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.
LSU FALLOUT
Two Ohio State targets greatly impacted by Louisiana State's firing of long-time head coach Les Miles are Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy linebacker Dylan Moses and Clinton, Mississippi, running back Cam Akers. Moses, specifically, is a one-time LSU commit and originally from Baton Rouge.
“It was shocking to me. I wasn't expecting that,” Moses told 247Sports ($). “As far as my recruiting process goes, me and my parents are going to think things over, take more time and do what's best for me.”
The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder had planned on revealing his college decision on Dec. 15, but has decided to push that back.
“I'm probably going to postpone my decision to Jan. 1 at the Under Armour Game because there's supposed to be a [high school] national championship game on Dec. 16, and I don't want my commitment the day before to be a distraction to my team,” Moses said during a ceremony where he and IMG teammates Isaiah Pryor and Marcus Williamson, both Ohio State commits, received their jerseys for the all-star exhibition.
The newest @uaallamerica selections! Can't wait to watch these 10 tear it up in January! #IMGFam pic.twitter.com/nPV8KVH4Qr
— IMG Academy Football (@IMGAFootball) September 28, 2016
Considered the top outside linebacker and No. 4 overall prospect in the Class of 2017, Moses holds 40 offers from all over the country. He will take official visits to Alabama, Houston, Miami, Ohio State and Texas before making a decision. Moses may also visit LSU, but in an unofficial capacity seeing as he's been to campus on numerous occasions.
“It's all about the relationships I have with the coaches and how they develop [players],” Moses said.
Miles' dismissal is not expected to shape Akers' decision, meanwhile. LSU is one of a number of schools vying for his services, but Florida State and Ole Miss remain the main threats to land the country's second-rated running back.
TOMAHAWK CHOP
It was previously reported that Saint Simons Island, Georgia, Frederica Academy duo Ja'Shawn Sheffield and Jaylin Simpson would take an unofficial visit to Ohio State in October, but they told Eleven Warriors on Wednesday they'll be on campus for the Nov. 5 game against Nebraska.
Just talked to @EronHodges and @OSUCoachMeyer can't wait to get up there and visit. #Buckeyes
— Jaylin Simpson (@jaylinsimp) September 13, 2016
“[I'm looking forward to] just getting on campus and seeing how things are up there,” Sheffield said.
The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder is considered the No. 1 overall receiver in the Class of 2019 by 247Sports. He holds 16 offers from schools such as Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami and Tennessee, but told me some other big-time schools have been in contact.
“Oklahoma reached out Friday after my game,” Sheffield said. “I talk to Ohio State, Florida, Clemson and Georgia all the time.”
Simpson, meanwhile, is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound sophomore corner not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites. He has been instrumental in the Knights' undefeated start this season, scoring on both offense and defense a recent 23-3 win over defending Class 2A state champions Memorial Day.
Ohio State was first school to offer Simpson back in August — followed shortly thereafter by Tennesseee — but Florida, LSU and Miami have also done so within the past two weeks.
URBAN THE CLOSER?
Bellaire, Texas, five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson included Ohio State in his Top 10 back in early June, but the Buckeyes had kind of slipped off his radar until their 45-24 thrashing of Oklahoma. Wilson was in attendance and afterward suggested he would like to make an official visit to Columbus this fall.
“They impressed me,” he said.
The 6-foot-4, 329-pounder is considered the top-rated defensive tackle in the country in the Class of 2017, but has missed time this season for the undefeated Knights because of a torn meniscus. Out for at least three weeks following surgery, Wilson took some time to talk about the recruiting process with Houston's ABC affiliate.
Thanks @EHSSports @RDMW6 for talking to @abc13houston @KKTheGreatest tonight about surgery/future. @OU_Football @OhioStateFB @FSU_Football pic.twitter.com/9Pd05hQuFr
— Joe Gleason (@joeagleason) September 24, 2016
Ohio State already has one of the top defensive line hauls in the country for this year's cycle with Cincinnati Winton Woods' Jerron Cage and Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman's Haskell Garrett already on board. Wilson has a legitimate chance to become a part of the class because the Buckeyes hope to add one more defensive tackle, but the overwhelming majority believe he'll stay closer to home.
Wilson has more than 25 offers from schools such as Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas and USC.
Ohio State, meanwhile, is the favorite to land South Jordan, Utah, four-star defensive tackle Jay Tufele, who earlier this week listed the program among his Top 7 schools, but things will get interesting if Wilson actually makes it to Columbus.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
Springfield defensive back Moses Douglass has been on Ohio State's campus several times in the past year, most notably during spring practices. Douglass said he was very interested in the Buckeyes at that time and hoped to land an offer by working out at Friday Night Lights.
Unfortunately, he and highly sought-after teammate Leonard Taylor were unable to make it to the recruiting camp because of car troubles. But it's not issue, Douglass told Eleven Warriors, as he'll be in attendance for Saturday's game against Rutgers.
"I look forward to having a good time with my family," he said.
The 6-foot, 170-pound Douglass, son of former Chicago Bears and New York Giants safety Maurice Douglass, currently holds 10 offers from schools such as Cincinnati, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, Purdue, Rutgers and Syracuse. Only a sophomore, he is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites.
