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.
WEEK IN REVIEW
Here's a look back at a few of the items we talked about this week on Eleven Warriors.
- "The Hurry-Up," our (almost) nightly recruiting recap: 11/16 | 11/17 | 11/18 | 11/19 | 11/20
- Kentucky 2016 lineman Drake Jackson likes Ohio State
- Matt Burrell is No. 21: Buckeyes land important lineman
- The Elite '15 reacts to Matt Burrell's commitment
- The Recruiting Mailbag talks all kinds of madness
- Alex Stump discusses his flip to Ohio State and preparation for college
-
Prep Tracker: Week 13
GIBSON NOT GIVING UP ON HARRIS YET
On Saturday, hours after leading his team to another playoff win, Torrance Gibson watched intently as his future team battled to a 42-27 win against Indiana.
42-27! Great WIN! O-H!
— Torrance Gibson (@quick_tg6) November 22, 2014
On Sunday morning, Gibson was thinking about how Ohio State's 2015 recruiting class can improve. He's got one player that he wants the most, and it should come as no surprise that it is Damien Harris, the country's top running back.
"I've been trying to talk to him," Gibson said of Harris, who most believe will end up at Kentucky. "We need him. He runs the ball hard."
This weekend, Harris is slated to return to Alabama for the second time in three weeks when the Tide take on Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Ohio State had been hoping he'd return to Columbus for the first time since his September 6th official visit.
WEBER MOVING ON; HILL, ONWENU LEAD NEXT GREEN WAVE
Yesterday, in the middle of Michigan's loss to Maryland, the Wolverines lost a big piece of their future as well: Detroit Cass Tech running back Mike Weber decommitted amid copious amounts of unrest in Ann Arbor.
I'm decommiting from the university of Michigan thank you Michigan for the love and support I'll remake my decision at the army bowl
— Mikey (@mikeweber25) November 22, 2014
The timing of Weber's announcement, just moments after his Cass Tech team was eliminated from Michigan's state playoffs, was interesting. Clearly, he's focusing on his future as this stage of his athletic career came to and end. Michigan, with their future uncertain, can't offer the stability he's looking for. Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Tennessee, USC, Miami and others are now hopeful they can become the next landing spot for the country's 13th-ranked running back.
The class of 2016 at Cass Tech is also loaded with talent, led by two-way lineman Michael Onwenu and defensive back LaVert Hill. Hill made a splash before yesterday's game against Saline with his fashion accessory. Hill is the country's 16th-ranked cornerback for 2016. He and Onwenu each saw Ohio State take on Michigan State in East Lansing and the Buckeyes are hoping to continue their efforts for a Cass Tech pipeline.
— LaVert (@VertHill) November 23, 2014
TAYLOR VISIT THOUGHTS
Ohio State hosted 2015 defensive back Garrett Taylor unofficially this weekend. The visit, originally planned as an official visit, hasn't helped clear anything up as far Taylor's options with the Buckeyes. With six current defensive backs committed, Taylor isn't sure if the Buckeyes have room for him, but he's not in a hurry to make a decision and is still considering a return to Columbus for an official visit in December, if things shake out correctly.
A former Michigan commitment, Taylor still has plans to visit Virginia Tech, Penn State and others as he tries to get his recruitment sorted out. He did not play this season after tearing his ACL in August. It appears that Ohio State will not make a decision about Taylor until they get a more certain answer from recent Clemson decommit Juwuan Briscoe.
MUSIC MAYHEM
I hope you all don't mind, but I'm going to get on a soapbox here for a minute and try to talk about something that is not (directly) related to recruiting. A few weeks ago, a day after Ohio State struggled with crowd noise urged on by an active DJ at Penn State, we talked about the environment in Happy Valley, the singing of the crowd, the overall involvement of the fans and just how truly incredible it was to be there. Penn State's team fed off the atmosphere created by the fans, the ambience was a greater challenge for the Buckeyes than Christian Hackenberg was that Saturday night.
Last Saturday, in Minnesota, in front of only 45,000 fans during the coldest game the Big Ten has seen in 50 years, I was similarly impressed. The crowd was loud, it was active and involved in a game the Gophers had no business being in. Once again, led by timely music that encouraged fan participation, the crowd didn't let up and it energized their football team.
Yesterday, at Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes erupted to a 14-point lead after just five game minutes. The crowd at Ohio Stadium, asleep or disinterested or just spoiled, sat on its hands and watched as Indiana got themselves back in the game, eventually taking the lead. It was not until the fourth quarter that any energy was noticeable from the 105,000-plus in attendance. The Buckeyes attempted to do something different, play more music and use less band to try and encourage fan involvement, and that was met with widespread disdain and contempt. That decision, an Urban Meyer decision, was made to try and bring Ohio Stadium's atmosphere to another, different level because noon games in Columbus are more akin to funerals than they are to football games with one of the country's best teams playing. Ohio State fans, you've got the fortune of rooting for one of the most exciting offenses in the country, playing for one of the greatest coaches in NCAA history, and the chance to impact games by doing one thing: getting involved.
In-stadium music is part of the future. Multiple uniforms designed to get recruits and players talking is part of the future. It hypes up the players, it gives an attitude to the game and it's designed to get you off your butts and onto your feet. If, or when, Ohio State emerges from the new tunnel along the banks of the Olentangy, covered in smoke and clad in black jerseys, rejoice in the knowledge that the people in charge of the football program are focused on continuing to grow the brand with an eye on the future and by respecting the past. You
Ohio State's greatest traditions are not going to disappear just because "We Dem Boyz" plays over the PA. Ohio State football isn't going to stop being Ohio State football because the Buckeyes wear a black jersey. The game is changing, fans have to change with it.
