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.
NEW ACADEMIC STANDARDS BEAR WATCHING
If you played NCAA Football on your gaming system of choice, you no doubt understand how important the lure of early playing time can be when trying to land top recruits. In real life, that opportunity is still far and away the thing most recruits care about; the chance to suit up and play as a freshman.
Starting next year, that could become a bit more difficult thanks to changes in the academic requirements for incoming freshmen. The new policies were actually adopted in 2012, but in an effort to provide some lead time for the adjustments, they won't be into play until the 2016 signing class heads to college. These changes won't impact the scores/grades needed to get in to college, but rather to be able to play as true freshmen.
From NCAA.com:
For immediate access to competition, prospective student-athletes must achieve at least a 2.3 GPA and an increased sliding scale. For example, an SAT score of 1,000 requires a 2.5 high school core-course GPA for competition and a 2.0 high school core-course GPA for aid and practice...Prospects also must successfully complete 10 of the 16 total required core courses before the start of their senior year in high school. Seven of the 10 courses must be successfully completed in English, math and science.
What if a student-athlete doesn't meet those requirements?
The new initial-eligibility requirements create a higher academic standard for freshman to play. That standard is higher than what will be needed to receive aid and practice, creating an academic redshirt year.
Get used to the term "academic redshirt" even if it's not something you hear often from coaching staffs or the players themselves. The goal here is simple, and even a bit admirable, but it will be interesting to see which programs are hit the hardest.
"When a young person is growing up, everybody knows exactly what they have to do to be prepared to play college ball,” Emmert said. “People are constantly saying you have to work on this part of your game, you have to work on that part of your game.
“Academics are vitally important and demand just as much attention as athletics, especially in college.”
BOSA, DAVIS CHANGING VISIT PLANS
Last night, 247Sports.com reported that the October 17th date Nick Bosa had scheduled for his official visit would be changing. Bosa will now be making his official visit on November 21st for the Michigan State game, according to sources at St. Thomas Aquinas.
I asked if Bosa's change of plans would impact those of Sam Bruce and Trevon Grimes, who were – tentatively at least – expected with Nick for the Penn State game.
"I think (Sam) is still on for Penn State," the source shared. "I'm trying to get a definitive answer from him and Grimes. As soon as I hear something, I'll let you know."
Another Ohio State commitment who was expected to visit this weekend is also changing his plans.
"No, I'm not making it this weekend," Wayne Davis told Eleven Warriors. "I'll be coming up on October 10th."
Davis' teammates, Darnell Ewell, confirmed to 11W on Monday he'd be visiting this weekend, but without Davis visiting I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see him reschedule.
SHAUN WADE INTERVIEW
I try to bring as much about your future Buckeyes to you as possible, even if it's a short video interview from Florida. Here's Shaun Wade following last weekend's victory over West Orange and Auburn quarterback commitment Woody Barrett.
Wade is hoping to make a visit to Ohio State for a game sometime soon.
MCCULLOCH ADDS BUCKEYES OFFER
The race for another linebacker in the 2016 recruiting class continues and today it's Texas four-star Jeffrey McCulloch adding an Ohio State offer.
McCulloch is a 6-foot-3, 230-pounder from Houston, and like most Texas prep stars, is expected to stay inside The Lonestar State for college. Texas and Texas A&M are the frontrunners for the country's 78th-ranked 2016 prospect and seventh-ranked outside linebacker.
Ohio State had not been actively pursuing another linebacker in 2016 but concerns about the future of Kyle Berger has prompted them to at least start considering the need. McCulloch is the third linebacker in the last week to add an offer, joining Bryce Youngquist and Mique Juarez.
