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.
WHY WAIT?
Memphis, Tennessee, Harding Academy three-star offensive tackle Will Lawrence included Ohio State in his Top 5 on Monday evening alongside Arizona State, LSU, Michigan and North Carolina.
Final 5 below. I'll commit to one of these schools by end of February, if not before. @HamiltonESPN pic.twitter.com/iqFrbbS0dn
— Will Lawrence (@will_lawrence76) December 20, 2016
"Ohio State is just such a great program," Lawrence told Eleven Warriors. "Great facilities and it seems like they are always in the playoff."
The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder is considered the 29th-best offensive tackle and the No. 375 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He has not been on campus since the Buckeyes offered nearly two years ago, though he did make it to a one-day camp in June 2014.
SEEING CLEARLY
Bellflower, California, St. John Bosco four-star safety Jaiden Woodbey will no longer reveal his top schools Tuesday evening as he had previously planned to do.
"I want to focus more on me being a better football player than being caught up in the recruiting process," Woodbey told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is rated as the third-best safety and the No. 32 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds nearly 20 offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and Oklahoma, but Ohio State, UCLA, USC and Washington are presumed to be the front-runners.
Woodbey has not been to Columbus, so the Buckeyes are at a serious disadvantage in his recruitment - his father played at USC and therefore attends every home game. But with teammate and good friend Wyatt Davis in the fold, the staff is certainly anticipating his official visit next fall.
TIS THE SEASON
According to ESPN's Jeremy Crabtree, more than 100 senior prospects have backed off their original commitment since the beginning of December.
Each prospect has their reason, be it a better offer or a coaching change, but it seemingly happens more often each year. So what are the odds one of Ohio State's 17 commits reopens their recruitment in the near future?
I honestly believe each and every member of Select '17 wants to be a Buckeye, but I also think Cincinnati Winton Woods four-star defensive tackle Jerron Cage will be tempted to switch to Notre Dame if Marvin Wilson or Jay Tufele end up in Columbus. Cage's brother, Daniel, plays in South Bend and he's been to almost every Irish home game this season as a result.
Though he repeatedly shot down the idea of a flip earlier this fall, Cage's official visit on Jan. 14 looms large.
NOT AN OPTION
Englewood, New Jersey, Pope John three-star defensive tackle Dalyn Wade-Perry included Ohio State in his Top 6 in late September, but narrowed his list to Florida State, Stanford and UCLA on Monday night.
I will be choosing the school that best suits my family and I. This is my TOP 3, and I will be committing no later than January 18th. pic.twitter.com/cpqw3Y5rR3
— D-Wade (@DalynWP) December 20, 2016
The 6-foot-3, 341-pounder planned to take an official visit to Columbus this fall, but the trip never came to fruition. It's hardly surprising, though, as Ohio State already holds commitments from defensive tackles Haskell Garrett and the aforementioned Cage and remain in the hunt for Wilson and Tufele.
Wade-Perry, who finished his senior season with 64 tackles and seven sacks, plans to make a decision no later than Jan. 18, 2017.
