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.
ON THE AGENDA
Ohio State is set to host a number of big-name prospects for the second weekend in a row, including:
- 2018 Owings Mills, Maryland, McDonogh School four-star defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher
- 2018 Hillborough, North Carolina, Orange four-star linebacker Payton Wilson
- 2018 Paramus, New Jersey, Catholic four-star defensive end Dorian Hardy
- 2018 Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller four-star defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins
- 2018 Cincinnati LaSalle four-star tight end Josh Whyle
- 2018 Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Nease three-star tight end Zach Sheffer
- 2018 Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Blackman three-star running back Master Teague
- 2019 Tampa, Florida, Plant four-star offensive tackle Will Putnam
- 2019 Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Blackman four-star wide receiver Trey Knox
The visit looms especially large for Wilson, the fourth-best outside linebacker in the country, as he's set to make his college decision on May 1. This will likely be his first and last trip to Columbus, which means the staff must knock the visit out of the park if they want any chance of stealing Wilson from Clemson or North Carolina.
Teague and Whyle head into the weekend with hopes of landing an offer, while Hardy, Putnam and Sheffer will be on campus for the first time. Hawkins, Knox and Mustipher, meanwhile, have all been on campus previously, and simply hope to further their relationship with the staff.
As always, we'll try to catch up with each of them following their respective visits. Stay tuned, as well, for new regarding Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent. He finished his unofficial visit this morning and is on commitment watch in the coming days.
BACKUP PLAN?
To put the finishing touches on last weekend visitors list, Nashville, Tennessee, Christian School four-star defensive tackle Brant Lawless loved every minute of his time with Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson.
— brant lawless (@brant_lawless) March 25, 2017
“It was a great time,” Lawless told Eleven Warriors. “I enjoyed myself. I learned some football, as well.”
The 6-foot-3, 285-pound Lawless is considered the 22nd-best defensive tackle and No. 257 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds a dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma and Tennessee.
If the Buckeyes were to shockingly miss out on Vincent, the staff should set its sights on Lawless — who has recorded 110 tackles and four-sacks in his three-year varsity career with the Eagles. He hopes to return for a game this fall.
AN INEVITABLE OFFER
Though it hasn't seen tremendous production from the wide receiver position in recent years, Ohio State continues to capture the attention of some of the best wideouts in the country.
Among them, Dunnellon, Florida, four-star Maurice Goolsby, who included the Buckeyes in his early Top 10 on Friday morning alongside Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, North Carolina, Norte Dame and Texas A&M.
Top 10 pic.twitter.com/WPc57k5j65
— Maurice Goolsby (@_magxii) March 30, 2017
The 6-foot-5, 195-pound Goolsby is considered the sixth-best wide receiver and No. 28 prospect overall in the Class of 2019. Interestingly enough, though, Ohio State is not one of the 18 schools that have offered him a scholarship.
So, how did the Buckeyes make the cut then?
"They're one of the schools that's showing a lot of interest in me," Goolsby told Eleven Warriors. "At least once a week, I get something from them."
Even though he grew up a big-time Gators fan and lives 45 minutes from Gainesville, Goolsby hopes to land an offer when he visits campus later this year.
"It would mean a lot," he said. "It's such a great program. It would be kind of mind-blowing."
DON'T FORGET TO LOOK RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE
If he ultimately wants to play at Ohio State, Goolsby might have to fight for a spot against Westerville Central wide receiver Cameron Phillips, who was among the numerous local prospects to visit campus for spring practice this week.
Had a great time at OSU today. Thanks to the coaches for showing love. pic.twitter.com/RYiqPhvtXO
— Cameron Phillips (@camcap0202) March 28, 2017
"It was awesome I had a great time. I was showed a lot of love by the coaches," Phillips told Eleven Warriors, noting he spent most of the day with offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and a slew of other assistants.
The 6-foot, 179-pound Phillips — like most Class of 2019 prospects — is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites, but it goes without say he'll be one of the top prospects in the state when they're unveiled. He currently holds an offer from Illinois, but schools such as Michigan State and Pittsburgh have also shown significant interest.
Phillips had 13 receptions for 152 yards and one touchdown for the Warhawks last year, his first full season at the varsity level.
