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.
ALTERNATE ROUTE
According to USA TODAY Sports, Ohio State quarterback commit Tate Martell has transferred from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman to Desert Pines — roughly 22 miles away — in order to graduate early.
#OhioState commit @TheTateMartell switches schools so he can graduate early https://t.co/CuKUW4Mbx4 #NVPrepsFB #BuckeyeNation
— USA TODAY HSS (@USATODAYhss) December 12, 2016
The 5-foot-11, 203-pounder threw for 2,363 yards and 41 touchdowns and rushed for 1,256 yards and 21 touchdowns while leading the Gaels to their eighth-consecutive state title and third-straight mythical national championship. But Bishop Gorman does not permit students to graduate early, hence the transfer.
Martell, Nevada's Gatorade Player of the Year and a finalist for the U.S. Army Player of the Year, will graduate on Friday and enroll at Ohio State next month to participate in spring practices.
BATTLE OF BEST
The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association also wouldn't allow Bishop Gorman to play national games after the state playoffs have ended, so — no matter how much we wanted to see it — a mythical national championship game against undefeated Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy was never going to happen.
But that won't stop other top programs from meeting in the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series at The Star in Frisco, Texas, otherwise known as the Dallas Cowboys' indoor practice facility.
Raiders will play Utah 5A Champion Bingham at the Ford Center on the grounds of the Dallas Cowboys Headquarters #ChampsCollide pic.twitter.com/SpZDkevUID
— Aquinas Football (@STA_Football) December 13, 2016
The lineup includes Fort Lauderdale, Florida, St. Thomas Aquinas and Ohio State wide receiver commit Trevon Grimes against South Jordan, Utah, Bingham and defensive tackle target Jay Tufele. Grimes won't play after suffering a torn ACL in late September, however.
The game is scheduled to be broadcast live on ESPNU Dec. 23 at 6 p.m.
FILLING OUT THE ROSTER
Wyoming, Ohio, wide receiver Garyn Prater was invited by Ohio State defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs to watch practice on Saturday. The 6-foot-6, 205-pounder is committed to Fordham, but holds a preferred walk-on offer from the Buckeyes after catching 54 passes for 1,093 yards and 16 touchdowns during his senior season.
“It was awesome,” Prater told Eleven Warriors. “It's one of the top programs in the country, and the coaches said that I have a good chance to earn a scholarship eventually.”
Prater said the visit certainly gives him something to think about.
“I'm going to talk to my family about it, [and make a decision] soon,” Prater said.
PICK OF THE LITTER
Surely you think Ohio State's current recruit class is stacked. But would you believe me if I told you next year's could be even better?
Rivals.com updated its rankings for the Class of 2018 earlier this week, and listed quarterback commit Emory Jones (No. 14) and running back commit Brian Snead (No. 18) among the best players in the country. The Buckeyes also remain in the hunt for — and have a legitimate shot at landing — the following four- and five-star juniors:
- No. 2 – Fairfield offensive tackle Jackson Carman
- No. 3 – IMG Academy defensive end Xavier Thomas
- No. 4 – Los Angeles, California, Hawkins wide receiver Jalen Hall
- No. 5 – IMG Academy defensive tackle Taron Vincent
- No. 6 – Laurinburg, North Carolina, Scotland County running back Zamir White
- No. 8 – Jacksonville, Florida, Trinity Christian safety Tyreke Johnson
- No. 9 – Plantation, Florida, American Heritage cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr.
- No. 13 – Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, defensive end Micah Parsons
- No. 15 – Clemmons, North Carolina, West Forsyth defensive end K.J. Henry
- No. 16 – Orange City, Florida, University running back Lorenzo Lingard
- No. 17 – Atlanta, Georgia, Pace Academy offensive guard Jamaree Salyer
- No. 19 – St. Thomas Aquinas cornerback Asante Samuel Jr.
- No. 20 – Jackson, Tennessee, Northside defensive end Greg Emerson
- No. 21 – Houston, Texas, Lamar cornerback Anthony Cook
- No. 22 – Angleton, Texas, safety B.J. Foster
- No. 23 – Huber Heights Wayne wide receiver L'Christian “Blue” Smith
- No. 24 – Bishop Gorman linebacker Palaie Gaoteote
- No. 26 – St. Thomas Aquinas cornerback Al Blades Jr.
- No. 33 – Ramsey, New Jersey, Don Bosco Prep defensive tackle Tyler Friday
- No. 36 – Marietta, Georgia, cornerback Derrik Allen
- No. 37 – IMG Academy cornerback Houston Griffith
- No. 39 – Westerville South running back Jaelen Gill
- No. 40 – Calabasas, California, cornerback Brendan Radley-Hiles
- No. 43 – Claremont, California, linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu
- No. 45 – Bellflower, California, St. John Bosco safety Jaiden Woodbey
- No. 64 – Tampa, Florida, Cambridge Christian offensive tackle Richard Gouraige
- No. 67 – Tusla, Oklahoma, Union wide receiver C.J. Moore
- No. 68 – St. Louis, Missouri, Christian Brothers wide receiver Kamryn Babb
- No. 87 – Brooklyn, New York, Erasmus Hall defensive tackle Matthew Jones
- No. 88 – Hollywood, Florida, Chaminade-Madonna wide receiver Xavier Williams
- No. 96 – Virginia Beach, Virginia, Bishop Sullivan linebacker Teradja Mitchell
- No. 99 – Pickerington Central tight end Trenton Gillison
