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.
SONG OF THE SOUTH
Clinton, Mississippi, five-star running back Cam Akers revealed his Top 6 on Twitter on Tuesday night, and Ohio State did not make the cut. He'll instead choose between Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee on Dec. 27.
Important announcement pic.twitter.com/pxayNBzcB3
— Cam akers (@thereal_cam3) December 21, 2016
Though it was highly unlikely the 5-foot-11, 213-pounder was ever going to leave the South, I'm honestly surprised to see the Buckeyes didn't even make the final table. By all accounts, Akers enjoyed his official visit to Columbus for the Nov. 26 game against Michigan, but things had already begun to trend in a different direction by that time.
Ohio State still holds a commitment from La Grange, Texas, four-star running back J.K. Dobbins, the top-rated all-purpose back in the class. Dobbins was reportedly willing to look around had Akers picked the Buckeyes.
STILL LEARNING THE GAME
Though he's only played organized football for a year, Ohio State earlier this week offered Baltimore, Maryland, St. Frances Academy four-star defensive end Eyabi Anoma.
“It means a lot,” Anoma told Eleven Warriors. “I was speechless. But even though I've got it, I have to give them more reasons why they offered me.”
The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder is considered the fourth-best weak-side defensive end and the No. 81 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He recorded 24 sacks and more than 60 tackles for the Panthers this season after transferring from Randallstown, Maryland, where he focused solely on basketball.
“I always wanted to play, but thought that where I [lived], playing wouldn't impact me,” Anoma said.
Programs such as Clemson, Maryland, Penn State, Pittsburgh and West Virginia have also offered Anoma a scholarship.
CAN YOU FIT ME IN?
Mountain View, California, St. Francis three-star running back Cyrus Habibi-Likio understands it's unlikely Ohio State will have room for him in its current recruiting class, but he's not giving up hope of an offer just yet.
“I've been [to campus] a couple times because my girlfriend plays for the volleyball team,” Habibi-Likio told Eleven Warriors. “I enjoy the city and the school a lot.”
The 6-foot-1, 211-pounder may be considered the 53rd-best running back in the country, but he feels he would fit right into the Buckeyes' offensive scheme.
“I really like the H-Back position that Ohio State offers,” Habibi-Likio said. “I think I can do well because you have to be an all-around type of player.”
Habibi-Likio was most recently on campus for the Oct. 29 game against Northwestern and speaks with running backs coach Tony Alford frequently. If an offer never comes, though, he still has others to fall back on.
“I'm deciding between Utah, Cal, Oregon and USC,” Habibi-Likio said.
TALENT GALORE
USA TODAY Sports this morning named Ohio State five-star cornerback commit Shaun Wade the American Family Insurance Defensive Player of the Year, but he wasn't only future Buckeye honored by the publication.
Five-star defensive end commit Chase Young and five-star linebacker pledge Baron Browning were both named to the All-USA second-team defense.
Young recorded 118 tackles, 19 sacks, 37 tackles for a loss, five forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns to lead Hyattsville, Maryland, DeMatha Catholic to its fourth-consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Championship, while Browning pitched in 51 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries for a touchdown, two sacks and a safety to help Kennedale, Texas, to the state semifinals.
Wade was joined on the first-team All-USA by defensive back targets Bubba Bolden and Jeffrey Okudah, as well as defensive tackle target Marvin Wilson. Cornerback Darnay Holmes captured second-team honors.
Quarterback commit Tate Martell, meanwhile, is among the five finalists for USA TODAY's Offensive Player of the Year. The winner will be announced on Thursday.
Martell threw for 2,363 yards and 41 touchdowns and rushed for 1,256 yards and 21 touchdowns while leading Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman to its eighth-consecutive state title and third-straight mythical national championship, which means there's a good chance the Buckeyes could sweep the national awards.
