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.
COOMBS COUNTRY
As first reported by Cincinnati.com, Ohio State has extended a scholarship offer to Cincinnati Walnut Hills sophomore defensive tackle Jowon Briggs.
.@walnutathletics soph DL @briggsjowon0 offered by @OhioStateFB, per @CoachLainhart
— Adam Turer (@adamturer) October 4, 2016
“It means a lot,” Briggs told Eleven Warriors. “To me, it's proof that I'm doing something right [and] it's motivation to keep working.”
The 6-foot-2, 275-pounder is yet ranked by any major recruiting websites, but currently holds offers from Cincinnati, Iowa State, Miami (Ohio) and Wisconsin.
“I've been told that I have good hands and am strong,” he said.
CITY OF KINGS
Cleveland Heights teammates Tyreke Smith and Jaylen Harris announced on Twitter Tuesday night they'll unofficially visit Ohio State for this weekend's game against Indiana.
I'll be at Ohio state his weekend
— Ty. (@T_23_baller) October 5, 2016
I will also be in attendance!! https://t.co/8JTMsdgMoT
— Jaylen Harris (@JHarris5_) October 5, 2016
It will be Smith's first time watching the Buckeyes in person.
“I'm looking forward to the atmosphere and also [the chance] to talk to coaches,” he told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-4, 241-pound Smith is considered the sixth-best defensive end and the No. 10 player overall in the state of Ohio for the Class of 2018.
He doesn't yet have an offer from Ohio State, but has garnered a lot of attention from some of the top programs in the country such as Clemson, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pitt and Stanford. In fact, he was in Death Valley last weekend for the Tigers' big win over Louisville.
“It was great,” Smith said. “The atmosphere, facilities and coaches were all great.”
Concerns have been raised about Smith's lack of experience, as this is only his first year playing at the high school level, but he doesn't think it's a big deal.
“There hasn't really been a big adjustment because I used to play football when I was younger up to seventh grade,” he said. “It was more just preparing my body.
Having focused almost exclusively on basketball as a freshman and sophomore at Cleveland Heights, Smith admits he was surprised by all the attention he received from college football programs over the summer.
“My coach told me this probably was going to happen,” he said, “so I just remain humbled and thankful.”
Harris, meanwhile, will make his first trip to Columbus since including Ohio State in his Top 5 in early August.
“I have been talking to Ohio State a lot more lately,” the four-star receiver told Cleveland.com. “For real, it was a lot more when they picked up commitments from [fellow wideouts] Trevon Grimes and Tyjon Lindsey. “I don't really care that they committed. I am going to compete wherever I go. So them committing doesn't change anything. I know the coaches want me.
“The coaches told me they'd make it work,” Harris said, noting the lack of available scholarships at the moment. “They are showing me mad love right now.”
The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder is considered the fifth-best player in the state of Ohio and the No. 27 wide receiver in the Class of 2017. He narrowed down his list of 20 scholarship offers to Alabama, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Tennessee.
Jaylen Harris: Holy, Hungry, Humble and mic'd up in this video. Check it out! @JHarris5_ pic.twitter.com/RkURT87qHM
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) October 5, 2016
CHANCE TO IMPRESS
Another in-state prospect set to unofficially visit Ohio State this weekend is Cincinnati Winton Woods freshman cornerback Mi'Quan Grace. He'll make the trip with his father and teammate Jalen Engleman.
“I can't wait,” Grace told Eleven Warriors. [I'm looking forward to] the atmosphere. I love being a part of that Ohio State environment.”
The 5-foot-9, 165-pounder does not have a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes but was one of the more impressive athletes at the Friday Night Lights recruiting camp in July. He spent extensive time with defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs and told me afterward Ohio State would shoot to the top of his list if an offer was extended.
Grace has grown nearly four inches and gained more than 30 pounds in the last year alone, and schools like Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Florida State, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville and Michigan State have expressed significant interest as a result.
“It just makes me work harder because I know everyone is watching,” he said.
PRIORITY PROSPECT
Clearwater, Florida, Central Catholic defensive back Amari Burney has been eyeing a trip to Columbus since Ohio State offered him a scholarship in July. He was finally able to make the trip for Saturday's game against Rutgers.
“It went great. I got a chance to meet the coaches, see the game and just take in the atmosphere,” Burney told Eleven Warriors. “As far as visits go, I would have to say it ranks up there near the top.”
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior is considered the ninth-best safety and the No. 105 player overall in the Class of 2018. He currently holds 16 offers from schools such as Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Pitt, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin, but said Ohio State made a lasting impression.
“It was great talking to all the coaches. They make me feel wanted,” Burney said. “They really made me feel special and they're really high on my list after my visit.”
