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.
ALL THE HELP THEY CAN GET
Saturday got off to a booming start when Franklin, Tennessee, four-star offensive tackle Max Wray committed to Ohio State. And though he wasn't on campus, it was his visit last weekend that sealed the deal for the Buckeyes.
"It just felt like home. Obviously, the track record of the football program is one of the best in the country and I knew it was where I wanted to go," Wray told Eleven Warriors. "I was going to wait until May to announce, but I decided to announce [Saturday] because it was a big day recruiting wise and I wanted to get the day started off right."
Any day you can steal a recruit like the 6-foot-7, 289-pound Wray from southern powers like Alabama, LSU and Tennessee is a good one. But Wray's pledge certainly got the momentum going, as Ohio State also landed a commitment from Oklahoma four-star safety Josh Proctor later that afternoon.
"I never thought I was going to leave the SEC, but when I came up to Ohio State and hung out with the players they were all like-minded to myself and all had the same goals as I do," Wray said.
COMING SOON
One prospect who many expected to commit this weekend was Butler, Pennsylvania, three-star offensive guard Jake Kradel. And though he did not, Kradel's first game day visit went well nonetheless.
"It was great, got to see the campus and thought it was a nice," he told Eleven Warriors. "The atmosphere for a spring game was just crazy. I can't even imagine a game."
The 6-foot-4, 290-pounder was hoping to get to know the coaches a little more this weekend, but game days don't always provide that opportunity. That's one reason why he doesn't think he'll make a decision until next month.
"I'm sure on my next visit I will [talk with the coaches]," Kradel said. "[I'm] gonna hold off until mid-May, I think."
DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Clearwater, Florida, Calvary Christian four-star safety Amari Burney was also one of the dozens of prospects in attendance during Saturday's game. It's likely his final time on campus before his June 1 decision, which will honor his late grandfather.
"I love it every time I go up there," Burney told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder and his family got to spend time with Meyer and defensive coordinator Greg Schiano.
"It was awesome," he said. "Any time you get to talk to two coaches of that stature is always great."
The Buckeyes, as mentioned, landed a commitment from another highly rated safety on Saturday. But Burney said it won't affect his decision, expected to be between Ohio State and Florida, in the slightest.
"I thought that was great for their program," he said. "[It doesn't] affect the way the coaches are coming at me. They're still coming at me the same and I still feel the same about the school, so it doesn't matter at all."
So what will be the deciding factor?
"The relationship that I build with the coaches and how my family feels about them ... and a little luck," Burney said with a laugh.
LIST SZN
Houston, Texas, Dekaney four-star tight end Malcolm Epps included Ohio State in his Top 10 on Easter morning alongside Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Rice, Texas, Texas A&M and UCLA.
Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard pic.twitter.com/z1obCdmvfV
— 6 (@_EppsKid) April 16, 2017
The 6-foot-6, 218-pound Epps is considered the seventh-best tight end and No. 145 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. The Buckeyes offered him a scholarship last May, but he was already committed to the Crimson Tide at that point in time. He reopened his recruitment in February, though.
Ohio State doesn't seem to be a real player for Epps right now, with several other options still in the fold at tight end. Things will get interesting if he decides to take an official visit this fall, though.
PLAN B?
The Buckeyes also made the cut for Justin, Texas, Northwest four-star offensive tackle Darrell Simpson, who narrowed his list down to eight on Friday night. He also included Arkansas, LSU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and TCU.
Man shout to Kevin for the edit also if y'all need any film different edits get at him @_K_Santos #BigGuyClipz pic.twitter.com/zuU7fWAkgD
— Darrell Simpson (@king_simpson34) April 15, 2017
The 6-foot-7, 336-pound Simpson is considered the 11th-best offensive tackle and No. 115 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He earned an offer from the Buckeyes last May and then attended a one-day positional camp the following month.
Much like Epps, Simpson sits behind other targets at his position, like five-star Jackson Carman, on Ohio State's board. But if Carman decides Clemson is the place for him, Simpson would be a solid replacement.
