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.
BOOM INCOMING?
If you walk around campus over the next two days, don't trip over the red carpet the staff has laid out for Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent.
The 6-foot-2, 285-pound Vincent, the top-rated defensive tackle and No. 14 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, is in Columbus with his parents and is set to choose between Ohio State and Florida State in the coming days. This marks his first visit since he attended a one-day position camp last summer.
The Buckeyes have long been considered the leader in Vincent's recruitment, as defensive line coach Larry Johnson forged a strong relationship with him early on in the process. The Seminoles have made a late push, however, by offering the chance to play alongside another mammoth human being in 2017 five-star signee Marvin Wilson.
The teams reportedly enter the visit neck-and-neck, but that's good new for Ohio State. The visit allows Vincent to reconnect with Johnson and former IMG teammates Marcus Williamson and Isaiah Pryor. And if all goes as planned, get your BOOM.gifs ready.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Vincent isn't the only highly sought-after defensive tackle set to be on campus this week, as both Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller four-star Aeneas Hawkins and Owings Mills, Maryland, McDonogh School four-star P.J. Mustipher will attend Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage.
I'll be in Columbus this weekend visiting THE Ohio State University
— Pj Mustipher (@KingPJ55) March 28, 2017
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound Mustipher is considered the sixth-best defensive tackle and No. 65 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds 16 offers from programs such as Alabama, Maryland, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Tennessee.
This marks the second trip to campus for Mustipher since Ohio State offered last March, but third visit overall. He attended the win over Indiana last fall, as well as the 2012 Michigan game with his brother, Sam, whom the Buckeyes were recruiting at that time — he ultimately signed with Notre Dame in 2014, so it's no surprise the Fighting Irish are also the Crystal Ball favorite for P.J.
Mustipher recorded 47 tackles, 15 sacks, four pass break ups and four forced fumbles for the Eagles en route to being named to the Baltimore Sun's All-Metro first-team defense. You can read more about Hawkins, meanwhile, in yesterday's edition of The Hurry Up.
HOLDING OUT HOPE
St. Francis De Sales three-star linebacker Brian Asamoah was ready to choose between Cincinnati, Michigan, Penn State, Pittsburgh, UCLA and West Virginia on April 21. But on Tuesday night, he announced he would no longer make his decision that day.
In God I Trust pic.twitter.com/nmQonWtQMK
— Brian Asamoah (@b_moah211) March 28, 2017
“[I'm] waiting on Ohio State,” Asamoah told Eleven Warriors. “Communication has picked up tremendously.”
The 6-foot, 205-pound Asamoah is considered the 45th-best outside linebacker and No. 623 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He's picked up offers from Arizona State, Michigan State and Oklahoma in the week alone, bringing him to 23 in all.
Asamoah formed a great relationship with former Ohio State defensive coordinator and current Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell — a De Sales graduate — which is why the Bearcats are presumed to be the leader in his recruitment. But new linebackers coach Bill Davis has picked up right where Fickell left off.
“We are building a strong relationship,” Asamoah said.
Asamoah attended Junior Day in late January and plans to return to campus for the Spring Game next month. He's preached patience throughout the process, but don't be surprised if he finally walks away with an extremely coveted offer in hand.
LARRY'S LOADING UP
Jumping back to those who attended a recent Ohio State practice, this list of visitors includes Independence, Missouri, William Chrisman three-star defensive end Daniel Carson.
Had an incredible day at THE University of Ohio State. It was an awesome two days . pic.twitter.com/Dy26sXH7tZ
— Daniel Carson (@sports__finest) March 28, 2017
“[I got to] tour the campus, talk to the coaches and see how they practice,” Carson told Eleven Warriors. “It was amazing.”
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Carson is considered the 19th-best strong-side defensive end and No. 537 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds double-digit offers from programs such as Georgia, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Ole Miss, but Ohio State certainly stands out.
“They are a huge school, they work hard and the rest explains itself,” Carson said, citing the aforementioned Johnson as a big reason for his interest in the program. “He's a great coach. He's good at what he does.”
Carson recorded 56 tackles, 13 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries last year to help lead the Bears to their first winning season since 1981 and first conference title since 1963.
