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.
DAELIN HAYES OFFICIAL VISIT UPDATE
The weekend's lone official visitor, Ann Arbor Skyline linebacker Daelin Hayes, was the top priority for the Buckeyes' recruiting efforts this weekend and that was easy to see pregame. Hayes was escorted nearly everywhere he went by #Swaggernaut Mark Pantoni and Ohio State's unofficial 2016 ambassador, wide receiver Austin Mack; the pair making sure he saw all the things that needed to be seen.
Hayes, who arrived Friday evening, made the visit not just with his mother and father, but had his brothers with him as well, the entire family checking out what Ohio State has to offer.
After talking to a few people prior to Hayes' visit, it was becoming clear that perhaps the Buckeyes' chances to land the 6-foot-4, 235-pounder were being understated, although I wouldn't go so far as to say I was optimistic.
Notre Dame had been everyone's choice for Hayes since the moment he decommitted from USC, but right now, I wouldn't be surprised if you see the country's eighth-ranked linebacker move the Buckeyes up to "favorite" heading into his official visit to Michigan State next weekend.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY pic.twitter.com/ZUTNxSTF4C
— Daelin Hayes (@DaelinHayes_24) November 7, 2015
That's what official visits, do, generally. The attention to detail, attention to your family and yourself is hard to not be overwhelmed by the "love." The challenge now is if the Buckeyes, who have really only very recently begun to recruit Hayes with a legitimate belief they could sign him, can forge a strong enough bond with him and his family to withstand that barrage of love he'll feel at Michigan State, Oregon and LSU in the next three weeks.
I'm not confident enough to predict Hayes ends up a Buckeye, but there are now reasons to be optimistic.
Eleven Warriors hope to have a full update with Daelin soon.
INTRODUCING KEEGAN COSSOU
Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class is ranked as the country's best, but one area of uncertainty is tight end; the questions about if they need a tight end, who they'd take, how they use the position and more continue. Yesterday, a new name at tight end was spotted along the sidelines in Columbus: Greenville, Michigan's Keegan Cossou.
Cossou, the country's 23rd-ranked 2017 tight end, has ideal size (6-foot-5 and 225-pounds) but right now remains a bit under-the-radar with only three offers, from Toledo, Western Michigan and Central Michigan. Although he's a newer name on our end, he's been in contact with the Buckeyes since the spring.
"Last spring, (Tim) Hinton came to my school," Cossou told Eleven Warriors. "He's the one who's been recruiting me. He says he likes my size and the things I show on my film; my catching, running, and blocking abilities."
The visit to Columbus was a memorable one for the Michigan native.
"The visit went well," he said. "I had a great time. It was an amazing atmosphere and I also liked the things they have Nick Vannett do."
The three-star prospect is taking a patient approach with the Buckeyes, realizing that if an offer is to come, he may have a bit of a wait.
"I know they have a few tight ends committed in the 2016 class," Cossou said. "I'm guessing they're waiting to see if any of the guys they have offered commit or not, also I didn't make it to there camp (this year) so I'll need to get to that this summer."
DALLAS GANT CHECKS OUT BUCKEYES
The class of 2018 in Ohio is shaping up to be a really good group and there aren't many athletes in the class more talented than Toledo St. John's linebacker Dallas Gant. Gant, 6-foot-3 and 180-pounds, has offers from Kentucky and Toledo, but has begun receiving interest from bigger schools, like Ohio State, Michigan State, and Notre Dame. His cousin Allen, a Sylvania (Toledo) Southview alum, played at Michigan. Gant has visited the Spartans twice this season and has also been to a game in South Bend.
Last night, Gant was on hand as the Buckeyes hosted Minnesota, his first visit to Ohio State as a recruiting visitor, but likely won't be his last. According to his coach at St. John's, Doug Pearson, there's something special about this sophomore.
"Has great length," Pearson said. "(He had) 88 tackles this season but missed two games with high ankle sprain after being a part time starter as freshman last year. Tim Hinton recruits our school loves Dallas but obviously only being a sophomore there is no hurry at this point. I'm sure he will be a Friday Night Lights guy again next year."
KELLY-POWELL, THOMAS ARRIVE LATE, BUT HAVE GOOD TIME
Two of the country's top 2017 defensive backs, a pair of cousins from Detroit each of who hold Buckeye offers, say they had a great time on their trip to Columbus as well. Ambry Thomas and Jaylen Kelly-Powell, from Detroit MLK and Cass Tech respectively, didn't arrive in Columbus until the second quarter, but that didn't stop the experience from being an excellent one.
A few Detroit prospects, Jaylen Kelly-Powell, Ambry Thomas and Donovan Johnson, at Ohio State pic.twitter.com/wFGdMw9YGg
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) November 8, 2015
The duo, as well as 2017 Cass Tech cornerback Donovan Johnson, were late arriving because of the Technicians' playoff game earlier in the day. For the second time in a month, Kelly-Powell and his parents made the drive to Ohio State, but this time, with Thomas and Johnson in tow, gave him a different perspective.
"We had a great time," Kelly-Powell said. "It went well. I got to enjoy it with 'Bry and Donovan, and I'd always come by myself before. We hung out with my Cass Tech family at the dorms. I loved the visit."
The Cass Tech three-star safety has had plans to check out the Buckeyes again on Nov. 21, but that seems unlikely barring a unexpected playoff loss for Cass Tech.
"As long as the (Michigan State) game is at night, I'll be there," Kelly-Powell said. "We should have a playoff game at noon.
Thomas, a four-star prospect and the country's 12th-ranked cornerback added a Notre Dame offer during the Buckeyes' game, his 20th. Don't worry, that didn't impact his visit or distract him, at least it doesn't appear to have.
Enjoyed my visit at Ohio state 1
— Ambry Thomas 13 (@Tavonn_) November 8, 2015
He has a very strong relationship with Kerry Coombs and there's no doubt his interest is picking up as well, so stay tuned.
