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.
SIBLEY'S SITUATION
OK, let's cut to it: Todd Sibley Jr., who has been committed to Ohio State since April 19, 2015, has been asked by the Buckeyes to grayshirt, delaying his enrollment to an–as of now–unknown date, likely January of 2018 as opposed to June of 2017.
Ohio's eighth-ranked 2017 prospect told 11W he was taken back by the news.
"I felt disappointed. It was a huge letdown. To be committed for almost a year and remaining loyal the entire time," Sibley said. "(Playing at Ohio State) was the dream, so it was heartbreaking to hear it."
Of course, the truth is that Sibley's opportunity to play at Ohio State isn't being taken away from him, though the delay he's being asked to consider certainly could feel like a slap in the face. There's no doubt that Ohio State's numbers are tight for 2017 but to ask a player who's been committed for a year to grayshirt while you host another player at his position this weekend isn't a good look for the Buckeyes and will likely draw some negative attention to the Ohio State recruiting machine.
As a bold prediction, Sibley is not going to be the only player currently committed who is asked to grayshirt. He may be the only one who will choose another school in lieu of enrolling later at Ohio State, and he'll definitely take a good look around one way or another. Sibley is a top-250 player nationally and will have a number of options presenting themselves to him that won't require delaying his enrollment. So, the question will become: "Do I want to play at Ohio State–six months later than I planned–or do I want to go somewhere else where I may redshirt anyway?"
Sibley will not be at Ohio State this weekend. I think a decision about his future with the Buckeyes could come as early as next week.
MULLINS CONTINUES TO TURN HEADS
Another camp, another big-time show put on by St. Francis De Sales (Columbus) defensive tackle Derrius Mullins.
Last weekend at the Rivals Camp Series in Columbus, Mullins–all 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds of him–dominated his opposition and was name the MVP of the defensive linemen in attendance.
Got MVP at the @RivalsCamp #RivalsCamp pic.twitter.com/SjkB9JMjmD
— Derrius Mullins (@derrius71) April 9, 2016
BuckeyeGrove.com analyst Marc Givler was in attendance and gave Eleven Warriors a brief scouting report on Mullins' continued improvement.
"Derrius has always had a very high compete level which has helped him greatly in these camp settings. He shows up ready to go and with the intent of being the best guy there," Givler shared. "Physically he has always been freakishly strong but he has done a good job of keeping his weight under control, he's running a lot on the side and working on his take off which has improved a lot over the past 12 months. I'd say that's the biggest take way with him that I've noticed in recent months is that he's getting more explosive off the snap, getting a quicker first step."
Ohio State has two committed defensive tackles already in the 2017 class and Mullins is one potential offer down the line, especially if he decides to come to campus in June for camp with the Buckeyes. He's a totally different "type" of defensive tackle than Haskell Garrett and Jerron Cage, who are a bit smaller and more deft with their footwork, but there's a need for each body-type in today's college football world.
The country's 42nd-ranked defensive tackle spent Friday at Michigan State, and currently has offers from Indiana, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Kentucky and others.
JORDAN FULLER VISITING OHIO STATE THIS WEEKEND
One of the higher-ranked, and latest committed, members of Ohio State's 2016 signing class, New Jersey's Jordan Fuller, is back in Columbus for the first time since his January official visit.
"I'm just excited to get around the team again," Fuller said. "I want to see everything up close without the recruiting. The real, real stuff."
Fuller has been running track and working hard in the weight room to change his body a bit and to make sure he's going to be ready for the rigors of college football come June.
"I'm 198 pounds right now, so I'm staying around the same weight, but I'm gaining muscle and losing some fat," Fuller told 11W. "The whole staff wants me to around 200 pounds, and so do I. They want me to come in the fastest and strongest I've ever been while staying under 205."
ARTHUR SITKOWSKI IS ANOTHER 2018 QUARTERBACK TO WATCH
Another player who turned some heads at the Rivals' camp last weekend was Arthur Sitkowski, a big-bodied, strong-armed 2018 quarterback from Matawan, New Jersey.
Sitkowsi, one of Rivals' early Top 100 players in the 2018 class, does not yet have an offer because, as with most young quarterbacks, he needs to find some face-to-face time with college coaches.
"Things are going good," Sitkowski said. "I had a good day at Rivals, but I have to get better."
Recruiting, as expected for a 6-foot-4, 205-pound teenage quarterback, is beginning to warm up.
"It's picking up," Sitkowski said of his interest from colleges. "I've been hearing from Pitt, North Carolina, Wisconsin and I've visited Boston College, Rutgers and Maryland."
Ohio State hasn't yet reached out to Sitkowski, but he said he hopes to get back to Columbus this summer for one of the Buckeyes' summer camps.
MICAH CLARK DROPS BUCKEYES FROM HIS LIST
As mentioned, numbers are tight within Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class, so players who at one time listed the Buckeyes as their leaders are readjusting their individual lists and shuffling the Scarlet and Gray out of their minds.
That's the case with Micah Clark, an offensive tackle from Holmdel, New Jersey, who is the country's 70th-ranked 2017 prospect. He dropped his top five schools on Twitter Thursday and Ohio State, who was his outright leader in late 2015, is nowhere to be found.
— Micah Clark (@MicahClark17) April 14, 2016
With two top-ranked offensive tackles already committed, it's not a surprise to see Ohio State dropping off some lists.
PSSSST....I'M GOING ON VACATION
After the conclusion of Saturday's spring game, I will be taking a vacation. Hooray.
I will be gone from Sunday and I will return next Saturday, so I'll be back to give you the The Hurry Up in conjunction with the return of Game of Thrones on Sunday, April 24.
Andrew will provide some recruiting coverage during the week in the event of anything wild and crazy breaking/happening.
Enjoy the break from the madness, and I'll talk to you next week.
