The Hurry Up: Commits Among Finalists for Player of the Year, Five-Star Defensive Ends Intend to Visit and Ohio State Extends Walk-On Offer to Local Athlete

TROPHY CASE

USA TODAY Sports announced on Tuesday the ten finalists for the American Family Insurance All-USA offensive and defensive players of the year. Several Ohio State commits and targets were listed, including:

• Quarterback commit Tate Martell of Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman;
• Running back target Cam Akers of Clinton, Mississippi;
• Wide receiver target Donovan Peoples-Jones of Detroit, Michigan, Cass Tech;
• Cornerback commit Shaun Wade of Jacksonville, Florida, Trinity Christian; and
• Safety target Bubba Bolden of Bishop Gorman.

Finalists were selected by USA Today Sports reporter Jim Halley, and the winners will be announced in late December. Former quarterback Terrelle Pryor was the last Ohio State commit to win the award.

POTENTIAL FLIP?

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, five-star defensive end Micah Parsons has been committed to Penn State since February, but told Eleven Warriors he'll be at Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan game. This marks the second time this month Parson will be on campus, as he was also in attendance for the Nov. 5 game against Nebraska.

Penn State five-star DE commit Micah Parsons (@Micah_Parsons90) tells Eleven Warriors he'll be at Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan game.

— Andrew Lind (@AndrewMLind) November 23, 2016

Though he is considered the top-rated player in the state and the No. 5 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, the Buckeyes were late to the party by offering the 6-foot-3, 235-pound Parsons in September. He had already racked up 13 other offers from programs such as Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Tennessee, USC and West Virginia by that point.

Parsons has repeatedly said his commitment to Penn State remains solid — the Nittany Lions recently offered him the chance to play both ways — but wants to take as many visits as he can to make sure the program is the right fit for him.

AND ON THE OTHER END

The list of five-star prospects expected to attend Saturday's Top 5 matchup with Michigan continues to grow, as Clemmons, North Carolina, West Forsyth defensive end K.J. Henry announced his intentions on Twitter Tuesday afternoon.

The visit this weekend is to watch the best rivalry game in college football at The hio state university @OhioStateFB #GoBuckeyes

— The KJ Henry (@ywd_ballislife) November 23, 2016

The 6-foot-6, 217-pounder is considered the second-best player in the Tar Heel State and the No. 20 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He currently holds 25 offers from programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Henry is expected to announce his decision at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January 2018.

DREAM COME TRUE

Grove City senior tight end/defensive end Josh Burgett announced on Twitter earlier this week he has received a preferred walk-on offer from Ohio State.

Excited to say I have been offered a preferred walk-on position at The Ohio State University ! pic.twitter.com/Xq6ReU1kyR

— Josh Burgett (@joshburg82) November 22, 2016

“It means a lot, honestly, even for them to just notice me,” Burgett told Eleven Warriors. “It's kind of surreal because I never thought I would even have a shot there. Growing up, I've always watched them, too, so it's pretty neat to have the opportunity to play there.”

The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder is not ranked by any major recruiting sites, but currently holds more than a dozen offers from programs such as Duquesne, Findlay, Morehead State, Ohio Dominican, Robert Morris and Youngstown State. He has also been offered a preferred walk-on opportunity at Bowling Green.

“It's very exciting, but also nerve-racking at the same time,” Burgett said. “But [the offer from Ohio State] is for sure something I am looking at. It's a really big decision.”