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.
FLOWING PIPELINE
Even though Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman is absolutely stacked in terms of FBS talent — led, most notably, by Ohio State commits Tate Martell and Tyjon Lindsey — it's four-star safety Bubba Bolden who has arguably been the best player on the best high school team in the country.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior has made a number of spectacular one-handed interceptions this season, but his blocked field goal against St. Thomas Aquinas remains the most important play to date.
With the score tied in overtime, Bolden leaped over the offensive line and got just enough of the ball to send it wide of the goal post. Bishop Gorman would score the game-winner on its next drive to keep its 45-game winning streak intact.
It was that game in which Bolden, a one-time USC commit, introduced himself to Ohio State fans, and ever since, the fourth-best player in the state of Nevada and the No. 11 safety overall has seemingly been one of the Buckeyes' top targets.
It's been widely expected that Bolden would take an official visit to Columbus with Martell and Lindsey for the game against Nebraska next month, and he confirmed that on Thursday.
"Bubba @BubbBolden has locked in first official visit to The Ohio State on Nov. 5" #BubbatoOSU https://t.co/KqJowDObWx
— Breezy Bolden (@urcalibreeze) October 13, 2016
“I'm going to visit Ohio State [on Nov. 5],” Bolden told Scout.com ($). “I'll also visit UCLA and USC after the season, but I don't have any other dates locked in. I'm still looking at Arizona State, Colorado and Florida, as well, and I'll figure out my other trip dates later in the year.”
It's unclear when Bolden plans to make a decision on his future, but I would not be surprised if he commits to Ohio State that weekend.
CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING
Though Ohio State has arguably the top wide receiver haul in the country for current recruiting cycle, that doesn't mean Urban Meyer, Zach Smith and Co. aren't looking even farther into the future at the position.
The Buckeyes offered Saint Louis, Missouri, Christian Brothers College four-star wideout Kamryn Babb during a one-day camp in June, and made such a good impression that the 6-foot-2, 189-pounder hopes to make a return trip soon.
The nation's No. 3 WR in 2018 Kamryn Babb likely visits #OhioState and #OleMiss next: https://t.co/Nyx2g6FQMV
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) October 13, 2016
Considered the second-best player in the state and the No. 84 player overall in the Class of 2018, Babb currently holds 15 offers from programs such as Arkansas, LSU, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Wisconsin. His father told 247Sports ($) they're excited to get back and check out the game day atmosphere.
ROAD TO RECOVERY
The second-best player in Ohio for the Class of 2018, Westerville five-star running back Jaelen Gill, has missed most of his junior season after fracturing his fibula in early September.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats have yet to win a game this season without their best player, who accounted for more than 1,700 yards and 22 touchdowns a season ago.
“The injury was frustrating because I was so much better of a player than I was last year,” Gill told Scout.com. “I'm bigger, stronger and faster, so this is really disappointing to me.”
If a scrimmage this summer was any indication, Gill was going to explode this season. He had three scores on only five touches against Central Crossing, including a pair of rushing touchdowns from 70 and 75 yards out and a simple screen pass that turned into a 68-yard touchdown.
The 6-foot-1, 182-pounder has never dealt with a serious injury throughout his playing career, but said he's doing well mentally. Gill recently got his cast taken off and will start rehab shortly, but said the injury has given him more time to visit some of the schools he's interested in.
“The cast has limited me, but I was at Ohio State for a practice a few weeks ago, and I'm going to Notre Dame this weekend for their game with Stanford,” he said. “I'm also going to go to Ohio State for their games with Nebraska and Michigan.
“I'd also like to get to Michigan State or Penn State this year, if possible, and maybe LSU or Alabama,” Gill continued. “I'm still keeping my options open to see what schools might still offer. LSU is the latest offer, and I'm interested. Alabama has been talking to me, and said if I visit, they will offer.”
Gill has nearly two dozen scholarship offers from schools like Arizona State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, UCLA, USC and Virginia Tech.
He previously planned on making a decision prior to the start of his senior season, though it's unclear at this time if his injury will play a factor in his eventual announcement.
VICTORY FOR MICHIGAN STATE?
Just one week after Ohio State rolled out the red carpet for Detroit, Michigan, Cass Tech's Donovan Peoples-Jones, the top overall wide receiver in the Class of 2017 announced on Twitter that he will attend Michigan State's game against Northwestern.
I WILL be in East Lansing, MI this weekend to visit Michigan State University !! #SpartanNation #V4MSU This Edit is pic.twitter.com/R3oH9pmb7z
— Donovan P. Jones (@dpeoplesjones) October 13, 2016
The trip to East Lansing marks Peoples-Jones' third official visit of the season, the first being Nebraska's season-opening win over Fresno State. He also visited Michigan in an unofficial capacity for the Penn State game.
The 6-foot-2, 192-pound Peoples-Jones is considered the top prospect in the Mitten State and the No. 12 player overall in the current recruiting cycle. He holds 24 offers from programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Stanford and USC, but the Wolverines are the clear favorite.
GIVE ME A HOME WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM
Ohio State was seemingly content moving forward without a tight end in the current recruiting cycle after landing three players from that position last year, but the Buckeyes extended an offer in late August to Sacramento, California, Inderkum four-star tight end Josh Falo.
“Falo has a lot of things going for him from a physical standpoint that just makes him one of the more intriguing tight end prospects in this class,” said Rivals.com's Adam Gorney. “He has great size, he's long and athletic, so he covers ground down the field easily.”
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Falo fourth-best tight end and the No. 16 player overall in California for the Class of 2017. He currently holds 24 offers, but listed Alabama, Auburn, Colorado, Oregon, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Texas A&M, UCLA and USC in his Top 10.
It should be noted that Falo revealed his top schools prior to receiving the offer from Ohio State, and he plans to make a trip to Columbus sometime this fall.
Falo will take his second official visit this weekend to watch Colorado take on Arizona State. His older brother, Nu'umoto, is a starting linebacker for the Buffaloes this season.
Going to be out in Colorado this weekend for an official visit with my brother @DarkskinKingg #CUin17 #SkoBuffs @CoachChev6 @CoachAdamsCUFB
— Josh Falo (@Josh_falo) October 11, 2016
Because Ohio State has a limited number of scholarships remaining and offering Falo so late in the process, it's highly unlikely he ends up in Columbus. But if a number of other four- and five-star targets ultimately choose to play their college ball elsewhere, things may get interesting in terms of his recruitment.
As it stands, though, Oregon is considered the favorite to land Falo. He is expected to announce his decision at the Under Armour All-American Game in January.
