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.
BACK AGAIN
Last summer featured quite a few twists and turns for Tampa, Florida, Jefferson four-star athlete Jermaine Eskridge, as he included Ohio State in his Top 3 alongside Alabama and Miami (FL) in late July and then added Florida and Oregon into the mix the following day at his mother's insistence.
He was scheduled to take an unofficial visit to Columbus one week later, but called off the trip at the last minute and instead committed to South Florida out of the blue.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Eskridge reopened his recruitment less than a month later, claiming he made an emotional decision based on the fact that several other local recruits pledged their services to the Bulls that week. But now that he's had several months to wisely reassess his recruitment, Eskridge has started to narrow things down once again, listing Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon and Penn State in his Top 7.
I knew my time was coming I had to wait for it #LongLiveNuchie pic.twitter.com/tZlZzWJdBo
— EJ1 (@Iam_Jermaine4) March 9, 2017
Eskridge, also a one-time Kentucky commit, is considered the 16th-best athlete and No. 247 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He had 39 receptions for 668 yards and six touchdowns to help the Dragons to the state regional semifinals last season.
While it's hard to predict how Eskridge's recruitment will play out, this roller-coaster ride is far from over.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
Ohio State also made the cut for Charlotte, North Carolina, West Mecklenburg four-star athlete Dyami Brown, who trimmed his baker's dozen worth of offers to five, err... six on Friday afternoon. He listed the Buckeyes alongside Alabama, Louisville, Michigan, North Carolina and Virginia Tech.
Correction
— Dyami Brown (@deuce2_) March 10, 2017
Top 5
1. North Carolina
2. Virginia tech
3. Ohio state
4. Michigan / Louisville
5. Alabama
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Brown is considered the 12th-best athlete and No. 208 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He hasn't been on campus since Ohio State offered in November, yet plans to make a decision in late April — a trip to Columbus for the Spring Game would change things, of course.
Brown played a mix of running back and wide receiver for the Hawks last season and finished the year with 43 carries for 314 yards and two touchdowns and 54 catches for 1,012 yards and 12 more scores.
WHITE WHALE
Ohio State and Florida State had quite the battle earlier this year for Marvin Wilson, and now the Buckeyes once again find themselves toe-to-toe with the Seminoles for the nation's premier defensive tackle, Taron Vincent. The five-star from Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy may be close to a decision, too.
5 DT Taron Vincent (@t_lova23) is deciding between Florida State and Ohio State, he confirmed to @RobertJudin. https://t.co/oIZiL8M0TQ
— Campus Insiders (@CampusInsiders) March 8, 2017
From Campus Insiders:
He made the trip to Tallahassee on Feb. 25 for the Seminoles’ junior day. He hasn’t made a visit to Ohio State since last summer when he attended a recruiting camp, but that trip to FSU was sandwiched by two trips to Clemson. He attended the Tigers’ junior day on Jan. 28 and unofficially visited again last weekend.
Buckeyes fans can rest easily, though. Even though a decision is looming, Vincent has yet to decide on when he’ll announce his college commitment. He first wants to make it back to Columbus with his parents while IMG is on spring break, which begins on March 17.
A successful visit to Ohio State may be all the Buckeyes need to lure Vincent into their 2018 class.
“It depends on how this visit goes. It could be soon after it,” Vincent said of his commitment. “They are pretty even right now.”
Can Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson even the score with his Florida State counterpart Odell Haggins, or will the Seminoles' honey-fried chicken help them land another mammoth run-stuffer? Vincent's visit looms even larger than his 6-foot-2, 285-pound frame.
DON'T WAIT TOO LONG
Ohio State will most likely sign two tight ends this recruiting cycle, with New York's Jeremy Ruckert, Texas' Mustapha Muhammad and Nevada's Brevin Jordan the primary targets. The Buckeyes have also continued to build a relationship with Cincinnati LaSalle four-star Josh Whyle, whose recruitment has blown up in the last few weeks.
“Coach [Kerry] Coombs and coach [Tim] Hinton text me about once a day,” Whyle told Eleven Warriors. “I would really like an Ohio State offer. I'm going to be visiting soon.”
The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Whyle is considered the 16th-best player in the state and No. 17 tight end overall in the Class of 2018. He holds more than two dozen offers, with Auburn, Indiana, Louisville, Maryland, Oregon Pitt, Tennessee and Wisconsin coming through in the last two weeks.
“I can't wait to start visiting the schools that have offered,” Whyle said.
Whyle has been to several Ohio State camps, so the staff is certainly familiar with him. He's also familiar with playing in Ohio Stadium, too, as he caught 40 passes for 546 yards and six touchdowns last season to help the Lancers to their third-consecutive state title.
