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.
ADAPT AND OVERCOME
The Collegiate Commissioners Association unanimously approved an early signing period in college football one week ago this evening, making way for a 72-hour window in mid-December for prospective student-athletes to sign with a four-year university.
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer had been an outspoken opponent the proposal since it was brought to light, but seemingly lightened his stance during a brief interview with the local ABC affiliate on Sunday evening.
“I was really opposed to a June and August [signing period],” Meyer said. “I think December is OK. There's a lot of good things coming... early visits. I just worry about the calendar and everybody moving things up. I just don't want these kids to be rushed because once you sign, you can't change.”
The football program hasn't held media availability since the news was announced — and likely won't again until media day in August — so we won't be able to ask Meyer or director of player personnel Mark Pantoni how it changes their recruiting strategy or other in-depth questions on the matter for a few months. But his position is honestly not all that surprising.
I say that because a June signing period would have significantly altered Ohio State's strategy when it comes to identifying and offering prospects, mostly those in-state, or flipping committed prospects last in the process. Meyer and other coaches can still watch prospects play their senior years before offering with a December signing period, though.
Ohio State Vice President and Director of Athletics Gene Smith, meanwhile, opposes the ruling wholeheartedly.
“We really feel that young kids today are pressured into making a lot of decisions early, and we’re part of that,” Smith said. “We’ve had kids — and we all use the term ‘flipping’ — in February and January, and so I’m a little old school on that, so I always felt that was the appropriate time — season’s over, you might be playing basketball, whatever, get your time to make your visits and go. But the data shows that there’s a lot of kids who made early decisions and they stayed true to those. That was my opinion on it, but the larger majority rules the day and we move on.”
THERE CERTAINLY WOODBEY AN OVERREACTION
When Ohio State landed a commitment from California four-star safety Jaiden Woodbey in early February, I mentioned how there were bound to be some ups and downs in his recruitment. And while he remains solid in his pledge, Woodbey — much like five-star quarterback commit Emory Jones — plans to take several official visits this fall to make sure Columbus is the right place for him.
“I’m still a solid commit to Ohio State, but my parents want me to look at all my options,” Woodbey told Rivals during a 7-versus-7 tournament this past weekend.
Woodbey has already mentioned Georgia and Oregon as potential destinations, but also added Oklahoma and TCU to the fold. The Sooners were among the four finalists — Nebraska and USC being the others — when he made the call three months ago.
“Oklahoma has always been lingering around,” Woodbey said. “I always wanted to just take a visit there and see what they’re talking about.”
Does that mean he's wavering in his commitment? Not in the slightest, as Woodbey recognizes the Buckeyes continuously send defensive backs to the National Football League. He's also formed a great relationship with Meyer and defensive coordinator Greg Schiano.
Naturally, Woodbey plans to take his official visit to Ohio State on Sept. 9, as the Sooners head to Columbus in hopes of avenging their 45-24 loss last season.
ANOTHER SEMINOLE WAR
Loganville, Georgia, Grayson four-star linebacker Owen Pappoe narrowed down his more than 40 scholarship offers late Sunday night, listing Ohio State in his Top 10 alongside Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Nebraska and Tennessee.
Top 10 pic.twitter.com/s1ZVFzEIZw
— Owen Pappoe (@opfreak15) May 14, 2017
“[Ohio State is] a school I've always been interested in ever since the eighth grade, and they always produce good linebackers,” Pappoe told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot, 207-pound Pappoe is considered the top-rated outside linebacker and No. 4 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 82 tackles and five sacks to lead the Rams to the state championship last fall. Three of his teammates have committed to Florida State in the last month, though, so the Seminoles have become the overwhelming favorite in his recruitment as of late.
“I would love to go to school with them, but I gotta make my decision based on what's best for me and my family,” Pappoe said.
Ohio State linebackers coach Bill Davis recently stopped by his school, and the two continue to forge a strong bond — the two speak with one another almost daily. If there's one program that could change the tides, I think it's the Buckeyes.
DAY'S ON HIS GRIND IN GEORGIA
In landing the aforementioned Jones and four-star defensive end Brenton Cox, Ohio State has shown it isn't afraid to go into Georgia and go nose-to-nose with southern powers for the best prospects in the country.
The Buckeyes will certainly be in for another battle when it comes to Saint Simons Island Frederica Academy four-star wide receiver Ja'shawn Sheffield and four-star athlete Jaylin Simpson, who received a visit from quarterbacks coach Ryan Day on Monday morning.
@ryandaytime thanks for stopping by today. O-H
— Jashawn Sheffield (@Jashawnsheff) May 15, 2017
“I got to speak with him briefly, then went and did some research on him,” Sheffield told Eleven Warriors. “Coach Day is smart and experienced [and] coached under some great coaches.”
The 6-foot-1, 178-pound Sheffield is considered the fifth-rated wideout and No. 25 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, having recorded 944 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns this season. He holds more than 20 offers but maintains that Clemson, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State are among his top schools.
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Simpson, meanwhile, is considered the 28th-best athlete and No. 227 prospect overall in the Class of 2019 and holds nearly a dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Ohio State and Tennessee. Though he's the less heralded of the two, he led the Knights last season in receptions, yardage, touchdowns and interceptions nonetheless.
Sheffield and Simpson made their first visit to Columbus for November's blowout win over Nebraska and have been eyeing a return trip ever since.
“Hopefully [we'll be back] this summer some time,” Sheffield said.
