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.
BURNEY + WOODBEY = NO FLY ZONE
Ohio State already holds one commitment from the state of Florida in four-star running back Brian Snead, and remains very much in the running for a number of other top prospects in the Sunshine State, including Clearwater Calvary Christian four-star safety Amari Burney.
He is set to announce his college decision on June 1, his late grandfather's birthday, and hopes to make at least one trip to Columbus before then.
“I'm going to try to maybe catch a spring practice or even the Spring Game,” Burney told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder Burney is considered the ninth-best safety and No. 105 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds nearly two dozen offers from programs like Auburn, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and Virginia Tech, but most believe it's a two-horse race between Florida and Ohio State.
Head coach Urban Meyer and defensive coordinator Greg Schiano are in constant contact with Burney, with the latter stopping by his high school in late January.
“You can say that I'm something like a priority,” Burney said. “It feels really good.”
Burney, who played both ways for Clearwater Central Catholic before transferring this offseason, had 20 receptions for 404 yards and recorded 91 tackles, 21 pass breakups, five fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
GROWING LIST OF ATTENDEES
Rahway, New Jersey, Bergen Catholic four-star defensive end Antonio Alfano hasn't been back to Ohio State since earning an offer during Friday Night Lights last July but told Eleven Warriors he plans to attend the Spring Game next month.
“My dad has to work out the plans,” Alfano said.
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Alfano is considered the seventh-best strong-side defensive end and No. 69 prospect overall in the Class of 2019. He holds 13 offers from programs such as Florida, Florida State, Georgia, North Carolina, Penn State, Rutgers and Virginia Tech, but doesn't plan to narrow down his options until after his junior year.
Alfano accumulated 28 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hurries, 4.5 sacks and an interception in nine games for the Crusaders last season. His No. 1 priority while on campus is to get some one-on-one time with the coaching staff.
LET'S NOT WAIT 'TIL THEIR SENIOR YEAR TO OFFER
A handful of local prospects watched Tuesday's practice, including Reynoldsburg teammates James “Jay” Amburgey and Mershawn Rice.
Great visit at THE Ohio State University today. Had a great time and thank you for the opportunity Go Bucks #gobucks pic.twitter.com/TE8mc3kkN3
— Jay Amburgey (@jamburgey5) March 22, 2017
Had a great time at OSUI want to thank the University for having us. Hope to plan another trip later in the year. Go Bucks pic.twitter.com/qzOMHgVo9P
— Showtime1 (@rice_mershawn) March 21, 2017
“Coach [Ed] Terwilliger watched my film from our game against Pickerington Central and thought it was great, then he watched my sophomore season highlights and called my coach and said that he wanted me to come up for a practice and a tour,” Amburgey told Eleven Warriors. “I loved it there. It was an awesome experience. The atmosphere at practice was insane.”
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Amburgey is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites, but certainly already has the size and athleticism to become one of the top-rated defensive ends in the Class of 2019.
“We toured the Woody Hayes [Athletic Center] with coach Terwilliger,” Amburgey said. “We saw the weight room, locker room and the meeting rooms. Then we went out and watched practice. I got to talk to coach [Tim] Hinton, coach [Kevin] Wilson and coach [Larry] Johnson.”
Amburgey, who recorded 25 tackles, eight pass breakups and three sacks for the Raiders last season, hopes to return for a camp in June.
“Their camp is a great way to showcase my talents in front of them and many other coaches,” Amburgey said.
The 6-foot-2, 165-pound Rice, meanwhile, had 29 catches for 441 yards and three touchdowns last season and is expected to take on a larger role within the offense with the loss of 27 seniors. His blend of size and speed makes him a name to watch from the Class of 2019.
“It was a great experience. I had a lot of fun,” Rice told Eleven Warriors. “What stood out to me would definitely have to be 'That Team Up North' period of the practice. They play a video with all the games against Michigan, and it really just gets you hype. Like an extra burst of energy. I really liked it. Everybody started getting hype, and that type of thing will definitely get you to start playing harder, faster and stronger.
“I love rivalries, so it really had my interest,” he added.
Rice, like so many underclassmen in Ohio, currently holds an offer from Kentucky. But without a doubt, Ohio State is the one he's after.
“I talked to a lot of coaches. They all were telling me to keep working hard, doing the right things and not messing up big opportunities,” Rice said.
