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.
TERRELL HALL COMMITMENT BRINGS BIG IMPACT
In case you missed it (somehow) last night, the Buckeyes added a big seventh commitment to their 2016 recruiting class: Washington, D.C. defensive end Terrell Hall. The country's 142nd-ranked player, Hall has a college-ready frame at 6-foot-5 and 250-pounds and a mentality that's equally as primed. A week ago he was given a big bump in the rankings, but he wasn't satisifed.
"It's definitely a blessing," Hall told Eleven Warriors. "But I'm not going to be satisfied until I'm the number one player in the country."
Hall was very close to making his announcement public before he left Columbus on January 25th, but needed to be certain that his choice wasn't being too heavily influenced by the emotion surrounding an exciting on-campus visit. So, he went home and mulled it over and kept coming back to the same result.
"I pretty much just wanted to let it be known," Hall told 11W last night. "Ohio State was the school for me."
Now that his commitment is public, what does Hall bring to the Buckeyes?
"Hall is a big one," one source at Ohio State shared. "We're glad that came through officially. It's always nice when we recognize those really talented guys and offer when they're not quite as highly-rated, then see their rankings go up. The guy can really play, and he could end up being a difference maker. Everyone talks about Bosa – and rightfully so – but Terrell could be just as good down the line. He's got a chip on his shoulder and it shows."
According to Hall, he's ready for the next step of his recruitment. Staying under-the-radar and letting the work talk for itself. He's aware there will be those who wish him the worst now that he's heading to Columbus instead of staying in the DMV.
"I've been experiencing people wanting to see me fail since I started getting offers," Hall said. "That's why I stay to myself and worry about my grind."
HALL IMPACTING THE WAY THE DEFENSIVE LINE COOKIE CRUMBLES?
Hall is – as you no doubt know – the second defensive end to issue a verbal pledge to the Buckeyes, joining Gahanna freak of nature standout Jonathon Cooper. I've contended for a while that the Buckeyes could end up with four defensive ends in 2016 and then one or maybe two combo lineman, guys like Kyree Campbell or Malik Barrow who are more likely to end up inside but list as defensive ends right now, at least according to rankings, analysts, etc.
While I still think the Buckeyes would like to take four true defensive ends, things do become a bit cloudier than they were prior to Hall's commitment. First off, it's increasingly more difficult to convince more of the nation's elite to commit to the Buckeyes because each team they're competing against can now accurately use "they're filling up at your position" against you. "You'll get stuck on the depth chart," they'll say - and many will agree. Second, as numbers get tighter, the Ohio State coaching staff will have to reshuffle their personal decks and sort out the "must haves" from the "would likes" on the recruiting board.
Nick Bosa, as mentioned in today's Mailbag, is a "must have." Fortunately for the Buckeyes, Bosa is also a "likely will get" and make no mistake, other players around the country are aware that is the case, which only further serves Ohio State's competitors in the "they're filling up at your position" angle they're likely to use. In February of 2014, James Franklin and Penn State expertly used Torrance Gibson against the Buckeyes in their pursuit of Brandon Wimbush and there's no doubt schools will employ a similar tactic is it pertains to Nick Bosa. One particular player who could end up looking elsewhere as the defensive end coffers fill? Fort Wayne's Auston Robertson, who was all but a done deal for the Buckeyes just weeks ago.
Josh King will visit Columbus again on March 30th, and the Buckeyes are aggressively pursuing a number of other options, but there's a chance that a defensive end haul of Cooper, Hall, Bosa and Prince Sammons – who I think eventually ends up on the offensive line – is the most likely reality. Then, if you're able to land Kyree Campbell at defensive tackle, you do, while all the while leaving a spot open for standouts like Rashan Gary and Antwuan Jackson, guys too good to pass up, ever.
TRESSEL SPEAKS TRUTH, HARBAUGH NEEDS OHIO IMPACT
Few men in the history of Ohio State football embraced the rivalry with Michigan as fully – and knowledgeably – as Jim Tressel, so when Wolverineslayer speaks on the The Game, it's worth listening. The Senator, speaking to the Akron Beacon-Journal, went on record to discuss Jim Harbaugh's hiring and how it could stem the Scarlet and Gray tide that has run roughshod over the north since the November of 2001. The most important change Harbaugh needs to make, according to Tressel? Reestablishing a Michigan presence – recruiting wise – inside of Ohio, a trend that Tressel himself put an end to, something he reminded those in attendance of.
“I think we might have lost one guy that whole year to Michigan,” Tressel said of 2002. “The door closed and it hasn’t been open.
“How far behind (is Michigan)? It (depends) on how long that door stays closed. That’s the key. Urban will do a great job, they know how to win, they’ve got a great staff. But you’ve still got to keep it closed.”
Since his hiring, at least to my knowledge, Harbaugh has yet to personally step foot into a single Ohio high school, which would indicate one of two things. He either A.) understands that, on the heels of a national championship and Ohio State's on-going dominance over the Wolverines, the likely success rate inside Ohio is low and therefore not worth the effort until Michigan has regained some national traction or B.) is suffering from a rare strain of an allergy to Ohio air that no one is yet familiar with. I'm going with A, and I am sure Michigan will at some point make their efforts in Ohio a priority, but at this point has abandoned the 2016 class in hopes of creating relationships beyond it, considering it a less-than-fruitful endeavor.
For now, Tressel's wall still stands, and Urban Meyer has comfortably taken the black and serves capably as its protector.
BIG DAY FOR BUCKEYE OFFER
Although he told 11W last week that he was just "starting the process" recruiting-wise, it's safe to say things are ramping up for Upper Marlboro, Maryland's Zechariah McPhearson. Today, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound cornerback added offers from Penn State, Pittsburgh and Alabama, three schools that no doubt will capture his attention for different reasons. Penn State is the favorite of many in his area, and his brother (Josh) plays for the Nittany Lions. Pittsburgh's new coach, Pat Narduzzi, can claim more recent success with defensive backs than most and Alabama is, well, they're Alabama; it's always big to hear from Nick Saban. McPhearson was quoted by a Rivals.com analyst a few days ago claiming the Buckeyes were his favorite, but he backed off that assertion when I spoke to him today.
"He got my words a little bit mixed up," McPhearson told 11W. "Ohio State is definitely in my top eight schools, but I have to take some visits first before I can name a leader."
He went on to say that one of the day's offers was a bit more important than the others.
"My brother playing at Penn State does play a part in my decision," he added. "But I've got to leave my options open."
