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.
HERE COMES THE BOOM
Cleveland Heights four-star wide receiver Jaylen Harris is expected to announce his college decision on Twitter within the next 24 hours.
My next tweet, will be one of the most important tweet of my life #TheCommitment
— Jaylen Harris (@JHarris5_) January 12, 2017
The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Harris is considered the sixth-best player in the state and the No. 28 wide receiver in the Class of 2017. He will choose between finalists Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State.
Harris has been in a bit of a holding pattern in recent months as the Buckeyes figured out their scholarship crunch, but looks ready to come on board following the recent decommitment of four-star wide receiver Tyjon Lindsey.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
There's no doubt in my mind Pickerington Central three-star running back Morgan Ellison is one of the best prospects in the state, but a devastating injury forced him to sit out most of his sophomore and junior seasons.
The 6-foot-1, 221-pounder came back with a vengeance for his senior year, rushing for 1,841 yards and 29 touchdowns to lead the Tigers to the state semifinals. Ellison's dream offer from Ohio State unfortunately never materialized because the Buckeyes were in on five-star running back Cam Akers, so he committed to Ohio in early November.
Akers committed to Florida State late last month, leaving Ohio State with only one running back in the Class of 2017 in four-star J.K. Dobbins. And with the Buckeyes' scholarship situation clearing itself up in recent weeks, it's looking increasingly likely they'll add another.
So where does that leave Ellison?
The staff has already set its sights on a few in-state targets to round out its second-ranked recruiting class, and running backs coach Tony Alford reached out to Ellison on Wednesday night.
“He thinks I can play there and they want another running back,” Ellison told Eleven Warriors.
He hopes to take an official visit before National Signing Day, but is not going to get his hopes up for an offer.
“If that's what God wants, then it will happen,” Ellison said. “I'm just trusting in him.”
Ellison is considered the 46th-best player in the state and the No. 77 running back overall in the senior class, but is also one of the highest-rated prospects committed to a Mid-American Conference program.
MISSED YOUR CHANCE
With the recruiting contact period opening at 12:01 this morning, Ohio State was set to reevaluate several in-state prospects in hopes of adding one or two more to the current recruiting class.
Among them, Warren G. Harding four-star athlete Lynn Bowden.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder compiled 2,277 rushing yards, 1,366 passing yards and 57 total touchdowns to lead the Raiders to the regional finals, but — like Ellison — the Buckeyes were in pursuit of too many five-star prospects to give him a look before.
Bowden has repeatedly called Ohio State his dream school, and it was believed new offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson could help sway him to Columbus; Bowden committed to the Hoosiers while Wilson was the head coach. But apparently the staff's interest comes too little too late.
At this time I will be closing my Recuitment and my decision will be Saturday not an exact time
— Lynn Bowden (@H_Huncho) January 12, 2017
Bowden will announce his college decision on Saturday between Kentucky, Penn State and West Virginia.
BUILDING A BRIDGE TO COLUMBUS
According to Land of 10's Jeremy Birmingham, Ohio State has offered Brooklyn, New York, Erasmus Hall athlete Aron Cruickshank.
Ohio State has offered 2018 WR Aron Cruikshank from Erasmus Hall in Brooklyn. Urban Meyer and Greg Schiano there today.
— Jeremy Birmingham (@Birm) January 12, 2017
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Cruickshank is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites, but holds offers Michigan, Rutgers and Syracuse. He rushed for 1,009 yards and 16 touchdowns and threw for 12 more as the quarterback for the Dutchmen, but projects as an H-Back at the next level.
Cruickshank comes from the same high school as former Ohio State H-Back Curtis Samuel and redshirt freshman safety Jahsen Wint.
