The Hurry Up is your nightcap of Ohio State recruiting news, catching you up on the day’s events with an ear on the ground for what’s next.
CUPP OFFER, POSSIBLE COMMITMENT ISN'T A PITY MOVE
As we mentioned earlier today, the Buckeyes extended a feel-good offer to 2016 Ohio offensive lineman Gavin Cupp this afternoon.
Let me be clear: Ohio State does not make "pity" offers. Ohio State does not make offers to "reaches." If the Buckeyes give a scholarship offer, especially to a kid inside of Ohio, it's because they believe that kid can play in their system and succeed in their program. There are no "non-committable" offers to Ohio kids in August before their senior year. They offered Cupp because they want him.
With three offensive lineman committed and limited spots left in 2016, what prompted this offer (and what is likely to be a soon-to-come commitment) could include a bit of gamesmanship with Michigan State, but gamesmanship isn't worth a roster spot to Urban Meyer.
VICTOR HAS THREE ON TOP
Ohio State has one big-time wide receiver commitment already from Fort Wayne's Austin Mack, but they're not settling on one at the position. There's a number of names left on the board but Florida's Binjimen Victor has been at the top of the list the longest, and today Scout.com analyst Corey Bender, who is connected in Florida, updated the four-star wide receiver's recruitment.
If you don't watch the video, the important notes are these:
- Ohio State, Florida and Tennessee are the three schools Victor says comprise a "three-team race" for his services.
- Ohio State will receive an official visit.
- Victor could commit at the US Army All-American game or on signing day.
Victor though, took to Twitter this afternoon to try and make sure that others knew he's still open for any other schools.
Just to be clear I don't have no favorites IM WIDE OPEN
— BEN#9 (@BinjimenVictor) July 30, 2015
LIL' KEY TELLS 247 HE'S PLANNING NOVEMBER RETURN
Another wide receiver, this time a 2017 big-name, told 247Sports.com that he was planning on returning to Ohio State this fall. Keyshawn Johnson, Jr., who visited Columbus last week for a three-day stint, said he's hoping to be back in November.
“Most definitely I’ll get back to Ohio State,” Johnson said. “I’ll probably be back for the Michigan State game.”
Johnson struggled a bit with a hip injury during Friday Night Lights and that hampered his performance. He's the country's 123rd-ranked player in the 2017 class and a cousin of current Buckeye wide receiver Mike Thomas.
With a number of talented prospects on the wide receiver board for 2017, it's hard to project exactly where or how Johnson would fit into the Buckeyes' top-ranked class, but he remains very interested in Ohio State.
In the end, I expect Nebraska or USC to be his choice.
DELANCE NARROWS TO FIVE
With the imminent commitment of Gavin Cupp, it's highly unlikely that anything else happens at offensive line for Ohio State, but that's not going to stop many of the country's best players for listing the Buckeyes on their list.
Jean Delance, the country's 100th-ranked overall player and No. 12 ranked offensive tackle, released his Top 5 schools last night and the Buckeyes are on the Mesquite, Texas product's mind.
S/o to @Claywill3_ This Is My TOP 5!! pic.twitter.com/wYggJAKyHL
— Jean Delance (@JeanDelance74) July 29, 2015
Delance, who at one time was committed to Oklahoma but decommitted in the midst of scandal in Norman, has not visited Ohio State yet and I wouldn't expect much of a push for him from the Buckeyes.
