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.
HONIGFORD ON THE CUSP OF BREAKING OUT NATIONALLY
When he visited Ohio State for their junior day on the last day of January, Sugarcreek's Joel Honigford was just in the beginning stages of getting to know Greg Studrawa, the Buckeyes' new offensive line coach.
"It went really well," Honigford said of that visit. "I really like how they constantly talked about how they are one family."
Since that vist, a lot has changed for the 6-foot-6, 265-pound three-star prospect from Garaway High School. He's added two major offers in the last two weeks, from Michigan State and Oklahoma, two that will most certainly lead to other big-name schools getting involved soon. The circumstances around his recruitment have changed drastically and some have even begun speculating that a commitment could come sometime soon with the Spartans surging into the fore of his recruitment. Ohio's 24th-ranked player says he's not sure that will happen but he doesn't hide what he found so appealing about Michigan State.
"(I liked) How the coaches were, they were loose and fun and I just really enjoyed my time with them, but I don't know," he said about having a favorite school at the moment. "I have some other schools (besides Michigan State) that I have a lot of interest in. I want to see Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt and West Virginia (before making a choice)."
Honigford said that he's been hearing from the Buckeyes consistently since the junior day visit but he's not sure if he's going to wait until the summer to make a camp visit with Ohio State before committing.
"I'm not sure, honestly," he said about waiting to let Studrawa and Urban Meyer see him in person this upcoming June. "(Studrawa and I) talk at least once a week, just getting to know each other a bit."
Previously, Honigford, who grew up a Buckeye fan, said he'd love to play for the Scarlet and Gray but will–as he should–make a choice that's the best for him.
"I'd love to play for Ohio state," Honigford said about a potential offer from the Buckeyes. "Who wouldn't? I'm just really looking to play at the highest level I can no matter where or who it is. My main focus right now is to just get to the next level at a school that will push me to be my best. No matter where I have to go."
Could we be looking at Gavin Cupp part two? It will be interesting to see how things play out here.
WILLIAMSON DROPS BIG IN NEW RIVALS 250
Last night we talked about the new Rivals 100 and where Ohio State commitments and targets landed, and today the rest of their Top 250 was released.
Where do the Buckeyes stack up? Here are where the future members of the Scarlet and Gray fall in the new release.
- No. 111 • Haskell Garrett • DT • Nevada
- No. 116 • Jake Moretti • OL • Colorado
- No. 159 • Brendon White • DB • Ohio
- No. 221 • Marcus Williamson • DB • Ohio
So, overall, seven of Ohio State's 11 commitments find themselves in the Rivals 250, a number that is slightly lower than the nine who make the "composite 250." Williamson, who was named by almost everyone in attendance at last weekend's Nike regional camp in Orlando as the top prospect in the event, dropped 116 spots and the rational seems to have a bit of network bias.
"Williamson started out in the Rivals100 last summer, but the Ohio State commit struggled against the top-flight competition at the Under Armour Future 50 camp in Orlando this winter. Williamson is on the smaller side for the cornerback position and had trouble staying with the elite wide receivers who were at the event.” - Josh Helmholdt
If a prospect struggles at a camp, when he was nowhere near 100-percent healthy, it's a shame that it's held against him 8 months later with a complete disregard for his game tape, etc. I digress.
The seven Ohio State commitments gives the Buckeyes–tied with Alabama–the most in the updated rankings. What other prospects could find their way to to Urban Meyer's program?
- No. 105 • Danny Davis • WR • Ohio
- No. 107 • Anthony Hines • LB • Texas
- No. 120 • Darnell Ewell • DT • Virginia
- No. 122 • Jamyest Williams • ATH • Georgia
- No. 148 • Trey Sermon • RB • Georgia
- No. 154 • Ambry Thomas • DB • Michigan
- No. 155 • Adarius Lemons • RB • Florida
- No. 165 • Jaylen Harris • WR • Ohio
- No. 178 • Micah Clark • OL • New Jersey
- No. 191 • Antjuan Simmons • LB • Michigan
- No. 218 • Amir Riep • DB • Ohio
- No. 224 • Keyshawn Johnson • WR • California
- No. 235 • Donovan Jeter • DT • Pennsylvania
One of the site's biggest risers was Springfield wide receiver Danny Davis, a 6-foot-2 potential star if he can keep himself healthy and on the field.
“After getting off to a hot start from his wide receiver position during his junior season, Davis was asked to move to running back to help Springfield's offense. He responded by rushing for 1,300 yards in limited games. We already knew the 6-foot-2, 180-pound wideout has the fundamentals and hands to excel as a wide receiver, and his half-season at running back continues to show exceptional run-after-catch abilities. - Josh Helmholdt
Cue Urban Meyer: "The future is bright in Columbus."
LEMONS STILL LIKING BUCKEYES?
Another one of the stars from this past weekend's Nike event in Orlando was Clearwater running back Adarius Lemons, who has an Ohio State offer. The 6-foot-2, 194-pounder told 11W he was happy about his performance.
"I had a great time," Lemons told Eleven Warriors. "I actually felt like I did great there. There are some things that I can tune up a little bit but other that that I did great."
Never short on confidence, Lemons–ranked as the country's 11th-best tailback–told SB Nation that he is the best running back in Florida.
As far as his recruitment, Lemons has a a clear-cut leader in mind.
"The school that's number one right now honestly is North Carolina," Lemons said. "But (the Buckeyes) are in the top four."
Ohio State is in the top group, but it seems that the gap between one and four might be pretty big. Lemons has talked before about his growing relationship with Tony Alford, Ohio State's running backs' coach. He knows that Alford likes him as a player and thinks he'd be a good fit in the offense, but he doesn't think the Buckeyes are hurting.
"Coach (Alford) would like to have me, but they really don't need me, but that's cool," Lemons said."(Ohio State) is a school I would wanna visit just because it is a big program over there."
The Buckeyes have one 2017 running back commitment and are actively looking for a second back, but it's hard to see it being Lemons at this point.
DR. KAINDOH TO THE BUCKEYES? PATIENCE WILL BE NECESSARY
I mentioned on Sunday night that a source in Florida cautioned us to not be too optimistic after the 247Sports crystal ball predictions began to shift towards Ohio State for five-star defensive end Josh Kaindoh.
"He wants to visit (Ohio State) soon," one source said of Kaindoh, confirming that he's got a serious interest in the Buckeyes.
Still, the source cautioned to not get too ahead of things.
"I wouldn't be that confident yet," he said of the crystal ball pick.
That said, it's clear that things are trending in Buckeye-positive direction for the Maryland native, so it's high time we start paying a bit more attention to him. Here's an interview he gave to SBNation.com, wherein he talks a bit about recruiting and his future aspirations.
Ohio State is likely to take only one, maybe two defensive ends in 2017 and a player like Kaindoh will be a longtime fight, but his relationship with Larry Johnson, which has been built over the last almost four years, could push this one in the Buckeyes' favor come signing day. One key, according to the source I spoke to down south, is to get Kaindoh to Columbus this spring.
"I know (Kaindoh) has been talking to people about wanting to make a visit," the source said. "The hard part is that a lot of times the kids at IMG have to kind of choose between going home for spring break or going to see colleges they want to, it's not easy to do both. Being so 'close' to Maryland doesn't hurt the Buckeyes at all."
