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.
CREEPING CLOSER TO A RESOLUTION
Just a few days after saying he remains 100 percent committed to Ohio State, Jacksonville, Florida, Trinity Christian five-star cornerback Shaun Wade decided on Monday to set an official visit to Alabama. Many prognosticators believe Wade, Ohio State's longest-tenured commit, will ultimately flip to the Crimson Tide before National Signing Day.
2017 5* CB and Ohio State commit Shaun Wade will be taking an official visit to #Alabama on November 26th for the Iron Bowl.
— Bobby Kunz (@TDALMAGKunz) October 24, 2016
Wade committed to Ohio State on Jan. 12, 2015, the same day the Buckeyes captured the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship with a win over Oregon, but has continued to look at other schools in the meantime. He visited Florida and Notre Dame earlier this fall, but Alabama is considered the only legitimate threat to change his mind.
The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Wade will take his official visit to Columbus for the Nov. 5 game against Nebraska, and is expected to either flip to Alabama or reaffirm his commitment to Ohio State shortly after his trip to Tuscaloosa.
#TEENS
Less than one week from decommitting from Notre Dame, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, four-star defensive end Donovan Jeter has pledged his services to Michigan.
#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/vKvVZ5ufOC
— Donovan Jeter (@__5god__) October 23, 2016
The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder reopened his recruitment last Tuesday. And though he insists this decision is final, it should be noted Jeter said his pledge to the Fighting Irish was based on an emotional trip to South Bend.
“They had the crowd going crazy, the planes flying over,” Jeter said. “When you get there, the treat you like kings. I just felt a lot of love.”
He began to have second thoughts almost immediately and backed away from his commitment shortly thereafter. So why Michigan? And why make another quick decision following an emotional official visit?
Jim Harbaugh.
“He doesn't act like he's important,” Jeter told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “He's real down to earth and humble. He's easy to talk to. Talking to Brian Kelly wasn't fun. It wasn't cool. You have to make an appointment just to go to his office. Coach Harbaugh has an open-door policy. Every one of Michigan's coaches has an open-door policy.”
Though Ohio State had moved on in terms of Jeter's recruitment, he was joined in Ann Arbor this weekend by four-star defensive tackle Jay Tufele. The top prospect in the state of Utah is considered on of the Buckeyes' top remaining targets for the Class of 2017.
Wolverine commits, PA DE Donovan Jeter and MI DT Phillip Paea with Utah DT Jay Tufele. Could #Michigan possibly land this talented trio? pic.twitter.com/kYBZ2S1bnF
— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) October 23, 2016
GOONS AND SAVAGES, YOU SAY?
According to the Palm Beach Post, Alabama commit and Ohio State linebacker target VanDarius Cowan has been removed from his high school football team.
It is believed Cowan's dismissal stems from his behavior during Palm Beach Gardens' loss to Wellington last Thursday, during which he was reportedly removed from the game after being called for two penalties, ate on the sidelines, talked with fans in the stands and paid little attention to the game.
BREAKING: Palm Beach Gardens linebacker and Bama commit VanDarius Cowan has been removed from the PBG football team.https://t.co/XAu2VZzkeJ
— (((Lichtenstein))) (@ABLichtenstein) October 24, 2016
The 6-foot-4, 226-pounder is considered the fourth-best outside linebacker and the No. 70 prospect overall in the Class of 2017. He has been committed to Alabama since April but discussed Ohio State as a possible official visit destination.
Cowan, you may recall, once cut off reporters when asked to compare Alabama's recruiting class to Ohio State's top-rated haul.
“I'm not even worried about Ohio State, so don't even ask me any questions about Ohio State,” he said. “That's ranked off of all those stars and junk, but we're talking about Alabama having goons and savages in this class. I'm talking about boys who want to play and give it their all. I'm telling you, all of my boys that are committed are savages. We are straight dogs.”
All things considered, it was quite the surprise when Cowan announced he was eyeing a trip to Columbus just a few weeks later.
“Yeah, I'm going to make an official visit there,” he said. “I'm not sure when yet. It will be for a game. When I talked to [Ohio State commit] Chase [Young] about it, he said the Michigan game would be a good one to go.”
The duo spent significant time together at Nike's The Opening in July, which led to Cowan's change of heart.
Cowan, additionally, was set to announce his final decision at the U.S. Army All-American Game on Jan. 7, but the Palm Beach Post is reporting he will no longer be able to play in the exhibition.
It remains to be seen if Alabama will stick with Cowan's commitment, but he tweeted from his now-protected account that the Crimson Tide are with him "150 percent."
REMEMBER THE NAME
Mentor offensive lineman Ryan Jacoby told Eleven Warriors Monday afternoon he will be at Saturday's game against Northwestern. The trip marks Jacoby's second unofficial visit this season, as he was on campus for Ohio State's win over Tulsa earlier this year.
"I can't wait," Jacoby said.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound sophomore is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites and doesn't not yet hold an offer, but talks with Ohio State frequently.
"I keep in touch with coach [Ed] Terwilliger," Jacoby said. "I call him like once a week."
NCAA rules prevent coaches from contacting a recruit prior to Sept. 1 of their junior year of high school, so Jacoby is typically the one initiating contact. But he did say Ohio State, Purdue and Rutgers all send permissible letters.
