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.
GERVIN WANTS TO VISIT OHIO STATE
In recent years, Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes have fared pretty well at Detroit's Cass Tech High School, landing three different players from the traditional Michigan feeder program in 2014 and 2015. After missing at Cass Tech in 2016, Ohio State is one of the top schools for Jaylen Kelly-Powell, a 2017 defensive back for the Technicians and they're monitoring 2018 defensive back Kalon Gervin closely as well.
"I've been talking to Coach Coombs," Gervin, a 5-foot-11, 175-pounder junior-to-be, told 11W. "I gotta get down there."
Gervin will be traveling a lot in the upcoming weeks as he begins to break down his college options in earnest. He grew up a Michigan fan, and the Wolverines offered in mid-January, an opportunity that may be hard for him to turn down.
"(Michigan) was a big offer," Gervin said. "But I like Pitt and Penn State a lot, too. I'm visiting West Virginia, Pitt and Syracuse in the next few days. I'm open to all schools."
As for the Buckeyes, Gervin thinks he'd be a good fit in their defensive scheme and believes an Ohio State offer is something he can earn in person.
"My style is kind of 'in your face,' so (I like playing) a lot of press, in a physical defense but I'm very versatile," he said. "I definitely think (Ohio State) will offer, they just want to see me work out."
LINDSEY NARROWING LIST SOON
Very late last night, Centennial (Corona, California) five-star wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey tweeted, and subsequently deleted, that he'd be tightening up his list of potential colleges soon.
While the tweet was still active, I asked Lindsey if he had a number in mind that he'd be narrowing down to.
"Seven," Lindsey replied. "I don't know exactly when yet."
The Buckeyes have been surging in Lindsey's recruitment and he said that whenever he breaks down a list, you can expect to see the Scarlet and Gray included.
"It's kind of hard to narrow them all down," Lindsey, who added offers from Arizona and Washington State yesterday, said. "But Ohio State will be in my top group."
Though he'll begin making his list smaller, don't expect Lindsey to make a decision anytime too soon. He's got a handful of visits he needs to make before he can seriously consider ending his recruitment.
“AMATEUR” FOOTBALL'S ARMS RACE IN TEXAS
Way back in 2012, Allen, Texas unveiled a $60 million dollar high school football stadium.
From ESPN.com:
Call it the palace of high school football: A gleaming $60 million facility with seats for 18,000 roaring fans, a 38-foot wide high-definition video screen, corporate sponsors and a towering upper deck.
Ignoring the fact that in 2014 the stadium was deemed unsafe for the public and forced to close, the facilities at Allen–one of the nation's preeminent programs–signaled that in Texas, football is alive and well.
Today, in a truly "The Price is Right" style maneuver, the folks in Katy, Texas, one-upped Allen's deep pockets.
From USATodayHSS.com:
The groundbreaking for the nation’s most expensive high school football stadium has taken place and now the construction begins on the new venue in Katy, Texas.
The $61 million price tag tops the $60 million spent by Allen to build Eagle Stadium.
The 12,000-seat stadium in the Houston suburb with a population of 14,102 as of 2010, will open in 2017 and include:
- Design plans show the new stadium situated on a 58-acre tract north of Rhodes.
- Two-story press box
- Several training room
- Jumbotron
- Field house that is drawn to occupy 12,000 square feet of the complex.
- The second floor will remain empty for future expansion and will include space for a high school football hall of fame.
We regularly hear gripes and moans about the big money in "amateur" football as it relates to the NCAA, but it's gotten more and more out of control at the high school level, as well. In the Dallas area alone, according to a FootballScoop.com, there are over 60 different high schools that have indoor practice facilities.
From FootballScoop.com:
In August of 2015, Georgia announced plans to add one, and earlier this week they hit their fundraising goal for it. In November of last year, Texas Tech announced plans for an indoor, and Florida State just added one. South Carolina is another SEC program that recently put the finishing touches on theirs.
Those are major Division One college football programs that haven't made the move for an indoor practice facility yet, though clearly they're heading towards it. Somehow though, 60 high schools in one metropolitan area of Texas, a region that certainly doesn't deal with much cold weather during the football season, have them.
When is enough enough?
BIG DAY FOR AMIR RIEP
After receiving an offer from Ohio State two weeks ago, things have gotten crazy for Cincinnati Colerain defensive back Amir Riep.
Today, the four-star prospect added two more major offers in about 15 minutes.
Blessed!! To receive a offer from Oregon!! #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/rWcDPxlbF1
— Amir Riep (@Riep_Amir) February 12, 2016
Also Blessed!! To receive offer from Notre Dame!! pic.twitter.com/oQOEZ2XPuh
— Amir Riep (@Riep_Amir) February 12, 2016
Those offers bring Riep's total to 21 but eight of them have come in the last two weeks. He's the 243rd-ranked prospect in the country but there may not be a more quickly rising name in the nation.
