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.
DELAYED DETONATION
All signs seemingly pointed toward Ohio State receiving a verbal commitment from Las Vegas, Nevada, four-star safety Bubba Bolden during his highly anticipated official visit. But for all the music and cannon fire that echoed throughout Ohio Stadium on Saturday night, a #BOOM was notably absent.
That's because Bolden, a one-time USC commit, will take an official visit to Los Angeles in mid-January before making his decision public.
“He will likely make his announcement on signing day,” Bolden's mother, Breezy, told Eleven Warriors.
Definitely a night to remember! Couldn't have asked for a better game during @BubbBolden first official. #62-3 https://t.co/km7Z9CYRsf
— Breezy Bolden (@urcalibreeze) November 8, 2016
It's hardly a surprise the Trojans remain in the hunt for Bolden, as he grew up a fan of the program and had been committed for seven months before reopening his recruitment in July.
“That was my dream school and where I wanted to go since I was a kid, so I committed before really even checking out all my options,” Bolden told Scout.com at the time of his decommitment. “I want to go through the process and make sure the school I pick is the best fit for me and not just the school I grew up rooting for. I want to take my time this time around and be sure I'm comfortable with the school and how I'll fit in there.”
I ultimately think he'll choose the Buckeyes on signing day because he'll be able to play alongside teammates Tate Martell, Tyjon Lindsey and Haskell Garrett for at least three more years. But he's doing the right thing in taking a step back to assess his options over the next few months instead of rushing to an emotional decision as he has done previously.
GATOR CHOMP
It seems almost certain Detroit, Michigan, Cass Tech five-star wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones ends up in Ann Arbor. But there is talk top-rated receiver in the Class of 2017 would like to play his college ball in the south, which is why he'll travel to Florida for his third official visit this weekend.
This has been rescheduled for this week !! I'll be in Gainesville, FL this weekend ! #GatorNation https://t.co/i91LC4YsL4
— Donovan P. Jones (@dpeoplesjones) November 8, 2016
The 6-foot-2, 192-pounder listed Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State in his Top 5 just over on week ago. He was initially set to take an official visit to Gainesville for Florida's Oct. 8 matchup with LSU, but Hurricane Matthew cancelled the trip.
Peoples-Jones instead visited Ohio State that weekend, at which time he had a lengthy conversation with school president Dr. Michael Drake and athletic director Gene Smith under the south stands of the stadium.
The Buckeyes already have two five-star wideouts in the fold in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, St. Thomas Aquinas' Trevon Grimes and Bishop Gorman's Tyjon Lindsey, but would undoubtedly make room for Peoples-Jones if he decided he wanted to play his college ball in Columbus.
What's interesting is Ohio State also awaits a decision from Cleveland Heights four-star wide receiver Jaylen Harris, who has said time and time again the staff will make room for him in spite of current scholarship situation. However unlikely it is both would pick Ohio State, it's definitely something to pay attention to as the class unfolds.
This marks Peoples-Jones' second trip to Florida in the last year, meanwhile, as he took an unofficial visit back in the spring. He's been to Michigan and Michigan State on numerous occasions, and it's widely expected he'll return to the Sunshine State for the Nov. 26 Florida-Florida State game in Tallahassee.
ALREADY REMOVED FROM HIS VOCABULARY
Hyattsville, Maryland, DeMatha Catholic five-star defensive end commit Chase Young was quick to correct me when I shared a photo of him on his unofficial visit to Ohio State over the weekend. Though Young will be on campus on Nov. 26, he wasn't too fond of my use of the “M” word.
— Chase Young (@youngchase907) November 7, 2016
“I just have to let the people know what it is,” Young told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder committed to Ohio State during the annual Friday Night Lights recruiting camp in July, but hadn't been back to Columbus since.
“It was great,” Young said of Saturday's game. “I hate leaving that place.”
The second-ranked defensive end in the country, Young is one of six five-star prospects in the Buckeyes' top-rated Class of 2017.
RVA
According to his father, Dinwiddie, Virginia, four-star athlete K'Vaughan Pope was offered a scholarship by Ohio State on Monday evening.
BIGG UP TO MY SON K'VAUGHAN POPE ON HIS 18TH OFFER FROM OHIO STATE
— TAKE UR TIME (@bulls_49ers) November 8, 2016
WAY TO GO SON KEEP PUSHING AND U KNOW ILUV U !!!DAD
“[It's] awesome,” Kenneth Pope told Eleven Warriors. “I couldn't be more proud of him. He's a great young man.”
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder is considered the fourth-best prospect in the commonwealth and the No. 5 athlete in the Class of 2018. He plays both wide receiver and linebacker for the Generals, who wrapped up their second undefeated season in the last three seasons on Friday night.
Pope, who holds nine offers from schools such as Clemson, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, registered a team-high four interceptions and pitched in 66 total tackles this season.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
Charlotte, North Carolina, West Mecklenburg four-star athlete Dyami Brown took to Twitter on Tuesday afternoon to announce he also received a scholarship offer from Ohio State.
I am Blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/RjSwMYtADd
— Dyami Brown (@deuce2_) November 8, 2016
A state and junior Olympic championship sprinter, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Brown considered the 11th-best athlete and the No. 190 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds nearly one dozen offers from programs such as Louisville, Michigan, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
