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.
LET'S DO IT AGAIN
Ohio State landed three of the top six players from the state of Texas earlier this year, a feat that's not going to be easy to repeat in 2018. If there's any school that can do it, though...
The Buckeyes are already among the leaders for Houston Lamar five-star cornerback Anthony Cook and recently made the cut for Houston Alief Taylor five-star wide receiver Brennan Eagles. On Thursday night, four-star wide receiver Al'vonte Woodard — Cook's teammate — also included Ohio State in his Top 5 alongside LSU, Ole Miss, Texas and Texas A&M.
Now wouldn't that be quite the haul?
TOP 5! TOP 5! TOP 5! pic.twitter.com/aogqou6E43
— A.Woodard (@Vonte_4) May 26, 2017
The 6-foot-1, 193-pound Woodard is considered the 12th-best wideout and No. 70 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, as he caught 42 passes for 909 yards and 15 touchdowns to help the Texans to the third round of the state playoffs last season.
The Longhorns, naturally, are the overwhelming favorite to land Woodard's pledge, but he doesn't plan on making a decision on his future until after his senior season. He'll take an official visit to Columbus this fall, which will undoubtedly put the Buckeyes in the conversation late — and it could possibly be a package deal.
ONLY A MATTER OF TIME?
Since Meyer's first recruiting class at Ohio State in 2012, we've seen a gradual decline in the number of in-state prospects signing with the Buckeyes. And even though that number dipped from 16 to seven this year, it's hard to argue with the staff's approach given the fact that the 2017 recruiting class is arguably the greatest haul of all time — that is unless you'd rather see a three-star defensive end from Toledo in the class instead of a five-star from Maryland.
The staff typically hands out offers to out-of-state prospects first for two reasons: 1. You have to get your foot in the door earlier in process because of distance and the lack of a relationship with the players and their families, and 2. A kid from any corner of Ohio is 10 times more likely to commit the moment an offer is extended.
That strategy goes out the window, though, when one of the best players in the country is in Ohio State's back yard. Such is the case with Cincinnati Anderson offensive guard Zeke Correll, whom Meyer offered over the phone on Thursday night.
I AM JUICED to announce that I just got offered by THE Ohio State University!!!! GO BUCKEYES BABY #GoBucks #BuckeyeNation pic.twitter.com/fmXngKHSFi
— Zeke Correll (@zekecorrell) May 25, 2017
“It's been an awesome experience [getting to know the staff],” Correll told Eleven Warriors. “I really like the coaches. They are very personable and are all in for the Bucks. I'm looking forward to building relationships with them.”
The 6-foot-4, 270-pound Correll is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites, but there's no doubt in my mind that he's going to be one of the best prospects in the country for the Class of 2019 after seeing him hold his own against Cincinnati Walnut Hills four-star defensive tackle Jowon Briggs at Nike Football's The Opening Cleveland Regional last month. He also holds offers from programs such as Cincinnati, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Northwestern and Vanderbilt.
So, being an in-state kid, did Correll have any thoughts of committing on the spot?
“[I] definitely have to venture all of my options before making any decisions to go anywhere,” he said, “but I am definitely going back for a visit sometime [soon]. Building relationships with coaches is the key to a successful recruitment and maybe even your future team.”
Correll plans to be back on campus for a one-day camp next month, which will mark his third trip to Columbus in as many months.
MY TWO CENTS
I've talked at length about Ohio State's pursuit of Murfressboro, Tennessee, Blackman three-star running back Master Teague III. And while I fully expect him to get an offer from the Buckeyes in the coming weeks, I want to take a minute to discuss his teammate, four-star wide receiver Trey Knox, too.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Knox is considered the 21st-best receiver and No. 137 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he hauled in 54 receptions for 669 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Blaze last season. He holds offers from Florida, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Mississippi State, Ohio State, South Carolina and Tennessee, among others, but previously told me the Buckeyes and Gators stand out early in the process.
The staff has been in constant contact with Knox since offering him a scholarship following his visit for the win over Northwestern last season, and running backs coach Tony Alford has traveled to Tennessee a handful of times this offseason to meet with his coaches or watch him practice. Knox also returned to Columbus for a spring practice last month, at which time he toured the facilities and had a sit down with Meyer.
It's clear forging a relationship with Knox and his family is a priority for the staff, and that's why I recently placed my 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction in favor of the Buckeyes.
“He's nearly a lock to Ohio State,” a source told Eleven Warriors. “Florida was his childhood school, but they don't cover their bases like Ohio State's staff. Nobody does it like [director of player personnel Mark] Pantoni and Urban, and it's not close. Their whole life seems to be recruiting.”
There are a lot of talented receivers in the Class of 2019, but Knox looks every bit the part of a go-to wideout. He's expected to attend camp this summer, and I wouldn't be surprised one bit if he became the Buckeyes' first pledge at that time.
PLENTY OF OPTIONS
Ohio State quarterbacks coach Ryan Day offered a scholarship on Friday morning to Port Neches, Texas, Groves four-star Roschon Johnson.
Truely honored and extremely blessed to recieve an offer from The Ohio State University!! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/0omAcmetRy
— r_johnson1 (@RoschonJ) May 26, 2017
“[I] definitely was pretty excited,” Johnson told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-1, 192-pound Johnson is considered the third-best dual-threat quarterback and No, 143 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 2,364 yards and 29 touchdowns through the air and 1,653 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground for the Indians last season.. He holds more than a dozen offers from programs such as Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Texas A&M.
Day has now offered scholarships to the top four dual-threat quarterbacks in the 2019 cycle, including Allen four-star Grant Tisdale, whom I've already pegged to land with the Buckeyes after talking with sources close to the program. That said, it's probably still too early to guess how the quarterback chase will transpire over the next year or so.
“I just got his number last week [so] I'm just now really getting to know him,” Johnson said.
