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.
DREMONT JONES CONTINUES TO DOMINATE
One of the least discussed members of Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class is without question Cleveland St. Ignatius lineman Dre'Mont Jones. The country's 220th-ranked player and 10th-ranked strong side defensive end, Jones has been as good as advertised this fall for the Wildcats. He recently was moved up into the Top 100 on 247Sports.com.
"He's just been incredible," one source in Northeast Ohio told Eleven Warriors. "He's been controlling games as a defensive end, just blowing up plays all over the place. I know he was highly-ranked and all, but I don't think people are talking about this kid enough. Maybe it's curse of the player who commits 'too early' or something, but he's not someone to sleep on."
Through the first eight weeks of his senior season, Jones had amassed quite a prodigious stat-line: 40 tackles, ten for loss, four fumbles forced, three recovered — one for a score — and four sacks. He's also been a steady pass catcher for St. Ignatius from the tight end position.
DEFENSIVE LINE NEEDS AND POSSIBILITIES
With the aforementioned Jones in the fold, as well as Jashon Cornell, Rashod Berry and Josh Alabi committed, it's "OK" to feel comfortable with Ohio State's defensive line haul in 2015. Upon closer inspection, there could be a little room for concern, though. Berry could easily be a tight end at Ohio State. Alabi could be an offensive lineman. With departure of Michael Bennett, Rashad Frazier and Steve Miller — as well as the possible NFL early entry of Adolphus Washington and Noah Spence — there's a big need at the position for 2015.
Ohio State will get an official visit from Neville Gallimore in late November, but aside from the big Canadian defensive tackle, there's not a lot of options left on the board. If Ohio State can't find a way to reel in Gallimore, where else do they turn?
According to his head coach at East St. Louis, ESPN.com's top-ranked player overall, Terry Beckner, Jr. will most likely officially visit Ohio State in December. He says the Buckeyes still have a chance to land Beckner, and it's likely he'd be ahead of Gallimore on the Ohio State wish list.
One other possible name? Pickerington (Central) two-way lineman DaVon Hamilton. Currently committed to Pittsburgh, there's some speculation that Hamilton could be close to a "flip" that would land him in Lexington with Kentucky, but an Ohio State offer would certainly flip everything on its head.
GARRETT TAYLOR DECOMMITS FROM MICHIGAN - WHO IS NEXT?
Garrett Taylor, who committed to Michigan in March, has re-opened his recruitment.
I have de committed from the University of Michigan. Thank you to the Michigan coaching staff for the opportunity they gave me.
— Garrett Taylor (@gtaychillin) October 27, 2014
The decision is not surprising of course. Taylor has been quite up-front about his plans to take official visits to other schools — including Ohio State on November 22nd — but today's announcement adds some finality to it. He will not be considering Michigan any further and it's likely the Buckeyes, Penn State and Virginia Tech emerge as the primary options for him.
Taylor joins other highly-rated player, committed to the Wolverines early in the recruiting process, in an exodus from Brady Hoke's 2015, and likely final, recruiting class. Damien Harris, George Campbell, and Shaun Crawford were all key pieces for Hoke, and have all moved on. The movement is likely to continue as tight end Chris Clark, linebacker Darrin Kirkland and running back Mike Weber all intend to visit other schools. Lineman Grant Newsome may as well. One Michigan commitment's take on what's happening?
"Michigan is so lost," he said. "It's embarrassing."
ADIOS, AMIGO
Ohio State target Jacques Patrick, who officially visited Columbus on September 6th, has committed to Florida State tonight. One of the country's most offered 2015 prospects, Patrick took three visits to Columbus and routinely professed that his relationship with Urban Meyer was one of his strongest, but the lure of playing for the home state and defending national championship 'Noles was too appealing to turn away from.
Patrick, third-ranked running back in the country, joins North Carolina's Johnny Frasier, the 5th-ranked tailback, as Seminole commitments.
