The Hurry Up: State's Top Running Back Has Unbelievable Scrimmage, 4-Star Corner Target Visits Pitt Again and Buckeyes Offer Several Preferred Walk-On Opportunities

By Andrew Lind on August 14, 2016 at 7:15 pm
Jaelen Gill
Jaelen Gill
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The Hurry Up is your nightly dose of updates from the Ohio State football recruiting trail, keeping tabs on the latest from commits and targets from around the country.

CREATE-A-PLAYER MODE

It's fairly common knowledge that Westerville South running back Jaelen Gill is one of the best players in the country for the Class of 2018 — I mean, he was one of only a handful of juniors to be invited to Nike's The Opening in July. But what he did in a scrimmage against Central Crossing on Friday was beyond impressive.

The 6-foot-1, 183-pounder had nearly 250 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns on only five touches against the Comets.

Three scores on five touches, including a pair of rushing touchdowns from 70 and 75 yards out and a simply screen pass that turned into a 68-yard touchdown.

Central Crossing is no slouch having, either, having made the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I Playoffs last season. But Gill put up video game-like numbers nonetheless.

Considered the second-best prospect in the state of Ohio and the No. 2 all-purpose back in the Class of 2018, Gill has already racked up nearly two dozen scholarship offers from schools like Arizona State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, UCLA, USC and Virginia Tech.

“I'm just kind of waiting til the Sept. 1 [senior contact] date and see what coaches reach out and see how the season plays out,” Gill told 247Sports after the game. “There's still a few schools I'm looking to hear from like Florida State, Alabama, Oregon, Clemson … schools like that. Once I hear from them — or if I don't hear from them — after the season, I'll probably cut my list down to the 12 to 10 range. Then, like next spring, maybe I might cut it a little shorter as time goes on.”

The five-star recruit has no plans to make a college decision until at least the start of his senior year, but noted that Ohio State has made him its highest priority for the 2018 recruiting cycle.

“That feels really good,” Gill said. “Growing up a big Buckeye fan and knowing how they feel about me and everything,” Gill said. “I like them a lot. They are a school that is high on my list. I talk to them probably twice a week.”

BACK TO THE STEEL CITY

For the second time in under a week, four-star cornerback Lamont Wade made the short trip up the Monongahela River for an unofficial visit to Pittsburgh.

The Clairton, Pennsylvania, native listed Ohio State among Alabama, Mississippi State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, West Virginia and UCLA when he narrowed down his list of potential college suitors to eight programs last month. Wade plans on taking an official visit to Columbus either the weekend that the Buckeyes host Nebraska (Nov. 5) or Michigan (Nov. 26).

As for his announcement, Wade told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he's doing it big.

“It will be a whole party type thing,” he said. “It will be for my graduation — and at the end I’ll be committing to a college. I’ll have a little video playing and do a little hat thing, too.”

RUNNING BACK COMMIT ALL-IN ON BUCKEYES

Five-star defensive end Chase Young may have grabbed the headlines last month when he became Ohio State's 15th commit for the Class of 2017 during Friday Night Lights, but the Buckeyes also nabbed a star from the following cycle when four-star running back Brian Snead, of Seffner, Florida, became the its first pledge.

Nearly a month later, Rivals.com caught up with Snead following a practice at Armwood High School.

“It was one of the best offers I have,” Snead said of Ohio State. “When I went on the visit, it felt like home. I was vibing with everyone. They told me great things, and I know they can really help my future.”

The 5-foot-11, 195-pound speedster chose the Buckeyes over one dozen other offers from schools like Florida, Michigan, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, North Carolina and Tennessee. And though it seemed as if Snead's commitment came out of left field, his coaches said that he's always wanted to play for Ohio State.

Out-of-state commits who commit early oftentimes look elsewhere, but Snead said his only visit this fall will be to Columbus.

“My parents like Ohio State,” he said. “They don't like how I'm going far away, but they like the school and all that.”

BETTER THAN A FREE EDUCATION?

I predicted earlier today that Ohio State will add one more linebacker to this year's recruiting cycle, but Westerville South's Chrisitan Nkansah-Wiafe may join the class in a more untraditional way.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder told 247Sports that defensive coordinator Luke Fickell is attempting to steer him toward a preferred walk-on spot with the Scarlet and Gray.

“He's told me they really want me and they think it would be a great opportunity for me to come and walk on for them,” he said. “I think all of my offers are even, even the walk-on offer. I'll consider it.”

Nkansah-Wiafe has four scholarship offers from Bowling Green, Cincinnati, llinois and Toledo. He is considered a three-star prospect by 247Sports Composite.

FILLING OUT THE ROSTER

Though a lot less publicized than a verbal scholarship offer — and understandably so — Ohio State extended a preferred walk-on opportunity to a pair of Ohioans from the Class of 2017 over the weekend.

Darryl Sinclair II, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound cornerback from Solon, and Alex Beck, a 6-foot-2, 201-pound linebacker from Hudson, would be guaranteed a spot on the 105 man roster if they were to accept the offer. Neither athlete has a scholarship offer at this time.

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