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.
TATE MARTELL UPDATE FROM SCOUT.COM
Ohio State's quarterback situation for 2017 is getting more and more interesting.
Over the weekend, Danny Clark updated his situation with the Buckeyes. Clark let it be known that he's not backing down from his commitment and that Urban Meyer and his staff have been upfront with him about a potential second quarterback in the class.
Kellen Mond, who visited the Buckeyes for their spring game in mid-April, told 11W last week he wants to make a decision by July and that it's the Buckeyes recruiting him the hardest.
Then there's the curious case of Las Vegas five-star Tate Martell, who visited Ohio State at the end of March and just last week re-opened his recruitment, decommitting from Texas A&M.
Tuesday, the Bishop Gorman star talked to Scout.com about his recruitment and, upon watching the video, you may notice that there's nary a mention of Ohio, the Buckeyes, Scarlet, Gray, Urban Meyer or anything else even remotely linked to the Ohio State football program.
So...what gives? Has Martell dropped the Buckeyes? He talks Tennessee, Oregon, Cal and UCLA but not Ohio State.
Sources I've spoken to have told me that things between Ohio State and Martell are as good as they've been all along and that he's still very strongly considering the Buckeyes. He's going to enroll early, he's going to take his time and make his officials and as long as the Buckeyes don't land Kellen Mond this summer, I'd 100 percent expect Ohio State to get one.
OHIO STATE ON THE ROAD AGAIN
The Buckeyes are back on the road this week and they're getting themselves familiar with some of their top targets in 2017 and beyond.
Tuesday, Ed Warinner was roaming the familiar halls of Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, checking out 2018 two-way lineman Matthew Jones among others. Jones, the country's 21st-ranked prospect in his class, could be a big-time defensive lineman in college but the Buckeyes see him as an interior offensive lineman.
Warinner also stopped at Poly Prep and Lincoln in New York, before heading to South Jersey and Philadelphia Wednesday.
Tim Beck was scheduled to see Franklin, Georgia's Emory Jones on Monday but made that visit Wednesday instead. Jones is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the 2018 class and recent interest from Ohio State has been something he's relished. Marc Givler and the guys at BuckeyeGrove.com have been on their "Southern Swing" these last few days and saw Jones Tuesday. His arm talent speaks for itself.
Beck and the Buckeyes offered a scholarship to Jones, clearly impressed by what they saw.
Blessed & honored to say I just received my dream offer from the Ohio State University #GoBuckeyes #14 pic.twitter.com/Kc686gRkGF
— Emory Jones (@eXjones6) May 11, 2016
Larry Johnson was in eastern Pennsylvania as well, making a pit-stop in Harrisburg where 2018 wide receiver Shaquon Anderson-Butts goes to school. Johnson's tour likely also included a stop to see a pair of 2018 five-stars: tight end Zack Kuntz and Penn State commitment, defensive end Micah Parsons.
Kerry Coombs was in Atlanta Wednesday, and as we've been reporting, was expected to head to Grayson High School where he'd see, among others, four-star 2017 cornerback Jamyest Williams.
BUCKEYES BACK AT DEERFIELD BEACH
Deerfield Beach High School in Florida was another stop the Ohio State staff made this week, Tuesday to be specific. The school harbors Jerry Jeudy, the country's seventh-ranked wide receiver who is quickly becoming a favorite for the Buckeyes. Last week, a source indicated to me that he felt Jeudy could be the best receiver in Florida. Wednesday, the ante was upped, significantly.
"He's kind of like Austin Mack last year," a source said of the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder. "He may be the best receiver in the country."
That's high praise for a player that, right now, isn't someone the Buckeyes feel they're in a great position to land. Alabama has been most closely linked to Jeudy, but Tennessee is another major player in his recruitment. Ohio State may get one good shot.
"I think he's coming to Friday Night Lights," the source said. "We don't feel great about it right now, but just need one shot."
NEW 2018 DEFENSIVE BACK OFFER
Ohio State continued their 2018 offering spree and offered Georgia's Derrik Allen, the country's 17th-ranked prospect and second-ranked cornerback in that class.
Beyond blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State University! #GoBucks @OhioStateFB @LHS_Recruiting pic.twitter.com/WgVlxMEVoH
— Derrik Allen (@DsmoothAllen) May 11, 2016
Allen fits the bill of what the Buckeyes have been looking for at defensive back. He's 6-foot-1 and 185-pounds, rangy and fast and a guy that's not afraid to stick his nose in to the pile and hit.
Kerry Coombs was at Lassiter High School in Marietta Wednesday, but it was Urban Meyer who extended the offer to Allen prior to Coombs' arrival according to a 247Sports.com report. Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia and a host of big-time schools are among the 23 early offers for Georgia's fourth-ranked junior.
