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.
EICHENBERG'S DECISION AND WHAT IT MEANS MOVING FORWARD
The Buckeyes have had an amazing weekend, adding five commitments since Friday night. Still, when Urban Meyer is your coach, perfection is expected. Tonight's Liam Eichenberg decision – he picked Notre Dame over Ohio State – means there's still work to be done. Losing the state's top two offensive linemen to a regional rival, on the heels of a national title, with the most dominant offensive line in the country to use as "proof" of Ohio State's program working? That is highly disconcerting.
What happened with Ohio State and Eichenberg? There's really not a thing other than the fact that sometimes there's a gap in personality between a player and a school, program. Liam is a great kid and a fiery competitor, but he was simply more comfortable with the Irish and how he felt on his visits to South Bend.
There are so many elements that go into each decision by each kid. It's not easy to make anything black and white, but with Eichenberg, he had a good long-term relationship with Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. His former teammate at St. Ignatius, Jimmy Byrne, has been a friend and mentor to him as well.
At the end of the day, you can't fit a square peg into a round hole, no matter how awesome or championship-laden that round hole is. The Buckeyes signed six offensive linemen in February, they've got the best offensive line coach in the country and they are going to find one tackle in this 2016 class, but it won't be Liam Eichenberg.
CORLEY VISIT A SUCCESS
One of the weekend's bigger uncommitted visitors was Detroit Martin Luther King High School's Donnie Corley, Jr. The nation's 21st-ranked wide receiver, Corley made the trip down with his family on Saturday. According to his father, Donny, things went very well.
"It went very well," Corley, Sr. told Eleven Warriors. "We really enjoyed ourselves as a family. It was really impressive and the coaches and players treated us really well. Coach (Urban) Meyer, Coach (Zach) Smith, Coach (Kerry) Coombs and Mark Pantoni are great guys."
The younger Corley was on campus in January for one of Ohio State's big junior weekends, but for the family to get on campus meant a lot to his father. He wanted to see more than just a winning football team, but the Buckeyes' offensive approach didn't go unnoticed.
"Basically, this was the first time we've been there for a game-like atmosphere," Corley said. "It was electric. Almost 100,000 fans for a spring game is insane. They threw the ball vertically a lot. We also had the opportunity to talk to the academic counselors and they answered a lot of our questions and concerns."
The Corleys are scheduled to visit Michigan State this coming weekend, and asked about the takeaway from this trip to Ohio State, he said it simply.
"They showed us that they really love (Donnie)," Mr. Corley said. "As a person and as a potential Buckeye."
WILLIAMSON ON HIS COMMITMENT
It was about six weeks ago when Marcus Williamson, the talented four-star cornerback from Westerville South High School, told 11W he knew where he'd be going to school, he was just waiting for the right moment. That moment was yesterday during Ohio State's spring game, and he couldn't be happier.
Can't wait to be a Buckeye... Officially Committed to THE Ohio State University!! #GoBucks
— Marcus Williamson (@WW_Marcus) April 18, 2015
The country's fifth-ranked 2017 cornerback talked with 11W and gave a bit of insight as to why he decided to commit so early when other players are looking for more and more "love" from schools all over the country.
"I figured out everything I needed to know," Williamson said when asked why he made a decision with almost two years until signing day. "I know Coach Coombs is going to do everything he can to put me in a position to succeed and playing for him is an opportunity I didn't want to pass up. You should have seen how he reacted when I told him I had good news (laughs). He was so pumped."
Of course, it's not just about one coach for a kid who grew up in the shadows of the university he'll play for in the future.
"[It's] the support the Buckeyes have in Columbus," Williamson added. "Seeing those guys on the field is so special to watch and it makes you want to be a part of it."
TV TIME FOR 2017 TRIO
When you come to Ohio State, things get weird. Take for example this video from Fox 28 on Saturday morning.
Bruce Judson, Danny Clark and Shaun Wade – three of Ohio State's five 2017 commitments – were on campus for the merchandise sale early Saturday and found themselves on TV talking about what they were looking for, their excitement about being Buckeyes and more.
Judson's comments, in light of the statements he made a week ago about Florida closing the gap, could be something to watch. The Buckeyes are going to recruit the heck out of every player they want, committed or otherwise, but it does suggest there's some tenuousness to the way Judson is feeling right now. However, his tweets on Sunday afternoon should alleviate some concern, at least temporarily.
Out to breakfast with coach Tim Hinton and @DClarkQB @shaunwade2017 #GOODMORNING
— #L's Campaign4way (@4way_lilbruce) April 19, 2015
Had a Great Time here at Home in Columbus its nothing like it had a blast with my Brothers#SU21best visit. #OH- pic.twitter.com/absCMtixQX
— #L's Campaign4way (@4way_lilbruce) April 19, 2015
LONG TERM REWARDS FROM BIG WEEKEND
One of the reasons Ohio State's recent football teams have seen such an unparalleled run of success is the relationships forged between the players and the staff. It's a relationship based on mutual trust and respect, strengthened through adversity and reinforced by the knowledge that above all else, "I've got your back when things go wrong." The 2012 team – and of course the 2014 team – saw early struggles, and both teams were able to bounce back from because of how tight the locker room was.
That is why weekends like this are so important to the future of Ohio State football.
The 2015 signing class didn't really come together until later in the 2014 calendar year; it was well represented this weekend, as tonight's cover photo attests. Key out-of-state signees who have rarely been to Ohio State like Isaiah Prince, KJ Hill, Branden Bowen and Kevin Feder were all in attendance and spent the weekend bonding. In-state stars like Justin Hilliard, Alex Stump, Rashod Berry, Jerome Baker and Joe Burrow were also in attendance. For a group that – at one time – wasn't that close, the class has really begun to bond and that can't be overlooked.
"It was good to get together," Branden Bowen told 11W. "Just to hang out with all the Elite '15 and bond. I love those guys. It just reminded me of how special the place is. There's going to be some great things happening over these next few years, I'm sure of it."
The 2016 group was hampered by ACT testing taking place on Saturday that prevented Kareem Walker from visiting, but there were still a number of players on hand. Jake Hausmann was present, as were Kierre Hawkins, Jonathon Cooper, and new commits Jack Wohlabaugh and Malik Barrow. Tuf Borland visited last week, Tyler Gerald was on campus two weeks ago and generally speaking the entire class is coming together and getting to know more about their future teammates.
The Buckeyes have six commitments in their 2017 class, including two from Florida and four from Ohio. All six were in attendance this weekend.
Headed over to The Shoe with @4way_lilbruce & @shaunwade2017 #Spring Game pic.twitter.com/sMb32Pv87S
— PROTOTYPE (@DClarkQB) April 18, 2015
Danny Clark continues to be as good a non-coach recruiter as there is in America, working hard to develop tight relationships with the players he's met. The players he doesn't know as well yet – guys like Marcus Williamson, for example – he's eager to begin getting close with. That commitment to Ohio State is going to pay off in spades for the Buckeyes down the road.
The day after the Ohio State football team won the 2014 national championship, Urban Meyer sat at a table in Dallas, Texas and uttered the words "The future is bright for the Ohio State Buckeyes." He was absolutely right: things are bright, and they're getting brighter.
