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.
NOTHING IMMINENT
On the eve of his official visit to Ole Miss, Clinton, Mississippi, five-star running back Cam Akers took to Twitter to announce he won't make a decision on his college future until after the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game on Dec. 10.
I will not be committing at the Ms-Al game. After means probably the Army Bowl at the latest.
— Cam akers (@thereal_cam3) December 2, 2016
The 5-foot-11, 213-pounder is considered the second-best running back and the No. 5 prospect overall in the Class of 2017. He listed Alabama, Auburn, Cal, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Ole Miss and Tennessee in his Top 10 in late May, but seemingly favors the Rebels, Tigers and Seminoles over the rest at this point in time.
This marks the third official visit of the season for Akers, who attended Florida State's Oct. 28 loss to Clemson and Ohio State's Nov. 26 win over Michigan. LSU head coach Ed Orgeron — who recently had his interim tag removed — made an in-home visit with Akers this week, as well, to convince him to take an official visit to Baton Rouge before announcing.
Akers — who will play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 7, 2017, in San Antonio, Texas —leads Clinton against Pearl in the 6A state championship game tonight at Mississippi State's Davis Wade Stadium.
IN THE WORKS
Jackson, Tennessee, University School five-star offensive tackle Trey Smith has long been considered a lock for the in-state Volunteers. His sister works for the program and he's been on campus for three games this season. He'll even take an official visit to Knoxville this weekend.
But Ohio State has made significant progress with Smith since his official visit for the Michigan game, enough to say the Buckeyes have become a real threat — or even the favorite — to land their seventh five-star prospect in the Class of 2017.
Seven. That's more than head coach Urban Meyer's first five classes at Ohio State combined.
Had a great time at THE Ohio State University! pic.twitter.com/AiKWo9TRSW
— Trey Smith (@smithtrey98) November 27, 2016
Offensive line coach Greg Studrawa spent time with Smith on Thursday afternoon and Meyer is expect to make an in-home visit on Monday, just one day prior to Smith's planned announcement on Dec. 7.
What seemed like only a pipe dream following Jake Moretti's decommitment two weeks ago continues to become more and more likely with each passing day. We'll just have to see if the Buckeyes can maintain that momentum through the weekend.
A MORE REALISTIC OPTION?
With more than 60 of the country's top recruits — including top-rated defensive tackle Marvin Wilson — in attendance for last weekend's game against Michigan, one could argue South Jordan, Utah, Bingham four-star defensive tackle Jay Tufele's official visit was lost in the fray.
It's certainly not a dig at Tufele, but more accurately reflects the excitement surrounding visits from the aforementioned Akers; five-star linebacker commit, then-target Baron Browning; five-star cornerback target Jeffrey Okudah; and so on.
Words can't describe how amazing my visit was to Ohio state thanks to coach @OSUCoachMeyer and his staff for everything! pic.twitter.com/dsyJJYrkhk
— Jay Tufele (@tufele123) November 28, 2016
Nevertheless, a source close to Tufele told Eleven Warriors he thoroughly enjoyed his visit and Ohio State and Utah are the two programs most likely to land the 6-foot-3, 297-pounder.
“He really likes the Buckeyes, but his parents are unsure about the distance,” the source said.
Tufele listed BYU, Michigan, Ohio State, UCLA, USC, Utah and Washington in his Top 7 in late September. He's been to Provo and Salt Lake City numerous times in the past two years, so his only other official visit this season was to Ann Arbor on Oct. 22.
USC defensive line coach Kenechi Udeze stopped by for an in-home visit on Wednesday night, while Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and Utah's Kyle Whittingham are slated to do the same on Friday and Saturday night, respectively.
Tufele, a U.S. Army All-American, will reportedly not make a decision until National Signing Day.
