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.
NOTRE DAME OFFERS FARRELL, WILL MAKE THINGS INTERESTING
Last night, Perry, Ohio 2016 tight end Luke Farrell added a big-time offer from a regional power.
Just got offered by Notre Dame #Irish pic.twitter.com/OKqdnckjyo
— Luke Farrell (@LukeFarrell88) June 3, 2015
As recently as Sunday, Farrell, the country's 6th-ranked tight end, listed a final four schools that included Ohio State, Michigan State, Boston College and Penn State. That could change with last night's offer, according to the 6-foot-6, 240-pounder. He says a visit to Notre Dame is likely.
"I definitely want to make a visit," Farrell told Eleven Warriors. "I was there for a game which was cool but I didn't get to see much else."
Farrell said the Irish are working to try obtain a visit on June 19 when they host their annual "Irish Invasion," their biggest summer recruiting day. He's not sure if he'll make it that day, and is focusing on next week's visit to Michigan State while he tries to sort out a Notre Dame visit.
"I'll visit Michigan State on the 9th [of June]," he said. "My team is doing a 7-on-7 there on the 10th."
The Ohio native does not have any plans for a return trip to Columbus before a decision is made this summer, but he says he did hear from Ohio State following Sunday's The Opening camp session.
"I talked to (Tim) Hinton briefly on Twitter," Farrell added. "He was just asking how (the camp) went."
The Buckeyes continue to lead the 247Sports.com crystal ball for Farrell with 100-percent of the predictors choosing Ohio State.
GILL ADDS BUCKEYE OFFER
Ohio's top 2018 prospect, Westerville South's Jaelen Gill, added the offer he has been waiting for during a visit to Ohio State today.
Received my 7th offer from THE Ohio State University today! #GoBucks #OSU pic.twitter.com/OvHyVlDTW6
— Jaelen Gill (@jaelengill21) June 3, 2015
Gill, who is scheduled to visit Michigan State, Illinois and Purdue in the next handful of days before camping for the Buckeyes next Saturday, isn't likely to decide anytime real soon, but he's likely to be the first 2018 commitment for Ohio State.
Gill is the second running back/slot-type player the Buckeyes have offered in the 2018, joining Woodbridge, Virginia's Ricky Slade, Jr. Slade is a former high school teammate of 2015 Ohio State signee Matt Burrell, Jr. and is very high on the Buckeyes early in the process.
ONWENU OFF THE BOARD
After a spectacular performance on Sunday in Columbus, Detroit Cass Tech two-way lineman Michael Onwenu visited Ann Arbor on Tuesday and committed to Michigan.
Happy to announce I've just committed to the University Of Michigan
— Michael Onwenu (@_MXKEY) June 3, 2015
I spoke with the 6-foot-3, 365-pounder following his pledge and he let me know what made this visit this right one for him to end his recruitment.
"My entire family was with me," Onwenu said. "They believed what coach said, and think it would be a good fit."
A good fit for Michigan, certainly, as Onwenu joins offensive tackle Erik Swenson along the Wolverines' offensive line. They're also in the final group for Wisconsin five-star Ben Bredeson who spent this last weekend in Ann Arbor. Onwenu says that his commitment doesn't necessarily mean he's done taking visits, although no specific schools are lined up for any further investigation.
"I'll still be taking my officials and visits," the Cass Tech star shared. "I just don't know right now what schools will get them."
HAWKINS TALKS THE OPENING
Buckeye 2016 commitment Kierre Hawkins lined up at tight end on Sunday during Nike's camp event at Ohio State. Last season, the Maple Heights standout lined up all over the field for the Mustangs and he told 11W he was more than happy to get a chance to play tight end this past weekend.
"I'm alright at that position," Hawkins said. "It's actually a bit easier to me than some others, but I still need to get more smooth."
Sounds like a player who thinks he could have performed a touch better?
"(The camp) was fun, and I thought I did pretty good," he said. "I've still got some things to work on just like every player, but I thought I did good."
Hawkins also plays defensive end for Maple Heights, and he said that one of the reasons Ohio State was interested in him so early was because of his versatility.
"That's why I'm recruited as an athlete," the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder said. "I can play and will play any position."
PAY ATTENTION TO 2018 STAR NATE BAUER
The offense at Akron Archbishop Hoban this year should be a pretty dynamic one. While highlighted by two 2017 Ohio State commitments (Danny Clark, Todd Sibley, Jr.) and a 2016 Michigan State pledge (Jonah Morris), the most explosive player on the field for the Knights could be a little-known 2018 wide receiver.
Meet Nate Bauer, a 6-foot-tall, 181-pound wide receiver/defensive back who, as an eighth-grader, posted the best SPARQ score at a Nike combine in Massillon.
Bauer has already begun to hear from a number of major football programs, according to an assistant coach at Hoban. Ohio State, Notre Dame, Maryland, Michigan State, Syracuse, Cincinnati, and Boston College are among the schools inquiring about Bauer, who started every game for Hoban's varsity team on offense and took a starting role on defense in week four.
Bauer reportedly runs a sub-4.5 40-yard dash and is expected to end up close to 6-foot-2 and is definitely a young player that we'll hear about in the upcoming years. He'll camp at Pittsburgh this weekend and is expected to camp June 13th for the Buckeyes.
2017 WIDE RECEIVERS ON DISPLAY IN COLUMBUS
One of the interesting subplots from Sunday's camp at Ohio State was the chance to watch a group of very talented 2017 Buckeye State wide receivers. Unfortunately, Springfield's Danny Davis didn't participate due to an injury, but that gave a bit more time to watch the duo of Ja'Vonte Richardson, and Jaylen Harris.
In these camp settings, many times the underclassmen are separated from the upperclassmen, to give them more reps away from the "top" groups. Richardson looks like a college receiver right now, he's 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds and solidly put together. He runs very well, and seems to be a more natural pass-catcher than his teammate Kierre Hawkins.
Harris, at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, almost looks like he's too skinny. He's not; Hawkins is young and growing into his frame. He looked a bit awkward at times with breaks in and out of routes, but his frame alone makes him a legitimate big-time prospect down the road. He's not going to run by many people, but he used his body well to put himself in good position and catches the ball away from his body.
If I had the authority to extend an offer to one of these two right now, it'd be Richardson, but I think that by this time next year it's possible that both could be Buckeyes.
