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.
ARCHBISHOP HOBAN TRIO VISITS OHIO STATE
A very talented trio of Akron Archbishop Hoban prospects burnt up I-71 today and visited the Buckeyes. 2016 wide receiver/tight end Jonah Morris and the 2017 pair of running back Todd Sibley, Jr. and quarterback Danny Clark were all on campus today checking out Ohio State. Clark, of course, is committed to the Buckeyes currently and Sibley, recently offered by Michigan, has a scholarship offer from Urban Meyer as well.
"It went great," Clark said of the visit. "We had a blast."
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Clark has been working hard to convince Sibley, who will visit Michigan this weekend to check out their spring game, to join him as a Buckeye commitment. Their future partnership at Hoban is something he's looking forward to.
"I'm definitely excited and happy about these next two years," Clark said of playing alongside Sibley. "It should be a great one-two punch, and I think eventually we'll get him (to commit to Ohio State)."
Morris, a 6-foot-4, 190-pounder with offers from Miami, Ohio and Kentucky, agreed that the trip was worth the time.
"I had a great time," Morris said. "It was great seeing the atmosphere up there and how they compete."
Currently without a Buckeye offer, Morris said the Buckeyes laid out a plan for him to try and earn one.
"They want me to come to the camps this summer," he said. "Come back in the summer, visit again, and they want to see me this fall. I'm doing the Rivals.com camp and I'll camp at Ohio State this summer."
ACT testing will prevent Morris from returning to Columbus for the Buckeye spring game on Saturday, April 18th.
DIOUBATE MAKES FIRST TRIP TO COLUMBUS
Philadelphia Prep Charter School defensive lineman Karamo Dioubate was also in Columbus today and the 6-foot-3, 279-pound defensive is a player the Buckeyes are serious about. He's got offers from Penn State, Florida, Michigan State, UCLA and a dozen more, so the four-star lineman will be a difficult pull for the Buckeyes, who've not had much recent success in eastern Pennsylvania. If this picture is any indication, he's definitely having a great time at Ohio State.
2016 Prep Charter DL Karamo Dioubate getting the red-carpet treatment today at Ohio State. @PrepCharterfb @RallyInq pic.twitter.com/efAk0WULHM
— Rick O'Brien (@ozoneinq) April 2, 2015
Now, before I draw the ire of more Buckeye fans who are calling me all kinds of names for suggesting that the Buckeyes may not have Joshua King as a "take" right now because they'd rather wait for Nick Bosa, I do believe that Dioubate would be a take if he wanted in. Why? Simple. He's a player who could move inside, a la Malik Barrow and as numbers are uncertain right now, that kind of versatility is going to be sought after by Meyer and the Buckeyes when it comes to any further defensive line recruiting.
Expect the Buckeyes to work hard to close the deal on one of these interior/combo guys and then settle in for the long-haul as they try to land either Rashan Gary or Antwuan Jackson.
IMG STARS THINKING BUCKEYES
Ohio State offered 2017 IMG Academy standout lineman Cam Spence during his visit to Columbus today.
Had A Great visit @TheOhioStateUniversity @OSUCoachMeyer @Osurushmen1 #OSU #BuckeyeNation pic.twitter.com/wXmwhLM0fd
— Cam Spence (@Only1CamSpence) April 2, 2015
Although he's listed by most as an offensive lineman, Spence is more likely a defensive tackle in college and he's being recruited by Ohio State's Larry Johnson, Sr. Originally from the Baltimore area, Spence is the country's 49th-ranked prospect in 2017 and, according to 247Sports.com's Bill Kurelic, the Buckeyes are leading for his services.
“Ohio State is at the top of my list,” Spence said. “They are my leader. Coach Meyer said to look at all places, but in the back of my mind I’m leaning to Ohio State.”
The Buckeyes are still heavily in the mix for another IMG star in the 2017 class, wide receiver Emmanuel Greene.
"Ohio State fans have forgotten about me," Greene told 11W in a text message. "I am definitely going up there this summer."
Greene has been a big fan of the Buckeyes for a while now and according to sources at Ohio State, he's made it very clear to them that he's favoring the Buckeyes, despite regular trips to Miami, which is close to home. With Trevon Grimes and Bruce Judson both leaning towards Ohio State, Zach Smith's 2017 class could be filled with nothing but Florida talent.
AARON HANSFORD SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING BUCKEYES
One player who visited last weekend and earned a Buckeye offer was St. John's College High School (yeah, I know...) linebacker Aaron Hansford. I finally had a chance to catch up with the 6-foot-2, 200-pound athlete, and as expected, the Buckeyes are being heavily considered. The week since the offer has been understandably hectic.
"It's been crazy," Hansford said of the offer and ensuing attention. "But, it's kind of like a dream."
The Buckeyes had been recruiting Hansford previously, but he says that things really ramped up as he decided to visit with teammate and current Buckeye commitment Terrell Hall.
"I had been talking to them for a while, but it mellowed out a bit," he said. "It picked back up last week around the time they were going to offer. I wasn't for sure they were going to offer, but I had it in my mind."
With Hall in his ear, Hansford said the lure to commit to Ohio State is certainly strong, but he and his parents are hoping to get a bit more information about the school before that could come to fruition.
"Terrell and I always talked about playing ball together," Hansford continued. "He wanted me to ride with him to get to know the Buckeye family better. My mom wants to find out more about their academics, the academic help and culture in the area."
GET GIDDY ABOUT GIDDENS
Oak Hill, the country's top-ranked high school basketball team, just finished up a nationally-televised game on ESPNU and future Buckeye hoopster Daniel Giddens showcased his athleticism on this early alley-oop.
Trying again - Future #Buckeye Daniel Giddens (@DGOOD__) can get up pic.twitter.com/V3rvuPAb3J
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) April 2, 2015
Trying to imagine D'Angelo Russell's game with a center that can catch and get up? Yeah, me too.
