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.
WHEN IT RAINES, IT POURS
We learned this past weekend that schools hosting a prospect the visiting team is also targeting is not always a good idea. Nevertheless, Penn State will host Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, four-star safety Kwantel Raines for an unofficial visit when Ohio State travels to Happy Valley on Oct. 22.
Considered the fifth-best player in the state of Pennsylvania and the No. 11 safety in the Class of 2018, Raines currently holds 16 offers from schools such as Cincinnati, Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Penn State, Pittsburgh and West Virginia.
Ohio State has not yet entered the race, but has expressed significant interest in the 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior.
THE MILLY ROCK
He may hold only six offers at the moment, but Houston, Texas, Alief Taylor four-star wide receiver Brennan Eagles has caught the attention of some of the country's best programs in recent weeks.
The 6-foot-3, 202-pound junior has racked up nearly 400 yards receiving and four touchdowns in four games this season, which is why it's likely that Ohio State may soon join Colorado, Houston, Iowa State, Michigan State, TCU and USC in offering Eagles a scholarship.
(FREE) #Buckeyes emerging as new contender for 2018 #Rivals100 WR out of Texas https://t.co/2kPwknQe21 via @RivalsKroogCity
— Marc Givler (@MarcGivlerBG) September 19, 2016
“Things have been good. The recruiting process has been getting better,” he told Rivals.com. “I've been building a relationship with Ohio State, and with our win tonight, things have been going well.”
Eagles said the Buckeyes are among the most active schools recruiting him, but added that Alabama, Arkansas and Michigan State have starting giving him more attention, as well.
“A recruiting analyst or someone in player personnel got a hold of me of Twitter,” Eagles said of Ohio State. “He got me on the phone with the wide receivers coach, coach [Zach] Smith. Since then, we've been building a good relationship.
“[Ohio State] play[s] 10 receivers,” he continued. “They run a fast offense. Everything's speed — you know, speed kills — and that's where I want to be; in a place that really runs that speed.”
Eagles is considered the 15th-best player in the state and the No. 24 overall receiver in the Class of 2018.
Side note: Check out the lady at 1:45.
FAMILY FIRST
Ohio State offered another 2018 Texas wideout — Yoakum's Joshua Moore — just last week. Moore and his twin brother, Jordan — who also received an offer that day — were expected to attend the Buckeyes' showdown with Oklahoma over the weekend, but did not end up making the nearly eight-hour trip to Norman.
“My little sister got sick, so I couldn't make it,” Moore told 247Sports ($).
The four-star prospects each hold more than 20 offers from schools like Florida State, Houston, LSU, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and UCLA.
Ohio State's coaching staff is expected to take advantage of the open week and pay a visit to Yoakum later this week.
“My coach mentioned it to me, so I'm sure they will [stop in],” Moore said.
TACKLING PRIORITIES
I outlined in an article a few days back trips Ohio State assistant coaches had taken during this open week, but even head coach Urban Meyer got involved for one highly sought-after prospect. Meyer joined offensive line coach Greg Studrawa on Monday in visiting Jackson, Tennessee, University School offensive tackle Trey Smith.
“Coach Meyer and coach Studrawa came by to say hello and check in,” University School head coach Rusty Bradley told 247Sports ($).
The 6-foot-5, 299-pound senior is considered the second-best player in the state of Tennessee and the No. 4 offensive tackle in the Class of 2017. He holds nearly 30 offers, but listed Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Tennessee in his Top 6 back in July.
Top 6 pic.twitter.com/0dvvd709fl
— Trey Smith (@smithtrey98) July 10, 2016
“Ohio State is absolutely in the running,” Bradley said, noting that Smith will come to Columbus on an official visit this fall. “He's in the process of setting them up now. He should have them set up in the next two or three weeks. But Ohio State will be one. He'll get up to Ohio State for a game.”
