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.
BUCKEYES CONTINUE TO TREND UPWARD WITH CAM AKERS
Though only time will tell if five-star running back Cam Akers makes it to Columbus for Friday Night Lights, the Buckeyes may be in for some good news soon if 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong's latest Crystal Ball prediction is accurate; he's gotten more than 87 percent of nearly 800 predictions right.
New @247CrystalBall Forecast: Five-star RB Cam Akers to #OhioState #Buckeyes: https://t.co/hZ2928rlLH
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) July 20, 2016
Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee continue to lobby for the Clinton, Mississippi, native, but the last seven Crystal Ball predictions have been in favor of the Buckeyes. Akers last visited Columbus on March 7, just days after he decommitted from Alabama.
If he's able to figure out a way to make it on Friday, there's a huge possibility that he makes a pledge to the Scarlet and Gray.
TENNESSEE VISIT BACK ON FOR EMORY JONES; FLORIDA TOMORROW?
We touched on Emory Jones in Tuesday's Hurry Up after it was reported that the second-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2018 cancelled his visit to Tennessee because of another obligation. However, he told GoVols247 ($) on Thursday morning that the trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, was back on.
The battle for the prospect from Heard County High School in Franklin, Georgia, has long been a considered a two-horse race between the Buckeyes and Volunteers, though Inside the Gators reported that he would attend Florida's Next Level Quarterback Camp on Friday. Jones, however, rebutted that notion on Twitter on Thursday — such a trip seemed to be tough logistically, anyway, as Jones will be in Columbus that evening.
@QBHitList @SWiltfong247 I'm not gonna be at Florida
— Emory Jones (@eXjones6) July 21, 2016
Though it will surely be brought up by opposing coaches, the fact that Ohio State has a pledge from Bishop Gorman's (Las Vegas, Nevada) Tate Martell, the No. 2-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2017, and a host of talented signal callers already on its roster doesn't faze Jones.
“The commitments aren't really affecting me. I know everywhere I go, I'm going to have to compete anyway,” he told Eleven Warriors last month. “[The staff] pointing me out as their top 2018 quarterback … that's exciting.”
The 6-foot-2, 193-pound Jones is slated to be on campus through Sunday, according to his mother Trina. He's hoping to make a decision on his future by the end of summer, and many believe that the extended time in Columbus could lead to a commitment during or following his visit.
ALABAMA OFFERS ANOTHER DEFENSIVE END FOLLOWING CHASE YOUNG'S VISIT
Five-star defensive end Chase Young — one of Ohio State's top remaining targets for the Class of 2017 — took his first unofficial visit to Alabama earlier this week. He called the visit “a big opportunity,” and it appears the Crimson Tide laid out the red carpet for the 6-foot-5, 225-pound recruit.
“It was pretty cool; the facilities are nice [and the] players are treated well,” Young told BamaOnLine ($). “Coach [Nick] Saban is a real cool, laid back coach. He has a focus you can tell that a lot of people don't have, and that's why Alabama is where they are now.”
Young also touted the program's facilities, saying they are a lot bigger and better than some of the other places that are recruiting him — though he's not necessarily knocking Ohio State when schools like in-state Maryland are after the Hyattsvile DaMatha Catholic High School product.
Following Young's nearly four-day visit, the Crimson Tide offered another defensive end from his class, three-star Elija Conliffe of Hampton, Virginia. This may be a sign of good news for the Buckeyes, who await Young's arrival at Friday Night Lights.
Ranked by 247Sports as the nation's No. 22 prospect overall and the top recruit in Maryland, Young owns more than 40 scholarship offers. However, more than 70 percent of Crystal Ball prognosticators believe he'll end up in Columbus.
LATE PUSH FOR ASCENDING 2017 ATHLETE
Markquese Bell, the nation's sixth-ranked athlete in the Class of 2017, announced via Twitter on Thursday afternoon that he will be in Columbus for Friday Night Lights. Bell shot up the 247 Composite rankings after a stellar showing at The Opening in Beaverton, Oregon, earlier this month.
Will be attending FNL at Ohio state tomorrow #GoBucks
— I C E (@MarkqueseB) July 21, 2016
The probable defensive back told Scout.com during the event that he was looking forward to his first official visit to Ohio State.
“I'm excited,” Bell said. “It's a school I have a lot of interest in. It's the name, and I watched them when they won the national championship.”
Bell has already made unofficial visits to Rutgers, Clemson, Florida and Michigan, and had 22 total scholarship offers. According to 247's Crystal Ball, the home-state Scarlet Knights are the favorites to land the Bridgeton, New Jersey product.
BUCKEYES REMAIN IN SEARCH OF FIRST COMMIT FROM CLASS OF 2018
For the third-consecutive day, Ohio State offered a scholarship to a Class of 2018 prospect from the state of Florida. With offensive tackle William Barnes and wide receiver Amari Burney, from Apopka and Clearwater, respectively, already on the recruiting board, the Buckeyes added four-star Tampa lineman Richard Gouraige to the fold.
Extremely Blessed to say I've received an offer from the Ohio state buckeyes #GoBuckeyes #BuckeyeNation pic.twitter.com/gZfHuR61P0
— RGlll (@richardg813) July 21, 2016
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound Gouraige plays on both sides of the ball at Cambridge Christian School, and is considered the fifth-best prospect in the Sunshine State. He holds more than 20 offers from schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee, but the Seminoles and Wildcats are tabbed as the leaders thus far.
Gouraige has no visits scheduled at this time.
NEVER TOo EARLY TO START ON 2019
Ohio State may still be waiting for its first commitment from the Class of 2018, but that doesn't mean that the Buckeyes coaching staff hasn't already begun laying the groundwork for 2019.
In fact, defensive end Antonio Alfano from Rahway, New Jersey's, Bergen Catholic began his first visit to Columbus on Wednesday afternoon, which culminates with the sophomore taking part in Friday Night Lights.
Ohio State tomorrow & then Friday Night Lights! @OhioStateFB @OhioStFootball @OhioState @OhioStAthletics pic.twitter.com/ldfJAakivz
— Antonio Alfano (@Antonioalfano99) July 21, 2016
The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder told Bucknuts.com that he was “very excited” for his visit, and that he likes Ohio State because of its history, academics, location and success with putting players in the National Football League.
Not yet rated by national recruiting services, Alfano has offers from Boston College, Duke, Penn State, Rutgers and Virginia Tech.
Should he perform well on Friday evening, he might add Ohio State to that list.
