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.
MARTELL AT OHIO STATE TOMORROW MORNING
Ok, so earlier today the news got out –– Tate Martell is visiting Ohio State.
The country's top-ranked dual-threat quarterback, committed to Texas A&M, landed at CMH about an hour ago and he'll be at the school first thing tomorrow morning, departing from Ohio back to the Left Coast on Friday. Initially, this visit was considered a "possibility" as he visited family in Ohio, but it's evolved into a visit to Ohio with family to visit Ohio State, so it's important to pay attention to the nuances associated with that change.
Here are the questions, the things to consider, and we've talked about the potential need for a second quarterback in this Buckeyes' class repeatedly, so it's not a surprise that there's been and will be some contact with quarterbacks not named Danny Clark. If by some chance JT Barrett were to leave for the NFL following this upcoming season that potential need for a second quarterback turns into a definite need
Martell, foremost among the "others," makes sense for a number of reasons, but the first is that he's a completely different style of quarterback than Clark, Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins, etc. The Texas A&M commitment is a very capable thrower but he's far more of a weapon with his feet–a trait that is still important to the Buckeyes despite the offense turning a bit away from quarterback-run first–than the others. Second, his family in Ohio is big on Ohio State and third, he's a fierce competitor at once of the most challenging programs in the country. You know you're getting a kid that will choke you to win at checkers if he had to, and yes, it may come across as brash or arrogant at times, but, as my good friend Kid Rock once said, "it ain't bragging if you back it up." Martell has always backed it up.
I am not going to go out and predict that Martell ends up a Buckeye yet, but I will state as plainly as I can that this is a business trip for him and his family. Regardless of his size, his game is very big and it's hard to turn down a player like this if he wants in your program. Ohio State commitments, guys like Antjuan Simmons and Brendon White, obviously think that Martell is someone who can help them.
Follow the bro @TheTateMartell he's a 5 Qb lets get to become a buckeye #
— Brendon White (@therealestbw0) March 23, 2016
Buckeye fans go follow & show some love to my boy @TheTateMartell he can help us bring a National Championship back to Columbus!
— antjuan simmons (@_antjuan_) March 23, 2016
Danny Clark will be at Ohio State on Saturday, and I am sure that he and his father will have been fully-apprised of what the plans at quarterback in the 2017 class are. The Akron Hoban star will be at Ohio State on Saturday with his teammate, fellow Ohio State commitment Todd Sibley, Jr. for the Buckeyes' first spring scrimmage of 2016.
Going to Columbus this Saturday with my QB @DClarkQB pic.twitter.com/gibcSErTDi
— Todd Sibley (@ToddSib23) March 23, 2016
The Clarks have been vital to the Buckeyes' recruiting efforts for years and they have been in communication with the Buckeyes about Martell's visit. Right now, for the betterment of the program moving forward, it makes absolute sense for the recruiting efforts for another quarterback to continue.
ANDRE WESSON ADDS BIG OFFER
Last night, after months of evaluation and going back and forth between Westerville South and visits to Ohio State, the Buckeyes pulled the trigger and offered South's Andre Wesson, Ohio's top unsigned 2016 basketball prospect.
The offer was announced on Twitter by Andre's brother, 2017 Buckeye commitment Kaleb Wesson, who dropped a pretty big-sized hint about where Andre may end up playing his college basketball.
Andre got offered by OSU #PackageDeal #Brother4Life
— Kaleb Wesson (@Elite_Hooper99) March 23, 2016
The Wesson brothers, if this all comes to fruition, would both follow in the footsteps of their father Keith, who played for the Buckeyes in the 1980s.
Wesson's offer is interesting in how it relates to another Buckeye target, 2017 target Markell Johnson. Johnson has been considering a reclassification to the 2016 class because the Buckeyes have a serious need for another true guard and while Wesson is more of a wing at almost 6-foot-7, this move may shed some light on the pursuit of the dynamic Cleveland point guard.
Stay tuned, if Wesson is going to commit to Ohio State, it likely won't take long to happen.
JK DOBBINS SETS VISIT DATE
One of the bigger recruits to visit Ohio State this spring is 2017 commitment JK Dobbins, a four-star running back from La Grange, Texas. The country's fourth-ranked running back pledged to the Buckeyes just weeks after receiving an Ohio State offer and his upcoming trip to Columbus will be his first to his future home.
"(My mom and I) are flying to Columbus on first of April, I think," Dobbins told 11W. "We're leaving sometime on the second. We wanted to stay longer but The Opening regional is on the 3rd so we're flying back for that."
Last week, Dobbins participated in the Rivals Camp Series in Texas and was one of the most impressive players in attendance according to Adam Gorney.
"The four-star all-purpose back was phenomenal early in drills where he showed off tremendous footwork and burst. He was definitely more sudden than any running back during that portion of camp. He was nearly just as good during one-on-one drills and even if a lot of passes sailed over his head, Dobbins still easily creates separation and has nice pass-catching ability."
Dobbins was expected by the staff at Baylor to attend their Friday Night Lights camp two weeks ago but didn't make the trip. He says that right now there is no plan to visit anywhere other than Ohio State.
"I didn't (go to Baylor)," Dobbins said. "We don't have any other (visits) planned other than Ohio State."
ANOTHER BISHOP GORMAN OFFER
While the Buckeyes are preparing for the visit from Martell, they've extended another offer to a big-time prospect that plays alongside him at Bishop Gorman.
Palaie Gaoteote (pronounced: Puh-la- eee-ehh Gah-oh-teh-oh-teh) is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound linebacker for the Gaels and the Buckeyes' offer today is a big one for him. It's been 20 days since he picked up his first offer (Washington State) and now lists the Buckeyes along with Notre Dame in his first five.
"I know a lot about Ohio State," Gaoteote told Eleven Warriors. "An offer from them is gonna help me blow up, because they are a top-notch program that does things right on, and off the field."
The conversation and offer was a bit of a surprise for the country's second-ranked 2018 outside linebacker, but the Buckeyes are hot at Bishop Gorman right now and that's something he's not ignoring.
"That was actually my first conversation with Luke Fickell, as well as urban Meyer," Gaotete, who is a cousin of Ohio State commitment Haskell Garrett said. "I'm not sure how things came about. Ohio State is crazy big at Bishop Gorman. My peers Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Brevin Jordan talk about (the Buckeyes) a lot and how it would be great if all three of us get an offer."
