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.
WITH A NAME LIKE THAT
On Thursday, Ohio State became the 10th program to offer Fort Meade, Florida, four-star offensive lineman Cleveland Reed.
Cleveland Reed, 2018 OL (@FMMinerFootball), receives an offer from #OhioState@55clevelandreed#H2Athletes
— H2 Athletes (@H2Athletes) September 2, 2016
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound Reed is considered the 12th-best offensive guard and No. 230 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He told 247Sports ($) that offensive line coach Greg Studrawa extended the offer shortly after the fall evaluation period opened at 12:01 a.m.
“[Studrawa] told me they only come after the best, and I'm the best,” Reed said.
Reed, who listed a Top 5 of Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami and North Carolina in July, hopes to visit Columbus this fall.
IT LOOK LIKE I BEEN COOKIN'
Houston, Texas, four-star defensive back Anthony Cook was elated when Ohio State offered him a scholarship in late July.
“After this one, I'm not really looking for any more,” he said. “That was a big one.”
It's easy to read into such a comment and think the Buckeyes have the upper hand in Cook's recruitment. But, with more than two dozen offers from schools like Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M and USC, there aren't many other high-profile offers left to be had.
That's why the 6-foot-1, 168-pounder was one of the first calls Ohio State defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs made when the aforementioned fall evaluation period opened.
“He said he is coming after me hard and he wants me to come up for a game,” Cook to 247Sports ($). “I'll get up there for a game, but I'm not sure which.”
Cook hauled in a team-high six interceptions as a sophomore last season at Lamar High School — three of which were returned for touchdowns.
And I'm now positive visions of Cook taking one to the house against Penn State are currently dancing through your head. So how does he do it?
“Staying humble and patient,” he said in an interview with Recruiting News Guru, which I recommend reading in its entirety. “That's all there really is to it. They don't try me a lot, but when they do, I make them pay. I like to get them to bite on a route.”
Cook, who stands 6-foot-1 and weight 168 pounds, is considered the third-best cornerback and No. 25 overall prospect in the Class of 2018, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.
ANOTHER ONE
Former Ohio State quarterback wide receiver Braxton Miller announced on Friday that he and DJ Khaled will be on the sideline for Saturday's game against Bowling Green.
And while one part of that equation seems like something out of deep left field, it's no coincidence that Miller — a former star at Huber Heights Wayne — will be on campus when a current Warrior is set to take an official visit.
Thanks Buckeyes for the love can't wait to get up there tomorrow......!!!! #gobucks pic.twitter.com/JqUEN4Bf5H
— B (@bluesmith_) September 2, 2016
Wide receiver L'Christian “Blue” Smith announced last month a list of 10 unofficial visits he aims to take this fall, the first of which is Ohio State's game against Bowling Green. If all goes as planned, he'll be in Columbus again for the Michigan game.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pounder is considered the third-best prospect in the state of Ohio and the No. 82 overall player in his recruiting cycle.
A two-sport athlete, Smith has both scholarship offers from Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Michgan State, Notre Dame, Penn State and Tennessee for football and Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio State, Syracuse, Texas and UCLA for basketball.
KEEP ON WADING
There is a lot of uneasiness surrounding the recruitment of Jacksonville, Florida, cornerback Shaun Wade, as the five-star prospect is set to take official visits to Alabama, Florida, Michigan and Notre Dame this fall.
And though he's been committed to Ohio State since January 2015, many prognosticators believe he'll leave the Buckeyes standing at the alter when he makes his final decision in late November.
The Crimson Tide are the main threat to flip Wade, but he told 247Sports Recruiting Analyst Luke Stampini that Ohio State remains atop his list.
Four teams currently in the mix for 5-star CB Shaun Wade https://t.co/Ir3I8OLdqL via @247Sports
— Luke Stampini (@LukeStampini) September 1, 2016
“Ohio State is still No. 1,” he said. “It's Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame and Florida. I fit in there. I fit in their programs, and I like all the coaches there.”
Wade's parents have not yet visited the last two programs, which is the main reason he'll make those trips. He somewhat dismissed any real interest in the Gators, but the Fighting Irish have a real chance to make it a three-way race for the third-best corner in the Class of 2017.
“I just want them to get to know my parents. My parents have never been up there,” Wade said. “I like coach [Todd] Lyght and their program. They've got a good program and good education up there.”
The 6-foot-1, 177-pounder is set to take two trips to Columbus this fall, meanwhile. He's scheduled to be on campus for an official visit on Oct. 8 for the game against Indiana, and he'll make a return trip for the Nov. 26 game against Michigan.
