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.
PRYTS VISITS OHIO STATE OVER THE WEEKEND
The Buckeyes had a number of key visitors over the weekend and secured five commitments from 2016 and 2017 stars between Friday night and Sunday afternoon. One visitor that was not mentioned by anyone – myself included because I didn't found out he was there until Saturday morning – was Hermitage, Pennsylvania 2016 safety Andrew Pryts. Pryts is the country's 44th-ranked safety, but he's got an impressive offer list that includes Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan State, Michigan, Stanford, Pitt, Penn State and more. The Nittany Lions are the presumed favorite for the Hickory High School star, but he said his visit to Columbus was a good time.
"It was a great visit," Pryts said of the visit. "I'm very high on (Ohio State)."
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound defensive back spent Friday night in Columbus and got to hang out with some future Buckeyes, including 2015 signees Justin Hilliard and Alex Stump. The visit was planned early last week, but he thought he'd have to cancel, which is why it seemed no one knew he did make the trip.
"I had told Rivals.com guys that I was going on Tuesday," he said. "I was supposed to go but I didn't have a ride because both of my parents were busy with work. My grandma ended up taking me."
Speaking to Ohio State sources about Pryts, it does appear he's a player that the Buckeyes are very interested in. He doesn't appear close to a decision, but Ohio State made an excellent first impression.
CHRISMAN DECISION NOT COMING IMMEDIATELY, BUCKEYES IMPRESSED
Another key visitor this weekend was Cincinnati La Salle punter Drue Chrisman, the country's top-ranked punter in the 2016 recruiting class. There was some thought/speculation heading into the weekend that Chrisman could surprise some folks and make a decision on his visit, but that didn't happen, although there's no doubt that he and the Buckeyes are getting closer to that understanding.
Chrisman spent Friday night and Saturday night with the Buckeyes, of course taking in the spring game Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, Chrisman attended religious services in Columbus before traveling home.
"(The visit) was great," Chrisman told 11W. "Couldn't have asked for a better one. Almost 100,000 for a spring game? That's pretty surprising."
Chrisman says the decision-making process is winding down, but there's still things he needs to get sorted. This weekend helped him understand first-hand what being a Buckeye was about.
"I planned on getting the experience of being a Buckeye while I was up there," he said. "I wanted to know how that would feel. I plan on (making a choice) when the time feels right for me."
WADE'S FIRST BUCKEYE VISIT A SUCCESS
When Shaun Wade committed to Ohio State on January 12th, it was a decision that caught most people off-guard. After all, Wade, the country's 15th-ranked player in the 2017 class, had never visited the Buckeyes prior to his pledge. The thought most had was that no matter what Wade said that day, he'd eventually flip his decision to a school closer to home or in the SEC. Now, after his first trip to Columbus, Wade says he's more comfortable than ever in his choice.
"I feel like Ohio State is the right place for me," Wade told 11W Monday afternoon. "The game, and there being almost 100,000 people there surprised me a lot. The fans were incredible."
The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder spent most of the weekend with Bruce Judson, who he's known for a while through football in Florida, and Danny Clark, Ohio State's most veteran recruiting coordinator. The chance to get close to his future teammates was an important part of the trip for Wade. He will be back at Ohio State for a second time this summer and will continue to cultivate those relationships. Meanwhile, he picked up a nice honor this evening, earning an invitation to the US Army All-American Bowl.
Just got invited to the U.S Army Game!!!#Blessed #BucksNation
— shaun wade (@shaunwade2017) April 20, 2015
GARY UPDATES RECRUITMENT POST RIVALS CAMP
One of the more disappointing no-shows from this past weekend was Rashan Gary, the country's top-ranked prospect and top-ranked defensive tackle. Gary, who visited Columbus at the end of March, was planning on arriving in Columbus with Kareem Walker, who had to cancel his own visit because of the ACT test that prevented many players from making it into town. Instead of coming to Columbus and hurrying back to New Jersey for Sunday's Rivals Camp Series, Walker and Gary stayed in the Armpit of America and prepared for Sunday's camp, where they both – as expected – dominated, earning invites to the Rivals Five Star Challenge. Following Sunday's camp, Gary talked with BuckeyeGrove.com analyst Marc Givler.
"Ohio State went good. I spent time with Joey Bosa, Larry Johnson, Urban Meyer, and basically [the] whole defensive staff," Gary told Givler. "They sat me down one-by-one, basically told me how they felt about me and getting to know me as a person."
The Buckeyes received their first defensive tackle commitment for the 2016 class on Sunday afternoon when Malik Barrow chose Ohio State, and now they'll turn the focus to Gary or Antwuan Jackson as they look for another player at the spot. Right now, despite their efforts, Ohio State isn't exactly teeming with confidence in regard to their position with Gary, but the hope is to keep growing the class, keep growing the relationship and underscore quite simply that he – along with Nick Bosa and the current defensive line class – could be one for the ages.
JAELEN GILL, NEXT IN LINE FROM WESTERVILLE SOUTH?
Now that the Buckeyes have landed 2017 Westerville South star Marcus Williamson, the school – one of Ohio's most talent-rich football programs - could see a steady stream of visitors for the next big thing: 2018 athlete Jaelen Gill. As it stands now for Gill, a 6-foot-tall, 170 pound athlete likely to play a position similar to Jalin Marshall's role for the Buckeyes now, has five scholarship offers on the table: Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Toledo and Penn State. He visited the Nittany Lions this past weekend for their spring game instead of staying local and visiting the Buckeyes.
Ohio State is definitely interested in Gill, and he's a player who I'd imagine will earn a scholarship whenever he shows up for a Buckeye camp this summer. As a refresher for why I am so confident that happens? Check out his highlights, if you've not done so before.
Gill's 247Sports.com crystal ball is 100-percent Ohio State and he's a very good candidate to eventually become the Buckeyes' first commitment in the 2018 class.
