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.
BRANDEN BOWEN
There's been another change of plans for Branden Bowen, the 2015 offensive lineman from Draper, Utah. For almost three weeks, Bowen was scheduled to make an official visit to Columbus this coming weekend, but it appeared that would not happen as play-off games in Utah were being scheduled that would interfere. As of this past Sunday, the visit was off — as of last night, it was back on.
2015 Utah OL Branden Bowen WILL officially visit #Buckeyes this weekend. Playoff game is Friday, not Saturday after all.
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) October 29, 2014
Currently committed to Utah, Bowen is a player that has been high on the Buckeyes for some time now. He visited Columbus over the summer and is eager to get back on campus to check out what the game day atmosphere, the campus, and the team are like. There are many — myself included — who believe Bowen is a likely candidate to flip to the Buckeyes, but I'd not expect that happen this weekend. He's absolutely a prospect that Ohio State would welcome into the "Elite '15" with open arms. A good showing by the Buckeyes and a top-notch in-person experience could go a long way.
KIEFFER LONGSON
San Ramon, California offensive lineman Kieffer Longson remains interested in the Buckeyes and says they're continuing to stay in touch. In September, Longson had Ohio State in his top three schools, and not much has changed since then.
"I haven't planned any visits yet," Longson told Eleven Warriors. "I'll do that after the season, but I'm staying in touch with (the Buckeyes)."
Longson is another big-bodied tackle prospect at 6-foot-7 and 290 pounds. He holds offers from Arizona State, BYU, UCLA, Missouri and others. With two currently committed lineman, and hoping to land at least two more, it's unknown whether or not the potential "spot" for Longson would still be available by the time he was able to arrange a visit.
MALIK BARROW
Tampa Catholic 2016 defensive end Malik Barrow will no longer be visiting Ohio State for the Ohio State/Michigan game. Originally from the Boston area, Barrow will instead be spending time with family in the northeast. He visited Penn State last weekend and had hoped to get north again this weekend when the Buckeyes take on Illinois, but as of last night told me he was doubtful that he'd be able to arrange it. He's also already visited Michigan State, and the Spartans may be the team to beat at the moment.
"I don't think I can make it up there," Barrow said. "Just hard to arrange the travel last minute."
A 6-foot-4, 245 pound defensive end, Barrow is a high school teammate of 2016 wide receiver Nate Craig, the number one-ranked wideout in the 2016 class. Craig, committed to Auburn, had been considering visiting with Barrow for the Michigan game, and as of right now, it's unclear if he'll still consider the trip on his own.
MEET LUKE FORTNER
Sylvania Northview 2016 offensive lineman Luke Fortner visited Ohio State two weeks ago when the Buckeyes walloped the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers.
"I enjoyed the visit," Fortner told 11W. "I got to talk with the coaches and had a good time just watching the game. I attended a camp of theirs over the summer and got to work with their coaches then. They had contacted me a few weeks ago and wanted me to come down."
Fortner has two offers at present — from Kentucky and his hometown Toledo Rockets — but the 6-foot-5, 280 pound lineman is really just starting to develop his game. He says he expects to continue growing and will likely be a tackle full-time at the collegiate level.
"I may end up 6-foot-7, that's what doctors say, so if that happens I'll be a tackle for sure," he said. "I think I need to improve my foot speed and to keep getting stronger,, and I think I could play a little bit lower as well. All fixable things."
