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.
HANSARD SETS DECISION DATE
Call it the week of the defensive tackle.
On Monday the Buckeyes offered Texas' Marvin Wilson, the country's top-ranked defensive tackle and top-ranked player overall according to Rivals.com. On Tuesday, we touched on Aubrey Solomon and Dalyn Wade-Perry, a pair of big-timers from Georgia and New Jersey, respectively. Tonight, it's another New Jersey star, Fred Hansard, who is the headliner: the nation's ninth-ranked defensive tackle has set a decision date.
After talking it over with my family, I would like to announce that I will be making College Decision on my birthday (May 14th)
— Fred Hansard (@Fred_Hansard56) March 16, 2016
Hansard visited Ohio State in late January, his first and only visit to Columbus, and with a decision date set, it's safe to assume that a college choice has already been made, at least for the most part.
The most recent visit for Hansard was to Penn State, is one that could loom large as he gets closer to shutting things down in his recruitment. Hansard is a 6-foot-3, 305-pounder from Princeton, New Jersey. He was offered by Ohio State last May and the Buckeyes are absolutely one of the teams at the top of his list.
With two defensive tackles committed and a host of big names still considering Ohio State, watching what Urban Meyer's staff would do if they were Hansard's choice could be mighty interesting.
FRIDAY STARTING TO BREAK DOWN DIFFICULT DECISION
Another New Jersey star to watch is, 2018 offensive lineman Tyler Friday, who suits for Don Bosco Prep. With early offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, North Carolina, Maryland and others, Friday–a 6-foot-3, 260 pound guard–is one of the most offered sophomores in the country.
Friday told Rivals.com that he's just trying to get himself acclimated to all the attention.
"It was really unexpected, to be honest," the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Friday said of his meteoric rise. "Freshman year I had zero offers and it really picked up here at the end of my sophomore year. I’m just trying to be humble about it."
A two-way player, Friday has reportedly expressed interest in visiting Ohio State, where his former teammate at Bosco, Kevin Feder, is now a redshirt-freshman. He could line up along the offensive line or the defensive line in college, but he's not worrying about that yet.
"They’re telling me to just be a football player and be open to everything," he said. "I’m willing to play wherever the coach wants me to play."
As he emerges on the national recruiting scene, Friday also sat down and talked with Scout.com, touching on Ohio State, Michigan and others.
GILLISON'S RECRUITING GETS UNDERWAY
One reason Ohio State may pass on a tight end in the 2017 class is because, just down the street from the school, one of the more dynamic athletes in the 2018 class is on the verge of becoming a national recruiting name.
Trenton Gillison, a 6-foot-5, 230-pounder from Pickerington Central checks in early as the fifth-ranked tight end in the 2018 class and he's been hearing from the Buckeyes lately.
"Things are going great," Gillison told 11W about his recruiting. "I've talked to Luke Fickell a couple times already."
With nine early offers, including Michigan, Ole Miss and Pitt, Gillison is on his way to big things. He says that the Buckeyes are interested in seeing him camp this summer and that Fickell's hope is for continued development.
"He just wants me to keep improving," Gillison said of the Buckeye assistant's message. "To get bigger, stronger and faster."
On track to be one of Ohio's best players says he wants to visit every school that has currently offered, but that's not going to be a knock on the hometown team.
"I would like to visit all of the schools that have offered me so far," he said. "(Ohio State) will still be a priority and I will visit them to show them that I'm interested in them."
Gillison told us that he's currently checking at 230-pounds and at 4.8 in the 40-yard dash, both college-ready numbers. Though he plays both sides of the ball now, he's got a preference for the future.
"I would like to play tight end," Gillison said. "But I will play wherever they want me to play.
SIBLEY TALKS TO SCOUT.COM ABOUT REPEATING, RECRUITING
There's been a lot of discussion in recent weeks about running back recruiting and Ohio State as they added a JK Dobbins commitment and entertained a Cam Akers visit, but don't forget about Todd Sibley, the country's 17th-ranked running back.
Last night in Canton, Sibley talked to Scout.com analyst Bill Greene about Hoban's efforts to repeat, his efforts to stay on top of his game and how his recruitment may be affected by Dobbins.
Expect a big year from Sibley and Hoban as they look to defend their state title.
