Welcome to The Hurry Up, which runs Sunday through Thursday, serving as your last stop for recruiting news and notes nightly. We'll recap the day as it happened and preview the days ahead while keeping our ear to the ground on the Ohio State recruiting scene.
BUCKEYES CHECK IN ON GIBSON
Another day, another update on Torrance Gibson, the enigmatic Fort Lauderdale quarterback sensation who remains committed to Ohio State. Last week, Gibson visited Auburn, and this weekend he'll head to Baton Rouge, Louisiana and check out the Bayou Bengals of LSU. Today, Ohio State's Zach Smith was once again at American Heritage High School and visited with Gibson, as he did last Thursday prior to the Auburn visit.
While Gibson is not talking to the media at present, sources close to him indicate that he's still eager to attend Ohio State and that nothing is changing his mind about that. The Buckeyes remain optimistic that is the case and believe wholeheartedly that their early — and consistent — support of Gibson gives them an edge over a number of schools that, in essence, turned their backs on him when things were not going great over this last summer. The message Gibson is sending to those around him is this: Ohio State is where he wants to be, Ohio State is where he feels the most comfortable and Ohio State has nothing to worry about.
Except for those pesky visits to big-time SEC programs who are no doubt offering Gibson the world on a platter at present to dissuade him from following through on his Buckeye intentions.
BIG VISIT WEEKEND ON TAP
So, it's been about 10 days since Ohio State went out to Dallas and surprised most of the college football watching people in the country by dismantling Oregon piece-by-piece. On the heels of that performance, with a big ol' shindig scheduled on Saturday to celebrate, there's nothing that makes as much sense as a huge junior weekend on campus, right? That's what Urban Meyer and Mark Pantoni are hoping. Ohio State will have a number of their top 2016 targets — as well as a couple key 2015 players — on hand.
WEEKEND OFFICIAL VISITORS
- ATH Eric Glover Williams ★★★★
- LB Justin Hilliard ★★★★★
- DL Terry Beckner ★★★★★
- OL Venzell Boulware ★★★★
- DL Da'Von Hamilton ★★★
- WR KJ Hill ★★★★
- OL Isaiah Prince ★★★★
As there are only a few potential realistic options for 2015, the Buckeyes are anxious to see what kind of dent they can make on a handful of big-timers who will be on campus. Ohio State commitments Eric Glover-Williams and Justin Hilliard will be on hand to do their part, but it's the uncommitted names on the list that draw the attention. Cass Tech commitment Josh Alabi is scheduled to in Columbus as well, but his visit will be of the unofficial variety. It's not yet clear if Alabi's teammate, running back pledge Mike Weber, will make the trip.
The top of the list is East St. Louis five-star Terry Beckner, Jr. The defensive tackle is a long-shot at best for the Buckeyes, but defensive coordinator Chris Ash has done his best to keep Ohio State in the game and this weekend's visit is huge for the Scarlet and Gray. Columbus (Pickerington Central) defensive tackle Da'Von Hamilton is a late addition to the list and right now his visit is tentative according to those in the know at Ohio State. Hamilton, originally committed to Pittsburgh but now in the Kentucky Wildcat commitment column, could be an interesting case if Ohio State were to extend an offer in his direction. Defensive tackle is still an area of concern for the Buckeyes in 2015 so that could be worth watching.
On the offensive line, Georgia's Venzell Boulware and Maryland's Isaiah Prince are both scheduled to be in town. Boulware, a Tennessee commitment, is scheduled to arrive on Friday afternoon. Prince, uncommitted and considering Maryland, Alabama, Florida and Ohio State, is a Top 100 player nationally and someone that the Buckeyes would love to add to this class. It's unlikely they'd find room for both with five other offensive lineman committed, but either one would be a nice cherry on top for Ed Warinner's group.
The recruitment of Little Rock wide receiver KJ Hill is another one to start paying close attention to. Ohio State has been involved with Hill for sometime now and Chris Ash — a former assistant at Arkansas where Hill was committed — has a very close relationship with the standout receiver. Zach Smith has been involved with Hill and his family recently and the entire group will be heading north this weekend to check out what Ohio State has to offer.
What about juniors, Jeremy? Well, there's plenty of those scheduled this weekend as well. Let's get a little list together, shall we? Here are some of the 2016 kids scheduled to be in attendance.
- WR Austin Mack
- WR Justin Layne
- WR Tony Butler
- WR Donnie Corley
- TE Jake Hausmann
- RB Kareem Walker
- RB Demario McCall
- OL Michael Jordan
- OL Michael Onwenu
- OL Thiyo Lukusa
- OL Liam Eichenberg
- DE Jonathon Cooper
- DE Terrell Hall
- DE Khalid Kareem
- DE Auston Robertson
- LB Tuf Borland
- LB Brendan Ferns
The 2017 class isn't the focus for the weekend, but we'll still see two of Ohio's biggest recruits for that class — quarterback commitment Danny Clark and five-star offensive lineman Josh Myers — in attendance. Westerville South star Marcus Williamson and Detroit Cass Tech's Donovan Peoples-Jones are also planning on being in Columbus.
Quite a haul.
WEBER SITUATION GETS HELP?
Let's not freak out, but we still don't know for sure what is happening with Cass Tech running back and Buckeye commitment Mike Weber. If what Torrance Gibson is doing is considered "not talking to the media" then what Weber is doing should be considered something substantially more definitive; whatever that, you know, is.
Last weekend fans were in an uproar when Weber followed Michigan running back coach Tyrone Wheatley on Twitter. Earlier this week, he followed Jim Harbaugh. Those two items, by themselves, mean absolutely nothing of course, but when you add Weber's lack of a public declaration about the strength of his Buckeye pledge, there's reason to at least be "concerned." All indications are that the country's 9th-ranked tailback is at the very least allowing discussion with Michigan to happen, but of course he's not shutting down discussion with Ohio State, either. Michigan has two weeks to try and get a full, weekend-long official visit scheduled with Weber but because of proximity to home they could schedule a visit during the week at any time. If Weber visits UM, things will officially get concerning, but as of now all the chatter from Ohio State's side — and from people close to Weber's side of things — is that he intends to stick with the Buckeyes.
Michigan failed to receive a commitment today from Oak Park's John Kelly, a three-star defensive back/running back who chose Tennessee over Michigan State, Minnesota and the Wolverines, and in a minor way that could help Ohio State. Kelly and Weber are very close friends and have discussed the desire to play collegiately together, but that now appears to be off the table.
WARINNER MAKES UTAH SWING
Ohio State assistant coach and offensive coordinator Ed Warinner spent most of the week on the east coast but today traveled west to check in on Utah natives Branden Bowen and Porter Gustin. Bowen, a Buckeye commitment, saw Warinner this afternoon and will again tonight during an in-home visit, the last he'll see of his future coaches before signing day.
The visit to see Gustin, the country's 41st overall player was used to make sure that a scheduled visit to Ohio State remained that way, and that appears still to be the case. The Salem, Utah standout will visit Columbus next weekend, his fourth official visit. He's been to Notre Dame and USC previously and is set for Arizona State this coming weekend.
