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.
HASKINS WILL NOT VISIT LSU THIS WEEKEND
The Buckeyes' pursuit of Maryland commitment Dwayne Haskins Jr. got a little boost Thursday when ESPN.com recruiting analyst Gerry Hamilton broke the news that the four-star quarterback would not be visiting LSU this weekend as some had speculated he would.
#ESPN300 & UA @AllAmericaGame QB, & #Maryland commit Dwayne Haskins WILL NOT make an OV to #LSU this weekend per family member.
— Gerry Hamilton (@HamiltonESPN) January 14, 2016
LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron visited Haskins at the Bullis School Thursday in Potomac, Maryland–as did Ohio State–so the news that he wouldn't be making a visit is interesting but not entirely definitive; he could visit LSU next weekend if he were so inclined, but since he's taking part in the International Bowl in Dallas the weekend of the 29th it would seem that'd be his last chance to do so. Haskins, for his part, isn't speaking on the record (or, really, off of it) about his recruitment so everything that happens right now is on his time table and no one besides the Haskins family knows what that is.
Maryland still lists Haskins as a commit, but the Terps have begun chasing other quarterbacks, a telling sign about what they feel is inevitable with Haskins. On the flip side, Ohio State has not actively gone after any other prep quarterbacks, despite a brief look at Louisville commit Tylin Oden, and that should help remove any doubts about how the Buckeyes feel about their standing with Haskins.
So what's next? Earlier in the week I suggested that if Haskins didn't visit LSU this weekend that perhaps a commitment to Ohio State would happen in its place, but there's nothing concrete to solidify that belief, just a gut feeling. The truth is that Ohio State absolutely wants/needs a quarterback in 2016 and Haskins is the guy and they've got no leverage with which to press a decision, so they're kind of at the mercy of the 6-foot-3, 200-pound New Jersey-native.
Right now, if Haskins is telling the Buckeyes that he's in, their best course of action may be to remind him (which I'm sure they have) that his commitment could help boost their recruiting class in a major way as signing day approaches. He, like Jonathon Cooper and Austin Mack, is one of the country's most well-regarded prospects among his peers and letting the world know where he's headed could have a positive impact on a number of other players that are working towards a decision.
Haskins, in my opinion, will be a Buckeye, it's just a matter of when and how he wants to make it happen.
FULLER UPDATE FROM SCOUT.COM
As Andrew mentioned earlier today, the Buckeyes have a big official visitor weekend starting tomorrow and perhaps no visitor is more vital to the overall success of their 2016 class than New Jersey's Jordan Fuller.
The four-star athlete from the Garden State has an official visit to Michigan next weekend but right now, things appear to be heading in the Buckeyes' direction.
From Scout.com:
Fuller wants to play cornerback in college, and the Buckeyes believe he can fit that role in their defense.
BUCKEYES COACHES ON THE ROAD
The recruiting dead period ended at 12:01 a.m. Thursday and Ohio State's coaches were back on the road in full-force, making sure that their top targets throughout the country were seen and "feeling the love" even if there were no sleepovers.
Where did the first day of visits see the Buckeyes? Let's take a look.
As noted, Ohio State was in Maryland today checking in on Dwayne Haskins, Jr. Tim Beck, Ohio State's quarterback coach has been working on forging his relationship with Haskins for the last month and has done a good job of showing the four-star how he fits into the Buckeyes' offense.
Zach Smith headed to South Florida and made stops at two key high schools, Coconut Creek and St. Thomas Aquinas and saw Binjimen Victor and Malek Young at Creek. The Buckeyes remain at the top of the list for Victor, who will take his third official visit–to Tennessee–this weekend.
St. Thomas Aquinas of course is the home of Sam Bruce, Nick Bosa, and about 36 other 2017-2019 prospects that claim an Ohio State offer, and Bruce, who continues to be talked about more than ever before, was a priority on Day One for the Buckeyes. He was also, apparently, a priority for new Miami coach Mark Richt and assistant coach Ron Dugans, a former Florida State receiver who disavowed his roots for the 5-foot-8 speedster.
