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.
NATURAL SELECTION
Four-star Nashville, Tennessee, running back Ty Chandler on Monday announced his commitment to the in-state Volunteers. This is significant, of course, because Florida State, Ole Miss and Tennessee have seemingly been among the top threats to Ohio State's chances of landing five-star running back Cam Akers.
Blessed to say I'm officially committed to the University of Tennessee #GBO #VFL pic.twitter.com/WhE8Yhbpve
— Ty Chandler (@Channdler_35) August 15, 2016
Chandler picked the Volunteers over offers from the likes of Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss and USC. Akers, meanwhile, has been linked to Ohio State since he decommitted from Alabama in March.
The 5-foot-11, 213-pound back had a number of Crystal Ball projections to Tennessee, but most national experts believe its a two-horse race between the Buckeyes and Rebels for his services.
POTENTIALLY LOADED AT TIGHT END
Signing Day 2018 is nearly 18 months away, but a number of junior prospects have begun narrowing down their list of potential schools. That includes two of the country's top tight ends: Jeremy Ruckert of Lindenhurst, New York, and Mustapha Muhammad of Missouri City, Texas.
Ruckert recently included Ohio State in his Top 13, while Muhammad told 247Sports over the weekend that Ohio State will make his Top 10 when he trims his list from 25 scholarship offers later this year.
“I talk to coach [Ed] Warinner pretty frequently,” Muhammad said. “Every time I talk to coach Warinner, he suggests I talk to coach [Urban] Meyer, too … I either call coach Meyer or coach Warinner puts him on the phone if he's there.”
The 6-foot-4, 213-pound prospect is considered by 247Sports Composite as the fifth-best tight end and No. 101 overall prospect in the Class of 2018. Ohio State, which offered Muhammad in April, is among Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Clemson, Houston, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas A&M on his offer list of more than two dozen.
He expects to take an unofficial visit when the Buckeyes play host to the Wolverines in November.
As for what stands out about Ohio State, Muhammad noted the program's ability to put players into the National Football League.
“[The way] they use the position, I really like that,” he said. “And, they aren't taking a 2017 tight end, so it's wide open for a 2018 tight end.”
In addition to Muhammad and the aforementioned Ruckert, Ohio State is recruiting Zack Kuntz of Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, and Leonard Taylor of Springfield.
CURTIS GRANT 2.0?
Richmond, Virginia, linebacker Ellis Brooks has been looking around since he decommitted from Duke back in May. And though he has yet to receive an offer from Ohio State, the four-star 2017 prospect told Scout.com ($) he plans on making the seven-hour trip to Columbus this fall.
“It's a big-time school with great academics and a place where I could get a great degree,” Brooks said. “I've developed a good relationship with [defensive coordinator] coach [Luke] Fickell. He's told me he likes the way I play. They haven't offered yet, but said they want to see my first few games this season.”
The 6-foot-2, 233-pound Brooks is considered the top inside linebacker prospect in the commonwealth, an honor once bestowed on former Ohio State linebacker Curtis Grant of nearby Hermitage High. He holds nearly 20 offers from programs like Duke, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame and South Carolina, among others.
“I'm not sure when I'll narrow things down,” Brooks said. “I haven't really thought that much about it and I'm still considering all my options. Right now, I'm just focused on playing football.”
#FreeDUB
Nebraska wide receivers coach Keith Williams was arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence after police said he rear-ended another vehicle. Just hours later, a five-star Ohio State target took to Twitter to show his support for the Cornhuskers' assistant.
#FreeDUB it's more than football...
— Tyjon A. Lindsey (@tyjonlindsey) August 14, 2016
Nebraska is considered the Buckeyes' main competition for wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey, who will announce his college intentions one week from tonight. Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith — who routinely subtweets Williams and visa versa — also had something to say about the arrest.
I'm sorry... I just can't even... #Zone6 is busy getting ready to be the Best in America (on the Field... Not on Twitter)
— Zach Smith #Zone6 (@CoachZachSmith) August 14, 2016
Nebraska, which has one of the strongest group of wideouts in the country this year thanks to Williams, was hosting five-star receiver Joseph Lewis at the time of the incident.
