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.
MACK'S STELLAR SEASON CONTINUES
As his national recruiting ranking continues to rise, Austin Mack continues to just go out and do his job. The Ohio State wide receiver commitment, who has ascended the 247Sports.com rankings all the way to No. 35 nationally, has scored 22 total touchdowns this season despite missing almost two full games while he recovered from a concussion early in the season.
Mack contributes to the Knights not only as a wide receiver. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound athlete only has six touchdown receptions, but is decimating his opposition with 11 touchdowns out of the wildcat formation as a running back, one on an interception as a defensive back and four kick returns for touchdowns on the season. Last week, in a wild 82-52 win against Northwestern, Mack scored four times in the first quarter.
There's no question why the Bishop Luers' star was a top priority of the Ohio State coaching staff from the moment they saw him in person in the summer of 2014. In fact, despite already signing his financial agreement to permit early enrollment, he remains a priority on the recruiting trail. Not just any recruit gets a visit from Urban Meyer himself these days, but that's what Mack received this afternoon.
#Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer is expected to visit #OhioState commitment Austin Mack (@Austin_Mack10) at his high school today.
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) October 30, 2015
"It was sweet," Mack said of Meyer being at the school today. "People were flipping out. He told me that if I grind real hard I could be on the field as a freshman."
COOPER PLAYS DESPITE LEG INJURY
After suffering a major scare last week in Gahanna Lincoln's win against Pickerington North, Ohio State commitment Jonathon Cooper was back on the field last night as the Golden Lions took on Pickerington Central for the OCC title. Gahanna lost 35-22, falling to 7-3 on the season and will get back to it next week as they start their playoff run.
However, the takeaway is that Cooper was back on the field giving it a go despite being obviously affected and hampered by his leg injury. He was not normal explosive self, but he was still a major part of the gameplan and he's got time to continue to rest in an attempt to get back to 100 percent.
OHIO STATE COACHES BACK ON THE ROAD
After taking a two-day break from traveling for practice, the Ohio State coaches were back on the road yesterday and continued their visits to top prospects today.
As noted above, Urban Meyer visited Austin Mack Friday afternoon; tonight Meyer will stay in Columbus and take advantage of the rare opportunity to see his son Nate and the Bishop Watterson Eagles play in person. Meyer also visited Detroit Martin Luther King, the home of 2016 wide receiver Donnie Corley and 2017 defensive back Ambry Thomas.
Coach Meyer #OSU and Coach Dantonio #MSU stopped by and showed King H.S. love this week!!
— Ty Spencer (@coachtspence) October 30, 2015
Thursday, Larry Johnson made his way south and visited one of the Buckeyes' top remaining targets, defensive tackle Antwuan Jackson at Ellenwood, Georgia's Cedar Grove High School. Johnson stayed for practice as Ohio State works to cement their standing with Jackson. Friday, Johnson is expected in Louisiana where he'll see another top defensive tackle target, Monroe's Rashard Lawrence.
Ed Warinner, who was in New Jersey and the Northeast earlier this week, is in Ohio, checking out the Akron/Canton area. Ohio State commitments Danny Clark and Todd Sibley are among the recruits he's expected to see.
Zach Smith is also expected to be staying local, following Urban Meyer's visit to Bishop Luers with his own, where he should be checking out Austin Mack in action tonight.
Clairton, Pennsylvania's Lamont Wade told me that Luke Fickell will be at his game tonight in Western Pa. Wade visited the Buckeyes two weeks ago for their night game against Penn State and is hoping to make a return trip to Columbus for the Michigan State game on Nov. 21.
Kerry Coombs, according to his Twitter, was once again active in the Queen City, giving his hometown some love.
Flag planting continues today and tomorrow in the Queen City! #noplacelikehome #homeofhighschoolfootball #cantwaittoseesomegames!
— Kerry Coombs (@OsuCoachCoombs) October 30, 2015
Yesterday afternoon it was the Motor City, Mo-Town, Detroit Rock City that hosted the #KingOfHashtags.
Flag planting all over Motown & surrounding areas today! #lovethistown! #greatHSplayers&coaches #Buckeyefeveriscontagiousandspreadingnorth!
— Kerry Coombs (@OsuCoachCoombs) October 29, 2015
WHO IS JADEN HUNTER?
Roughly a year and a half ago, Ohio State offered a safety from Atlanta's Westlake High School named Nigel Warrior, becoming the first school to offer 2016's 4th-ranked safety. Warrior, who will visit Ohio State Nov. 21, has since transferred to perennial power Peachtree Ridge, but the 2017 class at Westlake has another star who is apparently hoping to hear from the Buckeyes.
5 offers that would alter my Recruitment : 1.Ohio State 2.Florida 3.Oregon 4.USC 5. Notre Dame
— jaden hunter . (@onejhunter) October 30, 2015
That is Jaden Hunter, a four-star outside linebacker who stands at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. Hunter has offers from a host of the country's premier programs, including Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Florida State but has not yet heard from Ohio State.
Whether or not the Buckeyes get into the mix, it's nice to see a recruit that is taking an active role in letting schools know that he's interested. Far too often the elite prospects would rather sit back and rest on their laurels, feeling entitled to attention because they've already got big offers.
