The Hurry Up: Cornerback Commit Sets Date for Official Visit, Buckeyes Continue Chase for Top-Rated JUCO Linebacker and 2018 Targets Pack Rivals100

By Andrew Lind on August 8, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson
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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.

WADING THROUGH THE RECRUITING WATERS

Ohio State's recruitment of commit Shaun Wade seems as if it will be a weekly topic of discussion until the five-star cornerback makes his final decision in late November. That means the Buckeyes must fend off schools like Alabama, Michigan and Notre Dame if they hope to land the 6-foot-1, 177-pound prospect.

Wade's father, Randy, told 247Sports this weekend that he will make an official visit to Notre Dame on Sept. 17, when the Fighting Irish host Michigan State; Ohio State on Oct. 8, when the Buckeyes take on Indiana; and Michigan on Oct. 1, when the Wolverines battle Wisconsin.

“I think it would be good for him to take his other two visits for the experience, but I'm not sure that is going to happen,” the elder Wade said.

The Jacksonville, Florida, native has been committed to Ohio State since last January, but has cited Alabama and Notre Dame as fallback options if his pledge were to fall through. It's notable that his father doesn't think the visit to Tuscaloosa will happen, as the Crimson Tide recently accepted commitments from two of the country's top defensive backs.

Wade, meanwhile, is considered by 247Sports Composite as the third-best corner and No. 18 overall prospect in the Class of 2017.

HOME COOKING

Four-star cornerback Lamont Wade listed Ohio State among Alabama, Mississippi State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, West Virginia and UCLA when he narrowed down his list of potential college suitors to eight programs in late July. On Monday, Wade made the short trip from Clairton, Pennsylvania, to the Steel City for an unofficial visit.

His father said last week that the eighth-ranked cornerback and No. 58 overall prospect in the Class of 2017 will take an official visit to Ohio State. Things are still fluid at this point, but the visit is expected to take place when the Buckeyes host Nebraska on Nov. 5 or Michigan on Nov. 26.

Wade will announce his college decision on Dec. 16, and there is concern at this point as to whether he would be able to enroll early at Ohio State as he would prefer to do. Landing his commitment could ultimately rest upon the number of pledges the Buckeyes have between now and that date.

DIAMOND IN THE JUCO ROUGH

Dodge City (Kansas) Community College linebacker Gary Johnson committed to Alabama back in March, but that hasn't stopped Ohio State from trying to land the third-best junior college prospect in the Class of 2017. The Buckeyes verbally offered the 6-foot-1, 225-pounder back in May, and he shared his official offer on Twitter late Sunday evening.

Johnson, who is originally from Birmingham, Alabama, has 20 offers from the likes of Arizona State, Auburn, Baylor, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi State and Ole Miss. It looks as if the Crimson Tide have him locked down, however.

“I can't see myself playing anywhere but Alabama,” he told AL.com.

Johnson recorded 133 tackles, 8.5 sacks, four interceptions and four forced fumbles in leading the Conquistadors to the NJCAA Salt City Bowl last season.

WOMEN'S CLINIC FALLOUT

Four-star athlete Devodrick Johnson decommited from Texas A&M after a weekend visit to Texas. Being recruited primarily as a linebacker, this is significant because the Longhorns are seemingly the leading threat to Ohio State's chances with five-star prospect Baron Browning of Kennedale, Texas.

Johnson told Horns247 the actions of two Texas A&M assistants during a football clinic for women — for which they were suspended for two weeks — played a role in his decision.

“I'm decommitting because of the situation that happened with the women's clinic,” he said. “I'm making sure I'm making the right decision. At the end of the day, I'm making a 40-year decision. It's based on my whole life.”

Browning, meanwhile, is one of the few priority targets remaining for Buckeyes' 2017 class. He had been considered an Ohio State lean for some time, but things shifted after he visited Austin last month. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder lists Ohio State and Texas, along with Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, TCU, UCLA and USC, in his Top 10.

We'll have to wait and see how Johnson's decision affects Browning, as the Longhorns have yet to extend a scholarship offer to the former.

POTENTIAL BUCKEYES GALORE

Rivals.com revealed its initial rankings for the Class of 2018 on Tuesday. The Top 100 included one Ohio State commit — quarterback Emory Jones — as well as nearly 20 other prospects to whom the Buckeyes have offered a scholarship.

The Top 100 comprises of Laurinburg, North Carolina, running back Zamir White (No. 5); Fort Lauderdale, Florida, cornerback Patrick Surtain (No. 10); Jackson, Tennessee, defensive tackle Greg Emerson; Fort Lauderdale cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. (No 13); Houston, Texas, cornerback Anthony Cook (No. 14); Atlanta, Georgia, offensive tackle Jamaree Sayler (No. 23); Ramsey, New Jersey, defensive tackle Tyler Friday (No. 26); Westerville running back Jaelen Gill (No. 26); Huber Heights athlete L'Christian Smith (No. 33); Chicago, Illinois, cornerback Houston Griffith (No. 34); Bellflower, California, safety Jaiden Woodbey (No. 38); Concord, North Carolina, defensive tackle Rick Sandidge (No. 43); Las Vegas, Nevada, linebacker Palaie Gaoteote (No. 49); Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, tight end Zack Kuntz (No. 50); Baltimore, Maryland, defensive tackle Taron Vincent (No. 59); Tampa, Florida, offensive lineman Richard Gouraige (No. 62); Fairfield offensive lineman Jackson Carman (No. 64); St. Louis, Missouri, wide receiver Kamryn Babb; and Hollywood, Florida, wide receiver Xavier Williams (No. 87).

 

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