The Hurry Up: 5-Star Linebacker Sets Decision Date, Receiver Says Offer Would Leave Him Speechless and and Several Future Buckeyes Named Prep All-Americans

By Andrew Lind on August 16, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Baron Browning
Baron Browning
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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.

TEXAS-SIZED DECISION FOR ELITE LINEBACKER

According to ESPN National Recruiting Analyst Gerry Hamilton, five-star linebacker Baron Browning of Kennedale, Texas, is scheduled to announce his college decision on Nov. 28.

The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder had been considered an Ohio State lean for some time, but a recent trip to Texas for Under the Lights has the second-ranked linebacker contemplating playing college football a little closer to home.

Browning has offers from 40 programs across the country, but maintains a Top 10 list of Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ohio State, TCU, Texas, UCLA and USC. He is set to visit the Crimson Tide on Nov. 26, the day Ohio State plays host Michigan.

The Buckeyes, meanwhile, have yet to secure an official visit.

Seemingly the leading threat to Ohio State, Texas has recently entered the race for another top linebacker — Dallas' Devodrick Johnson — which many recruiting analysts believe could have a significant impact on Browning's recruitment.

For what it's worth, I think Browning ultimately picks Ohio State.

NITTANY LIONS LOCK DOWN TOP TIGHT END

Four-star tight end Pat Freiermuth became the fourth commitment of Penn State's 2018 class when he committed to the Nittany Lions on Tuesday morning. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder is considered the seventh-best player at his position and the top overall prospect from the state of Massachusetts.

Freirmuth's pledge most certainly affects Penn State's recruitment of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, tight end Zack Kuntz, whose 247Sports Crystal Ball currently favors the Nittany Lions over Alabama, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Stanford. Kuntz was offered by Ohio State in May and was on campus last month for Friday Night Lights.

The 6-foot-7, 201-pound Kuntz is the top-ranked tight end in the Class of 2018.

OFFER WOULD LEAVE RECEIVER SPEECHLESS 

If things fall right for Ohio State in the next two weeks, the Buckeyes could have one of the best wide receiver hauls in recent memory. But while fans have been enamored with the possibility of landing 2017 wideouts Tyjon Lindsey and Trevon Grimes on Aug. 22 and 24, respectively, the Class of 2018 hasn't made much noise.

There will be plenty of options, however, as Huber Heights' L'Christian Smith; Buffalo, New York's, Paul Woods; and Dayton's Joseph Scates are all high on the Buckeyes list of targets for that recruiting cycle. Only Smith has been extended an offer from Ohio State thus far, but Scates told Rivals.com ($) on Tuesday that he would be speechless if the Buckeyes came calling.

The 6-foot-3, 175-pound is considered the fourth-best player in the state of Ohio by 247Sports Composite, one spot behind Smith. He holds offers from eight schools including Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa State, Kentucky, Ohio, Pittsburgh and Toledo.  

ALL-AMERICAN HAUL

Twenty-four of the country's top prospects were named to the 2016 American Family Insurance All-USA Preseason Football Team on Tuesday, including three Ohio State commits and two potential Buckeyes. The list is selected by USA TODAY Sports reporter Jim Halley.

The offensive team includes Clinton, Mississippi, running back Cam Akers; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, wide receiver Trevon Grimes; Bellflower, California, offensive guard Wyatt Davis; Miamisburg offensive tackle Josh Myers; and Buffalo, New York, kicker Blake Haubeil.

The defensive players will be revealed on Wednesday, which will be covered in Wednesday's edition of The Hurry Up.

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