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.
WALKER TO MICHIGAN?
Ok, so Friday afternoon we talked about the official visit that Kareem Walker was going to take to Michigan this weekend, and it appears that things couldn't have gone much better for the Wolverines. Their team dominated, Walker was around friends from New Jersey and Jim Harbaugh's team had excellent – and rowdy – fan support.
Me and the Bro living out Michigan #JerseyStrong and the game was LIVE @_KareemWalker pic.twitter.com/E2gul6J53a
— Ahmir_SoDevoted (@TheDeuce_2_Nice) October 11, 2015
As I said Friday, the Buckeyes were aware that Walker has had plans to see other schools, although they certainly would have preferred if Michigan were not among them. Do I expect Walker to flip to Michigan? No, I don't. Do I expect there to be more handwringing around his recruitment over the next few months? Yes, of course. Walker will take more visits and NorthJersey.com shed some light on which schools are expected to receive them.
From NorthJersey.com writer Keith Idec:
Kareem Walker’s trip to Michigan this weekend was the DePaul star’s first official college visit, but it won’t be his last.
A source close to Walker said today that the highly touted tailback also plans to take official visits to Alabama, Mississippi and Ohio State on dates to be determined. The Irvington resident is considering taking an official visit to Arizona State as well.
Ohio State has given multiple assurances to Walker that he's the running back they want in the 2016 class, but – as his right – the country's top-ranked back wants to make sure he's fully exploring all potential options. He took a visit to Alabama over the summer, as well as Arizona State, so those schools are more of a threat in my mind than Michigan is at present. Ole Miss is Ole Miss, so there's always room to be concerned if they're involved in a recruitment at all.
Walker has said repeatedly that he's interested in enrolling early but his reluctance to finalizing that process while viewing other schools should have Buckeye fans understandably concerned. There is no date set for his official visit to Ohio State yet.
MYERS VISITS OHIO STATE
Miamisburg 2017 offensive lineman Josh Myers was one of the recruits in attendance Saturday as the Buckeyes toppled Maryland.
#Buckeyes 2017 commitment - five-star OL Josh Myers (@joshmyers58) at #OhioState today. pic.twitter.com/vRLH2WPWLY
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) October 10, 2015
Myers, the country's top-ranked 2017 lineman and third-ranked overall prospect, has stayed relatively low-key in his recruitment since his commitment in January, which is always good if you're a fan of the Buckeyes.
Myers hung out with recruits and was, as expected a focus of the coaching staff and the recruiting support staff.
BLUE SMITH CONTINUES TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP
On Friday we also mentioned that Wayne's L'Christian "Blue" Smith would be at Ohio State again this weekend. He's now visited the Buckeyes twice in the last three weeks and it's clear that the interest from both sides is really ratcheting up.
"I talked to Coach Hinton a lot," Smith said of this trip to Columbus. "I'm just trying to build the relationship."
Smith, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound sophomore, has one college football offer (he's also a dynamic basketball player) and the Buckeyes seem to be moving in that direction.
FUNDERBURK GETS UP
Although he's not currently playing basketball in Ohio, it's still good to see when an Ohioan isn't bound by the constraints of gravity. Check out this dunk by 2016 Ohio State basketball commit Derek Funderburk, who now roams the hardwood at the Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia.
Not my last but one of the dunks that capped it off pic.twitter.com/nv2kiiEOhh
— Derek Funderburk (@TooEvsy4) October 10, 2015
Funderburk is the country's 62nd-ranked 2016 prospect and it looks like he could be someone to provide the Buckeyes some offense from the blocks.
Funderburk's dunk won him the slam dunk title at Hargrave, and it appears the future Buckeye called his shot.
Midnight Madness here tonight... Think taking home the dunk contest
— Derek Funderburk (@TooEvsy4) October 9, 2015
GREENE SHOWING OFF HIS SKILLS
Speaking off offensive sparks, check out this catch from IMG Academy's Emmanuel Greene.
Greene, the country's 21st-ranked 2017 wide receiver, said he's still in contact with the Buckeyes and hoping to make a trip to Columbus next month.
"It's like 50/50 right now if I can make it up for the Penn State game," Greene told 11W. "I last talked to Ohio State like a week ago."
The Buckeyes have been the frontrunner for Greene and he's listed them as his leader previously but right now things seem to trending in different directions. If he makes his trip to Columbus next month, it'd be a positive sign that the two sides are still mutually interested.
