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.
TODD SIBLEY FEELING BETTER AFTER VISIT
Last Thursday, Todd Sibley, Jr. told Eleven Warriors that he had a few questions about where he stood with Ohio State after a month that saw a new running back commitment and a visit from four-star Cam Akers.
"There's just a lot of things going on right now for the both of us as far as recruiting," Sibley told Eleven Warriors. "But we're both going down to Columbus this Saturday to get some questions answered."
Sibley was among a handful of big names that visited the Buckeyes on Saturday morning and he says he's got some peace of mind.
"We didn't really cover any questions," Sibley said of the visit. "But it was still a great visit and it was a really good and intense practice."
Sibley, who will be back in Columbus for the Ohio State spring game on April 16th, took advantage of the chance to spend time with 2016 quarterback signee Dwayne Haskins, 2017 target Tyjon Lindsey and others.
"It was great," he said of hanging out with players he could line up next to in the future. "We've all got great relationships with each other already and it's like we're already teammates ready to strap it up. I spent most of the time around the running backs and near Tony Alford. He's a great teacher and tough coach."
The bottom line for Sibley: does he feel confident and comfortable with his choice and where he stands with the Buckeyes? Will he take any other visits just in case?
"Definitely," he said when asked if he felt better about his recent questions. "As of now, I'm not sure if I will take any other trips."
WADE TRYING TO ARRANGE TRIP TO COLUMBUS
Reminder: It's against NCAA rules to offer a ride to a recruit to a college campus.
Now that we've got that out of the way, let's check in on Clairton, Pennsylvania four-star defensive back Lamont Wade.
Anybody tryna take me up OState on Tuesday ?
— SavaGGe (@Goony_38) March 27, 2016
Well, this is awkward.
This past weekend, Wade was among a handful of prospects who stopped in at Penn State, but it's clear he is, at the least, attempting to get back to Columbus for the 400th time tomorrow morning. Ohio State's morning practices are a great setting for a prospect to see what the Buckeyes have to offer, and it's important for a return visit as it seems a decision may be coming sooner rather than later for the 37th-ranked player in the 2017 class.
Getting closer and closer to crunch time...
— SavaGGe (@Goony_38) March 28, 2016
Stay tuned to see if that visit actually happens.
KELLY-POWELL, GOLDSMITH CONTINUE BUILDING BUCKEYE RELATIONSHIPS
Detroit Cass Tech has been good to the Buckeyes in recent years and this past weekend two of their talented defensive backs visited Ohio State, 2017 star Jaylen Kelly-Powell and 2019 standout Xavier Goldsmith.
For Kelly-Powell, the visit is the latest in a series of trips to Columbus, and it was one more opportunity to build up his already outstanding relationship with Kerry Coombs.
"OSU was great as always," Kelly-Powell said. It was winner/loser day. I've been to a couple Ohio State practices, and I love coming on winner/loser day, it's very competitive. Coach Coombs is always great to see; we have a great relationship. He has enough energy for 10 people."
Though he's been in Columbus many times for visits, this latest trip did give him a chance to begin getting to know one of the newest additions to the Buckeyes' coaching staff.
"I finally had the chance to sit-down with (Greg) Schiano," Kelly-Powell said. "He was very genuine with me and my dad –– all the coaches are great at Ohio State."
Goldsmith, who will be one of the most recruited 2019 prospects in the country when his recruitment really gets going, echoed the sentiments of his teammate at Cass Tech.
"(It) was a great experience, it was real competitive compared to other schools," Goldsmith said. "Me and Jaylen got to talk to Coach Coombs a lot and his attitude is always at the highest level. I am building a relationship with the coaches, they made us feel like we were at home and we got to see some of our Cass Tech family."
TAKING A LOOK AT 2018 QUARTERBACKS THAT VISITED LAST WEEK
Last week was a busy one in Columbus as a host of major names in the 2017 class visited, but it was also an important week for 2018 quarterbacks.
First, Ohio State received a two-day visit from Phil Jurkovec, the country's top-ranked dual-threat quarterback in his class and, as it stands, probably their top target at the position for 2018.
The Buckeyes made a big impression on the 6-foot-5, 190-pounder and may have done enough to put themselves into a conversation that was at one time considered a pretty exclusive, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh, club. Jurkovec is not going to be a player that waits too long before making a decision so the timing of this visit was crucial.
On Thursday, Las Vegas' Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Morristown, Tennessee's John Foreback each made their way to Columbus, though the Bishop Gorman sophomore (Thompson-Robinson) made his visit a two-day trip. Foreback visited Michigan State following his visit to Ohio State while Thompson-Robinson arrived in Columbus fresh off visits to Michigan (his mother's alma mater) and Michigan State.
Thompson-Robinson, who holds early offers from UNLV and Colorado State despite very limited playing time (he's the backup to Tate Martell), said he got a pretty good feel for what the Buckeyes are thinking and believes he's one of a handful of guys being considered for 2018. The "no playing time" roadblock he hopes can be overcome the next time that Ohio State's Tim Beck is in Vegas, but either way, he knows where he stands.
"The coaches (at Ohio State) kept it real with me, plain and simple," he said. "(Tim) Beck will be coming down during my spring ball to see me throw."
With Foreback, who is still waiting for his first offer, it was a similar kind of thing. Right now, the Buckeyes are evaluating and they'll need to get a good look at the player and person they're recruiting before an offer is made. He was glad to have had an opportunity that many prospects in his shoes don't get: the chance to meet Urban Meyer and get one-on-one time with Ohio State's head coach.
"He connects real well with us," the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder said of Meyer. "He shows when you're talking to him that he really cares and asked questions about my family and stuff. I really liked him."
Foreback said he'll be back at Ohio State this summer but that he too expects to see Beck at his school this spring.
"They're coming in the spring," Foreback said. "They want me back up for camp this summer."
FIVE-STAR 2018 PROSPECT VISITING OHIO STATE ON TUESDAY
Three weeks ago, Ohio State offered 2018 five-star defensive end Xavier Thomas and Tuesday he will make his first visit to the Buckeyes' campus.
Going up to THE Ohio State University Tuesday for a visit! Real amped up for it! #GoBuckeyes
— Xavier Thomas (@atxlete) March 25, 2016
Thomas, who hails from Florence, South Carolina, is the country's fourth-ranked 2018 prospect at 6-foot-3 and 242-pounds. Alabama, Florida State, Clemson, Georgia, South Carolina and well, everyone, has offered.
It's never easy to lure one of the South's best players from the clutches of the ACC/SEC, but a visit this quickly after an offer would, at the least, indicate serious interest on Thomas' part.
