The Hurry Up: Larry Johnson Makes In-Home Visit with Defensive Tackle While Kerry Coombs and Kevin Wilson Focus on Underclassmen in Georgia

By Andrew Lind on January 19, 2017 at 7:15 pm
Larry Johnson and Marvin Wilson
Larry Johnson and Marvin Wilson
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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.

BIG AS A HOUSE

Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson is by no measure a small man, but he was easily dwarfed when he stood beside Bellaire, Texas, five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson for a picture during an in-home visit on Wednesday night (see above).

I feel it's my duty as a photographer to point out, though, the 6-foot-4, 329-pound Wilson was standing closer to the camera, so your eyes are easily deceived. But let's not let facts get in the way of Ohio State's dreams of landing such a mammoth, yet elusive defensive tackle.

The overwhelming consensus surrounding Wilson's recruitment is that he'll end up at LSU, especially following his official visit to Baton Rouge this past weekend. But I wouldn't count the Buckeyes entirely out of it just yet.

Wilson is undoubtedly talking about his good friends Baron Browning and Jeffrey Okudah, who are already enrolled in classes at Ohio State. But is he simply playing the recruiting game or is the interest sincere?

I'd wager its a bit of both, but also think head coach Urban Meyer needs to absolutely knock his in-home visit out of the park later this month for Wilson to leave the South.

Johnson will also make an in-home visit with South Jordan, Utah, Bingham four-star defensive tackle Jay Tufele this evening. The Buckeyes are certainly in the conversation for the 6-foot-3, 297-pounder, but don't want to get lost in the shuffle with Tufele set to travel to USC and Utah over the next two weekends.

Meyer will also make his in-home visit close to signing day, but things continue to trend toward Tufele staying home.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER OFFER

Meyer and wide receivers coach Zach Smith stopped by Fort Lauderdale, Florida, University School of Nova Southeastern University this morning to offer a scholarship to sophomore safety Josh Sanguinetti.

“I am a big Buckeyes fan,” Sanguinetti told Eleven Warriors. “I love the tradition Meyer brought there.”

The 6-foot-2, 165-pound is not yet rated by any major recruiting sites, but earned offers from Miami, Mississippi State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, UCLA and Wisconsin after hauling in 29 receptions for 534 yards and seven touchdowns in his first year at the varsity level. He said the Buckeyes and Bruins stand out early in the process.

“I like what Meyer is doing with the program,” Sanguinetti said. “He puts a lot of players into the NFL.”

SENDING IN THE BIG GUNS

Ohio State defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs was recently in Marietta, Georgia, to visit with Lassiter five-star cornerback Derrik Allen.

“It was the same conversation — they really want me in the 2018 class and they consider me a top priority,” Allen told Eleven Warriors. “That's about it. [They] wanted to make sure I was doing OK and hoped to get me back up there soon. Not sure when that will be right now.”

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Allen is considered the third-best cornerback and the No. 23 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He recently included Ohio State in his Top 10 alongside California, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame and Penn State.

Allen, who was on campus for Ohio State's 62-3 win over Nebraska last month, said his relationship with Meyer and Coombs is one of the reasons the Buckeyes are high on his list.

“They are showing that they care about my development on and off the field,” he said. “That's important to my family and I.”

Academics will also factor heavily in Allen's recruitment, as he'd like to study computer science and engineering in college, so Notre Dame, Ohio State and Georgia are the perceived favorites.

NEXT STOP: COLUMBUS

Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, meanwhile, was in Saint Simons Island, Georgia, on Thursday to see five-star sophomore wide receiver Jashawn Sheffield and sophomore athlete Jaylin Simpson.

“It went really well,” Frederica Academy Recruiting Coordinator Alex Mathis told Eleven Warriors. “They spoke briefly. They both really like [Ohio State].”

The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Sheffield is considered the top-rated wide receiver in the Class of 2019, having recorded 944 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns this season. He holds more than 20 offers, but said Clemson, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State are his top schools.

The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Simpson is the less heralded of the two, but he leads the Knights in receptions, yardage, touchdowns and interceptions nonetheless. He holds offers from Florida, LSU, Miami, North Carolina, Ohio State and Tennessee.

“We actually talk with them a lot. We talk with [assistant wide receivers coach] Corey Dennis and [assistant director of player personnel] Eron Hodges a lot. FaceTime weekly,” Mathis added. “Last week was cool. I was with [Cedar Grove four-star sophomore wide receiver] Jadon Haselwood and Jashawn and we FaceTimed Urban.”

As I mentioned yesterday, Ohio State has extended scholarship offers to 15 underclassmen from the Peach State, which is why Mathis is planning a unique recruiting trip to Columbus this spring.

“Myself and [former Grayson assistant coach] Kenyatta Watson are planning a bus trip with the top 2019 kids in Georgia in April,” Mathis said. “Just to Ohio State as of right now, [but that] could change.”

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