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.
DRAMA, DRAMA
While you and I were sleeping last night, Las Vegas, Nevada, Bishop Gorman four-star wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey decommitted from Ohio State.
Though he did have injury problems during his senior year — a torn meniscus prematurely ended his senior — sources close to Eleven Warriors tell us the staff DID NOT push him out the door. It came a complete surprise to them, as well.
This was all Lindsey's decision.
Point blank period.
Nothing's ever about the name of the school or the ranking of the team. It's about where your heart is so you can be happy when you prosper.
— T-WAYNE... (@tyjonlindsey) January 11, 2017
We haven't yet learned the reason, but Lindsey will undoubtedly share when the time is right.
The 5-foot-9, 161-pounder committed to the Buckeyes in August with a dodgeball-themed video alongside five-star wide receiver Trevon Grimes. He seemed excited when we last talked to join teammates Tate Martell and Haskell Garrett in Columbus, but here we are.
Nebraska is undoubtedly the program giving Lindsey second thoughts, and his relationship with wide receivers coach Keith Williams has been well documented. The recruiting contact period opens tomorrow, Jan. 12, and Cornhuskers head coach Mike Riley is already scheduled to visit Lindsey later this week.
The Ohio State staff will work tirelessly to try and convince Lindsey to change his mind, with wide receivers coach Zach Smith heading to Vegas tomorrow. Head coach Urban Meyer still has an in-home visit available, as well. But it will likely be for naught, as Lindsey told Cleveland.com's Ari Wasserman this afternoon, "I just have to follow my dream somewhere else.”
DOMINO EFFECT?
Hours after his former teammate reopened his recruitment, the aforementioned Martell weighed in.
I'll be arriving at Ohio State tonight to start my college career. Tyjon's decision isn't my decision. Wish him the best where ever he goes.
— Tate Martell (@TheTateMartell) January 11, 2017
The pair hooked up for more than 2,000 yards and 35 touchdowns in their prep careers, helping Bishop Gorman win its eighth-consecutive state title and third-straight national championship.
Many wondered what Lindsey's decision might mean for Martell, but he's already signed his National Letter of Intent and will arrive on campus this evening.
WHERE TO NOW?
Though Cleveland Heights four-star wide receiver Jaylen Harris previously said Ohio State would make room for him no matter the circumstances, Lindsey's decision moves him from "he'd be a nice addition" to priority target.
The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder is set to take his official visit the weekend of Jan. 20 and has narrowed his choices down to Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State. His is expected to make a final decision shortly after the trip to Columbus.
The Buckeyes also offered Provo, Utah, three-star wide receiver Ty Jones this afternoon.
Incredibly blessed to say I just received an offer from The Ohio State University #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/z3I4XmNLR2
— Ty Jones (@Baller2Ty) January 11, 2017
The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Washington commit is considered the sixth-best player in the state and the No. 61 wide receiver overall in the Class of 2017, but was quite impressive in U.S. Army All-American Bowl practices. He had a pair of 4-yard catches in the game itself, one of which was thrown by Martell.
Jones recently reaffirmed his pledge to the Huskies despite a late push from Utah, where he was once committed. But if Ohio State can get him on campus for an official visit before signing day, you never know what could happen.
