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.
BEYOND EICHENBERG
When the Buckeyes missed on Liam Eichenberg on Sunday afternoon, the most common reaction I heard was, naturally, this:
The second most common – and the far less ridiculous – response was: "Ok, so who's on the board behind him?"
There are a couple options, of course. The Buckeyes are nothing if not always prepared when it comes to recruiting, and they've certainly not put all their eggs in the Eichenberg basket. We learned last week that Michal Menet is down to Penn State and Duke, so he's off the list for now, but there's still excellent options. Who are the primary two? At this point, the offensive tackle position is most likely to be filled by one of two Michigan prospects: Plymouth's Michael Jordan or Traverse City's Thiyo Lukusa.
I think the two players are pretty even on Ohio State's board, although Jordan might be slightly higher at this time. He's predicted by most to end up in Ann Arbor, but the Buckeyes feel they've been involved with him for long enough – and have a good enough relationship with him – to be a major player.
Thiyo Lukusa has never made his affinity for the Buckeyes a secret, and there are a few people close to him who suggest outright that Ohio State is his favorite, and comfortably so, and that a decision was looming. I've talked to Lukusa and I think he's unlikely to make a choice until June, so the Buckeyes will wait to see what he decides then.
Other names to watch? Leipsic, Ohio's Gavin Cupp is a dark-horse candidate to me. He's a guy that I think – as long as he doesn't commit to Michigan State before then – could camp and impress enough for an offer this summer.
FELDER SOON?
Baltimore's Kareem Felder visited Ohio State on April 9th, and quickly followed that up with a trip to Clemson the following weekend. A Virginia Tech commit, Felder is a player that most expect to end up in Columbus, but that – as of now – has not happened. Last week, the Buckeyes were waiting for a bit more information on Felder's academic situation and early this week they've had any concerns alleviated and are hoping that he'll make the call soon.
In some ways, I get a similar feel with Felder that I got last cycle with Waldorf, Maryland's Juwuan Briscoe, who was committed to Clemson and then made a visit to Ohio State that many people felt would swing him towards the Buckeyes. Following his Buckeye visit, Briscoe visited Georgia and eventually ended up choosing the 'Dawgs over Ohio State. Felder is a player that the Buckeyes are very interested in, and from most accounts he's a player they're hoping to join the class soon. If I had to choose, gun to my head, right now I'd pick the Buckeyes, but the longer it goes the better for Clemson and other suitors.
MACK'S MICHIGAN STATE VISIT
One noticeable absence from Ohio State's spring game this past weekend was wide receiver Austin Mack, arguably the top prospect on the Buckeyes' wide receiver board. Mack opted for his junior prom instead of the visit to Ohio State, where he's visited roughly 4,210 times in the last year. This coming weekend he's scheduled to visit Michigan State for the Spartans' spring game, but he told 11W today he's not 100-percent sure that will happen.
"If the visit happens," Mack said. "I'm just going there to have a great time and see how I'd be used in their system. I might not make it because my boys get tired of going somewhere every weekend (laughs). But I might, I probably should just get up and go up there."
Mack is another prospect very interested in the Buckeyes that is trying to work with his school to allow him a chance to enroll early. Like most private schools around the country, Bishop Luers (Fort Wayne, Indiana) doesn't allow students to graduate early; Kareem Walker is working to circumvent that standard in New Jersey.
"I'm going to battle the school a bit to see if they'll let me," Mack said potentially of enrolling early. "It's an enormous advantage for the players who get to do it. It's all good if they don't let me, though."
MICHIGAN OFFERS TONY BUTLER
Pittsburgh commitment and Lakewood St. Ed's defensive back Tony Butler added a big offer on Monday, hearing from Michigan that they had a spot for him if he wanted it. Butler visited Ohio State three weeks ago and made a trip to Ann Arbor – where his former high school coach Rick Finotti now serves as a football staffer – a week later.
The Wolverines' offer will be a tough one for Butler to turn down, even if immediate public response to the offer was to say "thanks but no thanks." He loves Pitt, and especially new head coach Pat Narduzzi, but – and I hate to say it – Michigan's tradition and history is going to be too much for a lot of kids from Ohio, especially those without Buckeye offers, to ignore.
Now, about Butler and the potential for a Buckeye offer: Chris Ash will be visiting St. Edward on Thursday to check out Butler during a track and field practice. The goal? See Butler's athleticism, speed, etc. in person and then evaluate whether or not an offer will head his direction.
I think Butler, Austin Andrews and AJ Rose are three incredibly talented players, and I think that one of those three will end up in Columbus as a Buckeye, but if Butler doesn't get that offer this week, we won't know which until camp season rolls around. The question with Butler is whether or not he makes a flip to Michigan before camping in Columbus, because that is likely to remove him from the equation.
BERRY IS ABSURDLY ATHLETIC
I've talked at length about how ridiculously athletic 2015 Buckeye football signee Rashod Berry is. A 6-foot-5, 240-pounder who could line up at tight end or defensive end when he arrives in Columbus, Berry spent most of the last few months dominating the hardwood for the Lorain Titans, and now there's video to prove it.
Dude. Is. Put. Together.
