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.
IT'S A YEAR-ROUND BUSINESS
Earlier this month, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer briefly discussed his thoughts on college football's new early signing period that will go into effect this December. He'd been an outspoken opponent of the proposal since it was introduced, but lightened his stance considerably when put on the spot by the local ABC affiliate at a charity event.
“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.”
Meyer again offered his opinion in an interview with Cleveland.com on Wednesday, and with more time to gather his thoughts on the matter, backtracked a bit on early visits.
“I think the biggest issue is going to be the early visits now in April, May and June,” Meyer said. “Our coaches just went through spring practice and I took away every one of their Saturdays for spring practice. Then immediately after that they went on the road and the only time they can see their families is Saturday and Sunday. A lot of us coaches don't necessarily like all this early stuff, and now we're going to be in the office for official weekends [in the summer].
“When does a coach — this may not be important to some people, but it's very important to me — when does a coach get to go watch his daughter play softball?”
Meyer, as you all know, signed a contract written by his daughter, Nicki, upon taking the head coaching gig at Ohio State. Above all else, the contract states that his family comes first.
Maintaining that work-life balance won't get any easier with the new rules in place, which is why I'm one of the few people who voted in our poll yesterday convinced Meyer has only two or three years left in Columbus before he hangs up his headset for good.
MOTHER KNOWS BEST
Though Laurinburg, North Carolina, Scotland County five-star running back Zamir White is set to make his college decision a month from Saturday, he doesn't get too wrapped up in the recruiting process like so many other top prospects. He's never asked for Twitter followers, rarely grants interview requests and just goes about his business on and off the football field.
His mother, Shanee, has sort of become his official spokesperson as a result. The two are very close, as I've detailed previously, and she's been at Zamir's side for trips to Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State this spring.
“It was nice up there,” Shanee White told Dawgs247 when asked about her first trip to Columbus. “All the coaches are real nice guys and all of them seem down to earth. Urban Meyer, I met him and we sat in his office and talked, and then we went to the game. He was out there trying to get my attention in the middle of the game. [I'd] never seen that before.
“I think it's a good program,” she continued. “A nice place, a good atmosphere [and] their fans are crazy. Their fans are everywhere for just the spring game.”
Most prognosticators, including myself, believe White will pick the Bulldogs next month because they were one of the first programs to offer him a scholarship and campus isn't all that far away from home. His mom is a big fan, too, and it's hard to see him going against her favorite team on her big day.
“I want him to make his own decision because if he gets there and does not like it, he is going to stay because it he chose it,” Shanee said. “It is going to be his decision [though] I tell him what I think of each program because I am pretty good at reading people.
“I think [his decision] is going to be about family,” she continued. “Zamir likes to be around his family. He is a momma's boy. I think it is going to boil down to can momma get to me or not.”
She didn't seem too keen on the eight-hour trip to Columbus, either.
“It's something you have to get used to because once you go through West Virginia, all those country roads, it seems like it takes forever to get out of there.”
Those close to the program told Eleven Warriors that Ohio State continues to feel confident in its chances, though, which is why my colleague Andrew Ellis placed his 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction in favor of the Buckeyes yesterday. If the staff can convince White's mother that her flight from Charlotte to Columbus would take the same amount of time as her trip to Athens, maybe then they'll have a chance to pull the upset.
TOP TIGHT END IN THE CLASS, IMO
Ohio State didn't take a single tight end in this year's recruiting class, so the staff would like to add two in 2018.
It's widely assumed Lindenhurst, New York, four-star Jeremy Ruckert will be one, but Missouri City, Texas, Ridge Point four-star Mustapha Muhammad could certainly be the other, as he included the Buckeyes in his Top 10 on Wednesday night alongside Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA and USC.
From 36 to 10... Let's Get it
— Mustapha (@MustaphaM_) May 25, 2017
I would like to announce my official Top of schools of interest..
Please respect my decision.#DNA pic.twitter.com/43QltpHLDD
“Their success [is a big reason],” Muhammad told Eleven Warriors. “Seems like they just find a way to win games [and] I want to win at the next level.”
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Muhammad is considered the 4th-best tight end and No. 91 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, having recorded 29 receptions for 430 yards and four touchdowns in the Panthers' run-heavy offense last season.
Michigan has become the presumed favorite since his trip to Ann Arbor for the Spring Game last month, but Muhammad remains high on Ohio State, as well. He was in Columbus for the Buckeyes' double-overtime win over the Wolverines last November, and hopes to return again this summer.
“Coach [Kevin] Wilson, [Urban] Meyer, [Mark] Pantoni and a lot of other assistants [keep in touch],” Muhammad said. “They just keep me updated with info about the university and program.”
Muhammad plans to narrow things down to five schools on Aug. 10, his birthday.
GOTTA GET DOWN ON FRIDAY
Ramsey, New Jersey, Don Bosco Prep four-star defensive tackle Tyler Friday also narrowed things down on Wednesday evening, listed Ohio State in his Top 15 alongside Alabama, Boston College, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Penn State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, UCLA and Virginia Tech.
Updated TOP 15 (No order ) pic.twitter.com/hyrCLCLa6w
— Big Smooth (@almighty_ty5) May 25, 2017
The 6-foot-3, 263-pound Friday is considered the fourth-best defensive tackle and No. 56 rospect overall in the Class of 2018. The Wolverines are considered the heavy favorite for Friday, as well, though he has been to Columbus twice since the Buckeyes offered in December 2015.
Ohio State already holds a commitment from five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent and remains in pursuit of four-stars Aeneas Hawkins and P.J. Mustipher, both of whom sit higher on the staff's board than Friday at the moment.
THEY MAKE EVERYONE'S TOP 10 LIST, HUH?
Orlando, Florida, Dr. Phillips three-star offensive tackle John Campbell also released his Top 10 on Thursday afternoon, at which time he listed Ohio State alongside Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Miami, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee and UCLA.
Top 10 Schools pic.twitter.com/yoGZkZhgaZ
— John Campbell (@_jcamp74) May 25, 2017
The 6-foot-5, 284-pound Campbell is considered the 29th-best offensive tackle and No. 380 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He's never been to campus, and the Hurricanes are considered the favorite in his recruitment.
Of course, Ohio State already holds a commitment from Tennessee four-star offensive tackle Max Wray and remains in the hunt for five-star Jackson Carman, but the staff will likely want to take a third tackle thanks to the overall lack of depth at the position. We'll have to see if the staff can convince Campbell to make a trip to Columbus.
GOING FOR TWO IN A ROW
Much to everyone's surprise, Ohio State went into Oklahoma last month and landed a commitment from Owasso four-star safety Josh Proctor. The Buckeyes would like do it all over again next year, which is why defensive coordinator Greg Schiano offered a scholarship on Wednesday night to Tulsa Booker T. Washington four-star safety Daxton Hill.
Blessed to have received my 10 offer from Ohio State University!! pic.twitter.com/6nBEtGqt4W
— #DaxHill (@daxhill5) May 24, 2017
“I was [excited] knowing they've been the top football program for many years,” Hill told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-2, 182-pound Hill is considered the second-best safety and No. 29 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he pitched in 67 tackles and two interceptions for the Hornets last season. He also holds offers from Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Texas, TCU and Tulsa.
Hill hopes to visit Ohio State for the first time this summer and then return for a game this fall.
