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.
ULTERIOR MOTIVES
My fiancée and I would like to get married in Hawaii next year, but there's not much down time in the ever-changing world of recruiting.
I now have the perfect excuse for that to happen without having to take any time off of work, though, as Ohio State four-star running back commit Brian Snead will play in the second-annual Polynesian Bowl in January 2018.
Proud to announce RB Brian Snead (@snead655) to play in 2018 Polynesian Bowl! @Rivals #23 @247Sports #92 #Scout #133 #ESPN300 #169 pic.twitter.com/LfJWgLffOu
— Polynesian Bowl (@polynesiabowl) May 5, 2017
Snead, the fourth-ranked running back in the country, will be joined in paradise by five-star defensive end target Micah Parsons, four-star linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu and four-star tight end Jeremy Ruckert. And if you're wondering, only 75 percent of those selected for the game will actually have Polynesian ancestry.
Unlike the U.S. Army All-American Bowl or Under Armour All-America Game, each player receives travel accommodations, lodging and meals. The only hang up is that NCAA rules prevent early enrollees from playing in the game, so Snead may ultimately not play.
Alabama early enrollee Tua Tagovailoa, a Native Hawaiian, was in a similar situation earlier this year. He participated in the festivities but watched the game from the sidelines.
Now I just have to convince my bosses...
SURE THING?
Butler, Pennsylvania, three-star offensive guard Jake Kradel narrowed down his nearly two dozen offers to seven on Thursday evening, listing Ohio State alongside Maryland, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, UCLA, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. He'll make his decision public on June 10.
Top 7 pic.twitter.com/u3v4MdATQx
— Jake Kradel (@JakeKradel) May 4, 2017
"It's been fun and exciting, [but] I'm ready to have my school and keep focused for [my] senior season," Kradel told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Kradel is considered the 43rd-best offensive guard and No. 947 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, though the Buckeyes have earmarked him for center. He plans to give the coaches the good news in person that day and announce his decision on Twitter.
The Buckeyes have been Kradel's leader since they offered him a scholarship in late March, but he wanted to hold off on a commitment until he got to know the staff better. So how have things been progressing on that front?
"[Offensive line coach Greg Studrawa and I] have been talking," Kradel said. "He doesn't talk to me every day, but that's how I like it. I am laid back and chill. I don't like when coaches are always bothering me."
That said, nothing seems to have changed in the weeks since. It would be a surprise if Kradel picks any school other than Ohio State, though Maryland and Pittsburgh are not entirely out of the picture.
MOVING ON
Things progressed somewhat quickly with Kradel, but Portsmouth East three-star offensive guard Blaine Scott could have easily been in the same position.
But instead of waiting for an offer that will likely never come, the top-rated guard in the state committed to Ole Miss on Friday afternoon.
Blessed to say I have committed to play football at The University of Mississippi!!!!!! #HottyToddy #SipBoyz18 pic.twitter.com/VukxSDBKCs
— Blaine Scott (@blaine_scott54) May 5, 2017
The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Scott visited Ohio State on numerous occasions over the last year, but started to focus on other schools this offseason. Duke was the presumed landing spot until Ole Miss offered in January.
Scott becomes the first in-state prospect to pledge his services to the Rebels since Lakota West three-star running back Stephen Houston in 2008.
OFFER LIST GROWS
Ohio State continues to hand out offers left and right this week, with the one of the latest going to Washington D.C. St. John's running back Joachim Bangda late Thursday night.
Extremely blessedto say I have received an offer from The Ohio State University #GoBucks #B1G pic.twitter.com/MEweEIK32G
— 21SAVAGE (@jbangda19) May 5, 2017
The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Bangda is not yet ranked, but will undoubtedly be one of the top running backs in the Class of 2019 after leading the Cadets to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title game. He also holds offers from Alabama, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Rutgers, Syracuse and UCLA.
NEVER TOO LATE
The Buckeyes also extended a scholarship offer Thursday night to Smyrna, Delaware, three-star athlete Leddie Brown.
Extremely blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State University pic.twitter.com/Jb5xHPB2Ae
— _LB4 (@___lb4) May 5, 2017
The 6-foot, 210-pound Brown is considered the 30th-best athlete and No. 450 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, having recorded 1,188 all-purpose yards and 21 touchdowns for the Eagles last season.
He committed to West Virginia on Sunday over offers from Connecticut, Florida, Louisville, Maryland, North Carolina, Rutgers, Syracuse and Tennessee.
