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.
SIMMONS' HIGHLIGHTS ARE NOT SAFE FOR WORK
It's Friday and, with apologies to our beloved DJ Byrnes, the real Friday "banger" belongs to Ohio State 2017 commitment Antjuan Simmons. The country's 25th-ranked (and criminally under-ranked at that) outside linebacker, Simmons' head coach at Pionner, Jari Brown, put together a highlight tape from his junior season and it's something to behold.
That, my friends, is a young man that enjoys hitting.
Simmons is listed at 6-foot-1 and 205-pounds, but you should expect him to fill out to upwards of 225 by the time he has to play significant minutes for the Buckeyes. If he can put on the extra mass without losing any of his current speed and aggression?
Watch out.
THE OPENING'S ROSTER BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE
With one-third of The Opening's regional camps out of the way, the roster for the summer's premier recruiting event is beginning to take shape and–if things continue on their current path–it could be a very Buckeye-centric event.
As of Friday, there 32 players who've already punched their ticket to Beaverton, including three Ohio State commitments:
- DT • Haskell Garrett • Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman)
- DB • Isaiah Pryor • Lawrenceville, Georgia (IMG Academy)
- DB • Marcus Williamson • Westerville, Ohio (IMG Academy)
Beyond that trio, a number of players who are very high on the Buckeyes have earned an invitation to Nike's star-studded event and if even one or two of them, let alone more, end committing to Ohio State things could get flat out silly in Oregon this summer.
Let's take a look at the other Buckeye targets already on their way.
- LB • Baron Browning • Kennedale, Texas (Kennedale)
- WR • Trevon Grimes • Fort Lauderdale, Florida (St. Thomas Aquinas)
- OL • Robert Hainsey • Pittsburgh (IMG Academy)
- LB • Anthony Hines • Plano, Texas (East)
- DB • Darnay Holmes • Calabasas, California (Calabasas)
- WR • Jerry Jeudy • Pompano Beach, Florida (Deerfield Beach)
- WR • Tyjon Lindsey • Corona, California (Centennial)
- DB • Jeffrey Okudah • Grand Prairie, Texas (South Grand Prairie)
With 13 commitments in the fold and three already heading to The Opening–the only three that have participated in a Nike Regional so this point–the Buckeyes could be looking at a record number of attendees.
It's almost a no-brainer that Josh Myers, Shaun Wade, and J.K. Dobbins get invited, and there's not much doubt in my mind that, given the audience, a lot of people will be very surprised at the talent Jake Moretti, Brendon White, Todd Sibley, Danny Clark, Jerron Cage and Antjuan Simmons have. It wouldn't be a surprise to see any of them earn an invitation.
Ohio State has the country's top-ranked 2017 class and it's going to only get better as the spring turns into the summer. This year's camp season could put Ohio State's program display in many of the same ways this the recent NFL Draft combine and the upcoming draft have.
JAMES HUDSON DISCUSSION
One of the more intriguing players in Ohio for 2017 is Toledo Central Catholic lineman James Hudson, who has been committed to Kentucky since last July. That's the good news for the Wildcats and assistant coach Vince Marrow, who has been very active in Ohio since taking a job in Lexington. The bad news, according to one source, is that it's highly unlikely that commitment sticks through signing day.
"I don't think he'll end up at Kentucky," the source said. "He's got Michigan State, Penn State and places like that on his list."
Noticeably absent: Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have, for much of the last year, wanted to see the three-star prospect, ranked as the country's 13th-ranked defensive end, in a camp setting in Columbus where he'd work out as an offensive lineman. Ohio State, and others, see Hudson–6-foot-5 and 260-pounds–as a potential offensive lineman at the next level. However, that's not what he's hearing from some of the bigger names that have offered.
"MSU, Penn State–all of them–are offering him as a defensive lineman right now," the source said. "Does that mean they won't change him over in college? Of course not, but that's what he's hearing from schools."
Hudson started turning heads in the 2014 state championship game when Central Catholic knocked off Joe Burrow and Athens and he's remained one of the state's most intriguing prospects since.
HANSARD RELEASES FINAL SEVEN
It was mentioned on Wednesday that Princeton, New Jersey's Fred Hansard had set a date for his commitment. The country's ninth-ranked defensive tackle, who will announce a college choice on May 14, did not release a final list of schools at that time but last night he did.
Top 7 #GodBless pic.twitter.com/xTOcGwBQvk
— Fred Hansard (@Fred_Hansard56) March 18, 2016
The Buckeyes are in an interesting position with the 6-foot-3, 305-pounder from the Hun School. There are some who believe they may be the team to beat, while others suspect that Ohio State isn't a real possibility and I think that, as with most things, that the truth falls somewhere in the middle.
As of Friday, my money would be placed firmly on the "Not a Buckeye" portion of the program, but admittedly that is because I think, if pressed today, Ohio State may not have room at the Inn for him.
If you question how good things are going for Urban Meyer and Ohio State on the recruiting trail, consider that. After two-plus years chasing and coming up short with their top defensive tackle targets, the Buckeyes are now in a position that they may have to consider passing on a Top 10 player at the position. There are a lot of things that can happen between now and mid-May, so stay tuned.
