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.
OPENING A CAN OF WORMS
The NCAA Division I Council submitted two proposals on Wednesday afternoon, the first of which introduces two 72-hour periods — one in June and the other in December — where a recruit can sign a National Letter of Intent while the other would limit off-season football camps to a 10-day period.
DI Council proposes early signing periods and additional assistant coach for football: https://t.co/6sxJMlCLXD
— NCAA (@NCAA) October 5, 2016
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer is vehemently against an early signing period, and just last week stated there's no reason to hold high school juniors to a binding contract.
“I still can't believe we're having this conversation,” he said. “I hear the reasoning is because there's so many decommitments. What the hell does that mean? So because 17-year-olds are decommitting, let's give them a legal document so they can't decommit. That's not very smart. Young people have a right to choose where they want to go to school. Period. Let them decommit 100 times. They're 17 years old. That's why they're called 17-year-olds. I don't understand whether it's lazy [on the part of college coaches in favor of an early signing period]. I don't understand why there's this big push.
“Now they want to have official visits in their junior year,” Meyer continued. “There are some kids that don't even have ACT scores. Their bodies are gaining 12 pounds. Why not move it up to their sophomore year? It's bizarre. You're going to see more transfers and more mistakes made in recruiting than ever if they keep pushing this up.”
DI Council proposes changes to football camps and clinics in effort to improve recruiting environment: https://t.co/J7KImxg7hW
— NCAA (@NCAA) October 5, 2016
Meanwhile, there were previously two 15-day periods during the summer during which coaches could conduct satellite camps. That's how Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was able to fit more than 30 camps all over the country into the month of June.
The new proposal sets a 10-day limit and only allows for camps to be held on NCAA campuses, not high schools.
“We need to limit the number of days [for camps and clinics] and do things differently than we did before,” Big XII Commissioner and Division I Oversight Committee Chair Bob Bowlsby said. “But the best chance for us to manage this is to acknowledge that the summer is about recruiting, not skill development, and to manage it in ways that reflect best on our universities and the process.”
The proposal will now be up for discussion among the NCAA membership through January, at which time the final drafts will be presented. The proposals need approval from the NCAA Board of Directors and the Collegiate Commissioners Association before it would go into effect during the 2017-18 recruiting cycle.
CHANGE OF PLANS
Detroit, Michigan, Cass Tech five-star receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones was set to take an official visit to Florida for this weekend's game against LSU. But with game cancelled because of Hurricane Matthew's approach, the top-ranked wideout in the Class of 2017 announced Thursday afternoon he will instead take an official visit to Ohio State.
Change of Plans for this weekend ! pic.twitter.com/b6nfhRhZ0t
— Donovan P. Jones (@dpeoplesjones) October 6, 2016
My SECOND OFFICIAL VISIT will be this weekend in Columbus, OH to THE University of Ohio State !!! #BuckeyeNation pic.twitter.com/0YOPPFAR1r
— Donovan P. Jones (@dpeoplesjones) October 6, 2016
Despite being the first program to offer him a scholarship back in May 2014, Ohio State has seemingly been on the outside looking in for Peoples-Jones — this even more so with somewhat recent commitments from Fort, Lauderdale, Florida, St. Thomas Aquinas' Trevon Grimes and Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman's Tyjon Lindsey.
The 6-foot-2, 192-pound senior holds 24 offers from programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Stanford and USC, but the Wolverines are the clear favorite.
He has already seen two other Big Ten schools in person this season, visiting Nebraska in an official capacity for its season-opening win over Fresno State and Michigan, unofficially, for it's Sept. 24 thrashing of Penn State.
People-Jones won't be the only highly coveted wideout on the sidelines this weekend, either, as we mentioned yesterday that Cleveland Heights' Jaylen Harris will be on an unofficial visit.
Many have wondered if Ohio State even has any room left in its recruiting class for Harris, who listed the Buckeyes in his Top 5 back in August. So how does Peoples-Jones figure into the equation?
As well as Cass Tech has treated Ohio State in recent years — most notably producing starting running back Mike Weber — both Peoples-Jones and teammate Jaylen Kelly-Powell are almost certain to play at Michigan. Getting the former on campus for an official visit may be enough to seal a spot in his Top 5 schools, but there's no indication the Buckeyes are set to overtake the Wolverines as a result.
People-Jones has been considering visits to Florida State, Michigan State, Stanford, Tennessee and Texas A&M, and a three-hour trip to Columbus was likely the easiest option after being forced to postpone his weekend in Florida at the last minute.
A GOOD HEAD ON HIS SHOULDERS
Bowling Green, Kentucky, South Warren defensive tackle Jacob Lacey will also be in attendance for Saturday's game against Indiana.
“I'm hoping [to walk away with an offer],” Lacey told Eleven Warriors. “That would be huge. It's The Ohio State.”
The 6-foot-2, 290-pound Lacey is considered the 4th-best defensive tackle and No. 37 overall prospect in the Class of 2019. He currently holds five scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Kentucky, Louisville, Notre Dame and Tennessee, but talks with defensive line coach Larry Johnson frequently.
“Coach Johnson is truly impressive. My dad says he is a true man,” Lacey said. “He is a straight shooter. He explained that he wants to develop men [into] better future husbands and employees. He wants to be able to talk to you after your playing days and know about your life and kids. I can tell he wants the best for his players. He's not just selling stuff, he is real.”
Programs like Florida State and Oregon have also shown significant interest in Lacey, who said he can't believe the attention he's getting this early in the process.
“I've got a little while [before I have to make a decision], but it's a blessing to get this attention,” he said. “But I [also] have to put it in perspective. I'm committed to South Warren. My dad reminds me anything can happen, positive or negative on the field, so keep my grades.
“When I get closer to being able to commit, it'll probably hit me more,” Lacey continued. “Right now, it's like it's not real.”
Injuries have forced the defending state champion Spartans to play without several key pieces this season, most notably their starting quarterback and wide receiver, meaning Lacey has had to step up in their absence.
“I'm playing great,” he said. “Coach asked me to start increasing my leadership. Just because I'm a sophomore doesn't mean I can't be a leader. Not really a big verbal guy, but I'm working on it. I get double- and triple-teamed all game, but that helps the team.”
A PLATE PANCAKES TO START THE DAY
Portsmouth Sciotoville's Blaine Scott announced on Twitter Wednesday afternoon that he, too, will take an unofficial visit to Ohio State this weekend.
Ohio State this weekend with the boys!!! #GoBucks @JB_Travis34 @patbays_27 @Sweb79
— Blaine Scott (@blaine_scott54) October 5, 2016
“An offer would be sweet, but I am also looking forward to seeing my boy [lineman] Tyler Gerald suiting up in an Ohio State uniform,” Scott told Eleven Warriors. “Also just to see an visit all of the coaches.”
The 6-foot-5, 300-pounder has formed a great relationship with offensive line coach Greg Studrawa in particular.
“We have become close throughout this process,” he said. “I can definitely tell he's a great man and does a lot for his players.”
Scott is considered the 15th-best player in the state and the No. 17 offensive guard in the Class of 2018. He currently holds 26 scholarship offers from programs such as Arkansas, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida, Louisville, Marshall, Miami, Michigan State, North Carolina, Pitt, Syracuse, Toledo, Vanderbilt.
