The Hurry Up: Grimes Time in Florida, Buckeyes Working on Alexander Marshall, Preparing for Texas Two-Step

By Jeremy Birmingham on May 19, 2016 at 7:45 pm
It's a big week for Greg Schiano
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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.

OHIO STATE PREPARES FOR BIG VISITS FROM LONESTAR DUO

Friday morning, bright and early, two of Texas' brightest 2017 prospects are heading to Ohio to visit the Buckeyes.

Five-star safety Jeffrey Okudah and five-star linebacker Baron Browning will travel to Columbus for what could be a very important visit in each player's recruitment.

This visit will be the first for Okudah, the country's top-ranked safety, since last summer. Ohio State was the leader for his commitment then, when Chris Ash was in charge of his recruitment, and they're in the lead for his commitment now, with Greg Schiano in charge. Okudah's recruitment is entering the stretch run and this visit could be the deal-sealer on his way to a commitment, though I'm not expecting any kind of official word in that respect this weekend.

With Browning, things have been definitely moving in the Buckeyes' direction and this weekend – especially because of his close relationship with Okudah – could really help move things even further. Browning talks to Urban Meyer regularly and Tim Beck has worked overtime on this recruitment.

A big weekend cometh.

ANOTHER 2018 QUARTERBACK OFFER 

Earlier this week, Tim Beck was in Oklahoma visiting Casey Thompson, and before leaving the Sooner state he extended an offer to the four-star 2018 quarterback. 

Thursday, he was in New Jersey checking in on Arthur Sitkowski, a strong-armed kid from Matawan and did the same.

Sitkowski has been in Ohio twice this spring, once for the Rivals Camp Series and then once two weeks later for a visit to Ohio State. He's the country's 45th-ranked 2018 prospect and although he's a "pro-style" quarterback he's rapidly becoming one of the best at the position regardless of style after a dynamite spring.

Michigan is the current crystal ball leader for the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder who also has offers from Maryland, Rutgers and South Carolina. 

According to sources we've talked to, the Buckeyes were very impressed by Sitkowski, and in fact, almost surprisingly so. 

Expect Ohio State to be a player in this recruitment moving forward.

TREVON GRIMES, ST. THOMAS GET DOUBLE DOSE OF BUCKEYE ASSISTANTS

Speaking of Schiano, he was with wide receivers coach Zach Smith in Florida Thursday as the dynamic duo of Buckeyes' assistants checked out some of South Florida's premier football programs. 

American Heritage, Coconut Creek and Chaminade all received visits before the Ohio State pair made their way to Fort Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas to see Trevon Grimes and a host of 2018 stars with Buckeye offers in the Raiders' spring football game.

Ohio State has been to St. Thomas as much as they've been permitted this spring evaluation period, making sure that Grimes knows he's a top priority in their top-ranked 2017 class. The country's fourth-ranked wide receiver will get a couple more visits with the Buckeyes – they're hosting a satellite camp at St. Thomas in June and he's visiting Columbus a week later – in the upcoming weeks. 

There's been a lot of scuttlebutt lately that Grimes' recruitment could come to an end this summer and these last few weeks of heavy Ohio State involvement could be a sign of good things to come.

ALEXANDER MARSHALL TALKING TO URBAN MEYER, TOP 2017 TIGHT END OPTION?

There's not really been a definitive decision made about whether or not the Buckeyes are going to take a tight end in 2017, but it seems that a top target at the position could be emerging.

Alexander Marshall from Andover, Massachusetts, has been getting to know the Ohio State head coach.

"He talked to Urban Meyer last night," a source confirmed. "We'll be visiting him next week."

Ed Warinner saw the 6-foot-7, 240-pound tight end in early May and its expected he'll be the one making a return trip next week.

The timing of Marshall's Ohio State offer would, in the past, have indicated a need to come to camp and "verify" the offer, but we've been told that's not the case here. 

Florida State, Florida, Alabama, UCLA, USC and almost 25 others have made the nation's 28th-ranked tight end one of the hottest players this spring.

JERRON CAGE AMONG CHICAGO STANDOUTS AT THE OPENING

Ohio State 2017 commitment Jerron Cage has stayed relatively low-key in his recruitment since his verbal last summer, but last weekend he went to Chicago and participated in Nike's The Opening and made some noise.

Cage was one of Scout.com's Top 10 defensive players at the event. 

He has a lot of physical tools and used his size and quickness to win several reps on the interior during one on ones. As he continues to improve his technique, he's going to be tough to handle because of the athleticism he has at his size. When he put it all together, he was rarely stopped.

One of two defensive tackles committed to the Buckeyes, Cage is the younger brother of Notre Dame junior Daniel Cage and the Irish are the only other school that appears to have a shot to land the country's 12th-ranked defensive tackle. 

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