The Hurry Up is your nightly dose of updates from the Ohio State football recruiting trail, keeping tabs on the latest from commits and targets from around the country.
Riep-percussions?
In a heated battle with Ohio State for one of the top cornerbacks in the country, Amir Riep, Michigan State on Tuesday offered class of 2017 cornerback Josiah Scott. The three-star Fairfield, Ohio, native previously had scholarship offers from schools such as Iowa, Pittsburgh and West Virginia, among others.
Blessed to receive my 20th offer from Michigan State University!! #V4MSU #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/9bAXsWh54f
— Josiah Scott (@JosiahScott7) July 19, 2016
Have the Spartans been made aware of Riep's decision and have they moved on to another target?
Sources tell Eleven Warriors that the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder from Cincinnati Colerain cancelled his visit this week to East Lansing. Riep is set to make his announcement on Saturday, and 96 percent of 247 Crystal Ball predictions have him picking the Buckeyes.
Emory Jones Cancels Tennessee Visit, Decision Looming?
Whether or not Ohio State starting quarterback J.T. Barrett opts to leave following the 2016 season — he still has one year of eligibility remaining thereafter — the Buckeyes' quarterback room will be full of four- and five-star signal callers for the foreseeable future. That young talent includes redshirt freshman Joe Burrow, 2016 signee Dwayne Haskins and 2017 commits Tate Martell and Danny Clark and, potentially, 2018 prospect Emory Jones.
The battle for the nation's second-ranked dual-threat quarterback has long been considered a two-horse race between Ohio State and Tennessee, and Jones was expected to visit the Volunteers on Thursday, July 21. That trip has been cancelled, according to Bucknut's Bill Kurelic ($), who said another obligation took precedent. That makes his impending three-day visit to Columbus even more notable.
“The plan is for him to possibly fly in on Friday and leave out on Sunday,” said Jones' mother, Trina.
The 6-foot-2, 193-pound from Heard County High School in Franklin, Georgia, visited Ohio State in June with his mother. He told Eleven Warriors at that time the young talent ahead of him doesn't phase him.
“The commitments aren't really affecting me. I know everywhere I go I'm going to have to compete anyway,” Jones said. “[The staff] pointing me out as their top 2018 quarterback … that's exciting.”
Jones said he would probably make a decision on his future by the end of the summer, so it's possible that he commits following his visit for the annual Friday Night Lights camp.
Alabama Making Moves for Chase Young
Five-star defensive end prospect Chase Young remains one of Ohio State's priority targets in the 2017 class, despite the fact his position is not one of great need for the Buckeyes; Ohio State signed five-star Nick Bosa and four-star Jonathan Cooper in February.
The Hayattsville, Maryland, DeMatha Catholic High School product is expected to attending Friday Night Lights, but BamaOnLine reports that he is currently on his first unofficial visit to Alabama ($). He arrived on Sunday evening and will remain in Tuscaloosa until Wednesday.
“It's a big opportunity,” Young said. “It's Alabama. It's the best of the best. It's a big opportunity you have to take advantage of.”
Listed at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, Young is ranked by 247Sports as the nation's No. 22 prospect overall and the top recruit in Maryland. He owns more than 40 scholarship offers, though many consider Ohio State and Maryland as the favorites to land his services.
In a recent interview with Landof10.com's Jeremy Birmingham, Young said his relationship with Buckeyes defensive line coach Larry Johnson has played a significant role in his recruitment.
“Coach Johnson, we don't really talk about football. We talk about life and how he will also develop me as a man and how I'd fit in their defense,” he said. “We have a really good relationship. I text him a lot and I call him at least once a week.”
You can imagine Johnson is keeping tabs on Young this week.
Cam Akers to Miss Friday Night Lights
Clinton, Mississippi, running back Cam Akers and his parents were expected to make the trip to Ohio for Friday Night Lights. However, the five-star prospect told Bucknuts' Alex Gleitman on Tuesday afternoon about a change in plans.
“I won't be making it up,” Akers said. “I'll be back for an official [visit].”
This isn't a complete surprise, though, as he told Landof10.com last week he was unsure he would make it up to Ohio.
Ohio State is still considered by many as the team to beat for Akers' services, but Buckeyes running back coach Tony Alford is surely disappointed that he won't have the chance to spend some extra time with the prospect and his family. Akers last visited campus on March 7, just days after he decommitted from Alabama.
Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee all continue to be threats to land the ninth-ranked overall player in the Class of 2017, with the Rebels recently pulling even on Crystal Ball predictions.
Akers plans to enroll early but isn't likely to make a public final decision until this winter.
Jackson Carman Confident in Standing with Buckeyes
A candidate to become Ohio State's first commitment from the 2018 class, Fairfield, Ohio, offensive lineman Jackson Carman told Landof10.com that he will be in Columbus for Friday Night Lights. The top-ranked prospect in the state may not be working out during the event, however.
“I may do a little bit of working out, but it's up in the air right now. I'm not a fan of 1-on-1s without pads and the season is upon us. I don't want to risk anything, especially since I have nothing to prove as far as an offer goes.”
Carman visited Ohio State's campus a number of times in the last few months, including a visit during the annual spring game in April.
Had an amazing time at OSU! Got a chance to just talk football and learn from one of the best O-Line coaches in the game! #BuckeyeNation
— Jackson Carman (@Jackson_Carman) June 15, 2016
One hundred percent of 247 Crystal Ball predictions have the 6-foot-6, 290-pounder landing with the Buckeyes, though he has no dated planned for a college decision. Carman's long list of scholarship offers include Alabama, Clemson, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State and USC, among others.
Dallas Gant Visits Happy Valley
Toledo St. John's Jesuit linebacker Dallas Gant earned an offer from Ohio State in June following a one-day instructional camp in Columbus.
“It feels great. Makes me know that my hard work is paying off,” he told Eleven Warriors. “It's good to work out with Coach [Luke] Fickell, so if I went here I know how he would be coaching me.”
The 6-foot-3, 201-pounder is considered the nation's No. 4 outside linebacker in the class of 2018, according to the 247Sports rankings. He now owns 11 scholarship offers, including one each from Michigan State, Notre Dame and Penn State.
Gant was in State College, Pennsylvania, on Friday, and he told Lions247 he liked what he saw.
“I got there around 11 on Friday, and then we left around 6, I would say,” Gant said. “Coach V [Michael Villagrana] showed us around. They showed us everything — campus; all the facilities that they have. I liked it all. It's a big place and the people there were nice.
“We didn't get to see all of it because a lot of their stuff is under construction, so when we come back, we'll be able to see more of the place and see how the locker room looks and more of that kind of stuff,” he continued. “From the looks of it, though, it already looks pretty good. I got to see the stadium and pretty much everything down there.”
Very honored and blessed to receive my 11th offer from Penn State University! pic.twitter.com/H4Qt4ypRax
— Dallas Gant (@dallas_gant) July 15, 2016
Gant will return to Penn State for its annual “White Out” game in October, which just so happens to be against Ohio State. Before that, however, he plans to attend the Buckeyes' Friday Night Lights camp.
“[I'm] happy obviously, excited that I could actually attend The Ohio State University,” Gant told Eleven Warriors. “It's a big impact [to have earned a scholarship offer]. Be up here a lot more and see the place, see if it's a good fit for me and go from there.”