Great talking with @r81dugans What's understood ain't gotta be explained pic.twitter.com/sDE2h7scGo
— $am BruceVI (@_QUICK6) January 14, 2016
Ohio State offensive line coach Ed Warinner spent much of his day in the Buckeye state, specifically the southwest part of the state. He stopped in Miamisburg to see 2017 five-star offensive lineman Josh Myers and was also in the Queen City where a stop at Cincinnati's St. Xavier High School happened. Matt Bockhorst, the four-star offensive lineman at St. X, was one of the reasons for that stop.
As noted last night, defensive line coach Larry Johnson, Sr. was southern-bound today. He's expected to visit Monroe, Louisiana's Rashard Lawrence tonight before the five-star defensive tackle embarks on his weekend official visit to LSU.
Greg Schiano was in Florida making the rounds, including a visit to Kissimmee, where he visited Osceola High School and defensive back Carlos Becker, who will make an official visit to Ohio State next weekend. Becker, a four-star cornerback, is heading to Tallahassee for a Florida State official visit this weekend.
Luke Fickell was in the Baltimore area today where it's believed he made a visit to see another Maryland commitment, linebacker Keandre Jones at Olney's Good Counsel High School. Ohio State continues to be one of a two schools, Florida being the other, that is hoping to flip the four-star linebacker. The Buckeyes are hoping to convince Jones to make his way to Columbus for an official visit, maybe even for this weekend.
The energetic one, Kerry Coombs, was in Louisville and Cincinnati today, with one stop being at Trinity High School where Rodjay Burns, a Louisville commit with an Ohio State official visit planned for next weekend, is a student.
SO YOU WANT TO FOLLOW RECRUITING?
There's a lot of serious business happening on the recruiting trail right now but there's always time for a laugh and if you want to get a 100 percent accurate depiction of what it's like to spend your day chasing down a recruit's plans, this tweet will help explain exactly how maddening things can be.
Here is where I'm going to take my official visits!!!! pic.twitter.com/JZ0LFEW8nK
— Patrick Hudson (@pathud20) January 14, 2016
That is 2016 five-star offensive lineman Patrick Hudson, a Baylor commitment, saying–in no uncertain terms–that he's going to make four official visits maybe, or maybe not.
Hudson, who committed to Art Briles' Bears in July, is making his first official visit this weekend–to Baylor–and will (maybe) make four other officials in the next two and a half weeks.
Or, he won't.
WHY DOESN'T THIS KID HAVE AN OFFER?
We've spent a lot of time talking quarterbacks in the last few weeks, specifically Haskins, and we don't usually bring up kids that aren't directly tied to Ohio State but today just felt like the right day to do so.
Meet Nathan Rourke, a 6-foot-2, 205 pound Canadian-born quarterback who transferred to play his senior year of prep ball at Elmore, Alabama's Edgewood Academy.
As a senior, Rourke threw for 3,779 yards and...wait for it...59 touchdowns against only three interceptions in 13 games. For good measure Rourke, who told me he runs a 4.7-40 yard dash, also added 377 yards and seven scores on the ground. His highlight tape borders on the ridiculous and shows not only an exceptional amount of savvy but legitimate arm-talent and footwork.
So why does he not have a single scholarship offer? According to Rourke, it could be any number of reasons, but someone who needs a quarterback late in the process should be looking his way.
"I feel I'm late (coming in to) the recruiting process," Rourke told 11W. "I came down just for my senior year and they had little time to evaluate me and build relationships and connections."
Rourke says he's heard from a handful of schools, including UCLA, but nothing has panned out to this point.
"UCLA just had a coaching change so they will be likely out of the picture, but I've talked to a lot of schools including Missouri, FAU, UCF, and New Mexico St.," Rourke said. "A lot of them just didnt work out and there's not too much going on right now."
According to an AL.com article about Rourke, his coach at Edgewood, Bobby Carr, is the best quarterback he's seen in his 15 years coaching in the area.
"People started asking midway through the season, 'Is he the best quarterback you've ever had?' and I said, 'I'm not going to say it until he's holding that trophy up,'" Carr said after winning the AISA Class AA championship game. "He's as good as it gets for me. He's the best quarterback I've seen in this area in 15 years. He can make it happen with his feet, his arm and his knowledge of the game.
I don't know how many coaches out there read this column on a nightly basis, but if you're looking for a quarterback with just over two weeks before signing day, there's one in Alabama.
