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.
COUGHLIN DECIDES, GOES GOLDY
As expected, Minnesota linebacker Carter Coughlin made his college choice. Originally scheduled to make a decision this evening, Coughlin visited Minnesota this afternoon.
Carter Coughlin is at #Gophers practice hugging everyone, smiling. Looks like he will be picking MN over Ohio State and Oregon tonight.
— JoeChristensen (@JoeCStrib) March 12, 2015
Shortly following that tweet, Coughlin made his decision public, deciding against waiting until this evening and gave the home-state Gophers a big win in a head-to-head recruiting battle with the Buckeyes.
I am very excited to announce my commitment to the University of Minnesota! God is so good! Building and Empire #BrickByBrick
— Carter Coughlin (@Cmoe34) March 12, 2015
As mentioned previously, Coughlin's father and grandfather each played for Minnesota, so him deciding to stay home and commit to the Gophers is certainly not a surprise. Ohio State made it close, but you can never fault a kid for staying close to home and choosing the home-state school.
RICHARDSON COULD BE NEXT MAPLE HEIGHTS STAR TO SURPRISE
The Buckeyes have struck gold at Maple Heights high school in 2016 with the commitment of Kierre Hawkins and they could be heading back to the Northeast Ohio institution in 2017 for JaVonte Richardson. Richardson is a big-bodied wide receiver in the mold of Hawkins, standing 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds. His sophomore tape shows excellent body-control and solid hands.
The Buckeyes have not yet offered Richardson, but as a member of the early Rivals.com Top 100 for 2017, it's not likely to be long until Ohio State and a host of others come calling. Right now however, it's Kentucky and Bowling Green who stand as the lone offers and Richardson says it's good to get recognized.
"I really didn't know what to expect," Richardson said of the Rivals 100 announcement. "But, I'm working hard so it's paying off."
NOTRE DAME WITH KEY WEEKEND APPROACHING
Spring football is in full bloom and with it comes huge recruiting weekends. The Buckeyes will have their biggest weekend on April 18th as you'd expect, but Notre Dame is getting off to an early start with a mega junior weekend on March 21st. The list of visitors that will descend on South Bend is impressive, and a number of those slated to be attendance are key names on Ohio State's 2016 recruiting board.
- Five-Star offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame's only current commitment for 2016
- Four-Star quarterback Dwayne Haskins, Jr.
- Four-Star defensive end Josh King, who will visit Ohio State March 30th
- Four-Star wide receiver Donnie Corley, Jr.
- Four-Star cornerback Damar Hamlin
- Four-Star wide receiver Austin Mack
- Four-Star defensive end Khalid Kareem
- Four-Star offensive lineman Michael Jordan
- Four-Star defensive end Auston Robertson
- Four-Star linebacker Tuf Borland
Big weekend indeed for the Irish, but equally as important to Ohio State perhaps?
MICAH POTTER HEARING FROM BUCKEYES REGULARLY
What's that? A basketball recruiting update in The Hurry Up? Yep, it sure is. Mentor's Micah Potter, a big-time prospect in the 2016 class, has been hearing a lot from the Buckeyes lately and he's definitely reciprocating that interest.
"Recruiting has picked up a lot," Potter told 11W. "Ohio State, Duke, Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Stanford, Notre Dame and others have all been in contact. It's nice to finally get what you've worked so hard for."
The attention coming Potter's direction is as much for his potential as his production, both of which are eye-catching. He averages 20 points and 10 rebounds a game and he had a dominating 32 point, 15 rebound and four block performance against Michigan commitment Jon Teske earlier this season. While the Buckeyes have not yet offered Potter, Thad Matta has been paying close attention and the 6-foot-10, 245-pounder says that an offer from Ohio State would mean a lot.
"In Ohio, if you get offered by Ohio State, you're legit. It's been nice getting the attention from them," Potter said. "They're a big-time program, it would mean that nationally I'm legit as well. They've only seen me play once, and they want to see me play more, but they've expressed major interest."
Ohio State's 2016 recruiting class is likely to be very small — one or two players — and Derek Funderburk from Lakewood St. Edward has an offer already. Potter says his game would complement a player like Funderburk, were they both to end up at Ohio State. Potter is the country's 24th-ranked center, but says he likes to play a perimeter game.
"Ohio State says they're looking for a big and a perimeter type player," he said. "I think my game is like Kevin Love, no doubt. I like to step outside, play back to the basket, make those deep outlet passes."
Potter says no decision is coming until after this summer, but that he's focused on finding the right fit. He sees the Ohio State program as one that could make sense.
"I have to love the coaching staff, and how they coach," he said of any potential landing spot. "[Ohio State] allows you to have a little room, lets you use your abilities on the court. I think that's a good fit for me."
HAWKINS PLANS TO ENROLL EARLY
Per Rivals.com analyst Ryan Donnelly, one of Ohio State's earliest commitments in the 2016 class, Kierre Hawkins, intends to enroll at Ohio State in January.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Hawkins is the country's 53rd-ranked wide receiver, but he's likely to line up at tight end or H-back for the Buckeyes.
