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.
ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
An early signing period in college football moved one step closer to reality on Wednesday after the Division I Football Oversight Committee recommended a 72-hour mid-December signing period that would coincide with the mid-year junior college signing period, while a proposal to add another early signing period in June was shot down.
“What we heard from the coaches at the American Football Coaches Association meetings [is] that the June signing date was problematic,” Big XII Commissioner and Division I Oversight Committee Chair Bob Bowlsby said in a release. “We knew one of the charges to out committee was to open earlier access. We will continue to look for an earlier signing date than mid-December, but we will move ahead on the other parts of the process. This is a significant move forward in football recruiting. We think it is student-athlete-friendly, family-friendly and coach-friendly.”
The June signing period seemed unlikely after it received minimal support at the AFCA meetings in Nashville, Tennessee, last week, but the December signing period was unanimously supported by coaches from across the country. While the June period would have allowed recruits to sign with a school prior to their senior seasons, some coaches voiced their concern about recruits skipping their senior seasons with the college futures already secure.
The Division I Council could be asked to vote on the proposal as early as April.
If it passes, recruits from the Class of 2019 will be allowed to take official visits beginning on April 1, 2018, through the last Wednesday in June, as well as July 25 through July 31. These would give prospects expanded opportunities to take official visits during their junior year of high school, but would prevent official visits from occurring in conjunction with a prospect's participation in a school's camp or clinic.
INCOMING BOOM?
Massillon Washington four-star offensive tackle Thayer Munford doesn't have an offer from Ohio State, but all signs point toward one being extended during his official visit this weekend.
I am taking an official visit to The Ohio State University this weekend #BuckeyeNation
— Thayer Munford (@Big_Grizze62) January 18, 2017
The Buckeyes have been looking to add another lineman to the 2017 recruiting class since Jake Moretti flipped his commitment to Colorado in November. And with only two weeks until National Signing Day, the pool has dried up significantly.
That's why head coach Urban Meyer, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and offensive line coach Greg Studrawa visited with Munford last weekend, and why an offer - and his eventual commitment - seem inevitable.
The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Munford is considered the 14th-best prospect in the state and the No. 278 prospect overall in the Class of 2017.
MAKING PROGRESS
Just one day after he was visited by running backs coach Tony Alford, Lakeland, Florida, four-star wide receiver James Robinson made a slight alteration to his weekend plans.
The 6-foot-3, 196-pounder was set to travel to Alabama, but will now take an official visit to Ohio State instead.
Zone6 this weekend
— JAMES ROBINSON IV 4 (@_StunnaJayy_) January 18, 2017
Robinson is considered the 11th-best wide receiver and the No. 79 prospect overall in the Class of 2017. Florida - as mentioned yesterday - has long been the overwhelming favorite to land him, but Ohio State is searching for another wide receiver to complement Trevon Grimes and Jaylen Harris.
ON THE GRIND IN GEORGIA
Ohio State offered a scholarship late Tuesday evening to Snellville, Georgia, South Gwinnett five-star defensive end Justin Mascoll.
I am blessed to say I have received an offer from the university of Ohio State pic.twitter.com/xGgPHwC8rO
— Justin Mascoll (@jthegreat_) January 18, 2017
The 6-foot-4, 237-pound Mascoll is considered the top-rated weak side defensive end and No. 19 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds two dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Tennessee.
Mascoll is the 15th junior or sophomore from the state of Georgia to earn an offer from Ohio State within the last year, a list which includes:
2018
- Franklin Heard Country five-star quarterback Emory Jones (commited)
- Atlanta Pace Academy five-star offensive guard Jamaree Salyer
- Marietta Lassiter five-star cornerback Derrik Allen
- Snellville Brookwood four-star wide receiver Matthew Hill
- Stockbridge Woodland four-star offensive tackle James Ohonba
- Tucker four-star offensive guard Dylan Wonnum
- Thomson four-star cornerback Christian Tutt
- McDonough Eagles Landing Christian three-star cornerback Tre Douglas
2019
- Saint Simons Island Frederica Academy five-star wide receiver Jashawn Sheffield
- Marietta Walton fie-star wide receiver Dominick Blaylock
- Brunswick five-star offensive tackle Warren McClendon
- Hogansville Callaway five-star offensive guard Keiondre Jones
- Loganville Grayson five-star linebacker Owen Pappoe
- Saint Simons Island Frederica Academy athlete Jaylin Simpson
DOING THE DIRTY WORK
The Buckeyes also extended an offer to Chatham, Illinois, Glenwood four-star offensive tackle Will Putnam.
Honored to receive an offer from THE Ohio state university! pic.twitter.com/yOWgG5UUp0
— Will Putnam (@BigWillPut) January 18, 2017
“It's special because they are one of the best teams in college football, and to have the opportunity to play there is an honor,” Putnam told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Putnam is considered the fourth-best offensive tackle and No. 39 prospect overall in the Class of 2019. He also holds offers from Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Northwestern and Pittsburgh.
“I've had a relationship with Ohio State since the football season. Up to this moment, I've mostly been just talking with recruiting coaches,” Putnam said. “I haven't really started eliminating schools from consideration, but there are some that I do like more than others. This offer is definitely one closer to the top of my consideration.”
Putnam hopes to make his first trip to campus sometime this spring or summer.
MAY COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU
Ohio has been extremely important for Michigan State on the recruiting trail in recent years, as it offers a chance at revenge to those in-state prospects either ignored or overlooked by Ohio State. So it's only natural the Spartans landed a commitment on Tuesday evening from Dayton Dunbar four-star wide receiver Joseph Scates.
Extremely blessed to announce that I am Committed GO GREEN ! pic.twitter.com/vIZ3UFsRQh
— #6...... (@ScatesJoseph) January 17, 2017
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Scates is considered the sixth-best prospect in state for the Class of 2018, but hasn't yet received a scholarship offer from Ohio State. He recently included the Buckeyes among his top schools, but an unofficial visit to East Lansing in November got things trending toward Michigan State.
Scates would certainly entertain an offer from Ohio State if it ever were to come, but with offers out to 10 other junior wideouts, it's highly unlikely to happen anytime soon.
