide receiver MVP award), is a way he can pay back those who have helped him get to this position.
"I just feel like it's a respect thing," Grimes told 11W when asked why these camps continue to be a part of his spring and summer. "I'm never too good to get better, and those camps helped me gain exposure."
Ohio State is still the leader for Grimes, but Florida continues to make a push. Rivals writer Rob Cassidy says he almost committed to the Scarlet and Gray years ago.
Five-star wide receiver Trevon Grimes says he nearly committed to Ohio State as a freshman but held off. These days, he remains uncommitted but is still leaning toward Ohio State. Florida is one of the schools that has closed the gap on the Buckeyes, and the fact that Grimes’ high school teammate, quarterback Jake Allen, is committed to the Gators hasn’t hurt UF’s chances.
The Buckeyes are hoping to see the five-star on campus sometime this spring if he makes a trip home to his native Indianapolis.
