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.
RIDING A WAVE OF MOMENTUM IN SOUTH FLORIDA
Ohio State already holds one commitment from Fort Lauderdale American Heritage in four-star defensive end Andrew Chatfield, and could potentially land as many as four Patriots in the 2018 cycle. That includes four-star cornerback Tyson Campbell, who is one of the Buckeyes' top targets at the position.
“I would say the coaches [stand out]. The way they treat their players, getting them set for life after football,” Campbell told Eleven Warriors at Nike Football's The Opening Finals earlier this week. “The production of their defensive backs [stands out], too.”
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Campbell has only been to campus once — “It's a huge campus. I really enjoyed myself,” he said — but the staff has found ways to make its presence felt despite the distance. Assistant coordinator Kerry Coombs was in South Florida this spring to watch him scrimmage, and head coach Urban Meyer and wide receivers coach and area recruiter Zach Smith texted him to wish him well ahead of the prestigious camp.
“I talk to them almost every day. We talk about life. Football sometimes,” said Campbell, who ran a 4.27-second 40-yard dash during the fastest man event on Saturday. “Really, it's just about what would happen if I went to Ohio State and how I would fit in.”
Alabama, Clemson, LSU and Miami are also schools Campbell is seriously considering, but the Buckeyes and Hurricanes seemed to have separated themselves from the pack. It certainly helps Ohio State's chances to have Chatfield already in the fold.
“Andrew's just chill, but he talks about how he loves the school and how it's a great school,” Campbell said.
Campbell, the third-best cornerback in the nation, doesn't plan to make a decision on his future anytime soon. He hopes to cut his list of schools down in the near future and then take all five official visits.
“I'm just taking it day by day,” he said.
ANCHORING THE DEFENSIVE FRONT
Ohio State finally put to rest the narrative that it couldn't land a massive defensive tackle target when IMG Academy five-star Taron Vincent picked the Buckeyes over Florida State in early April. It was Vincent's relationship with defensive line coach Larry Johnson, which goes all the way back to his eighth grade year, that gave Ohio State the nod.
“He just had a plan set out for my future and just had everything in line for me. Had my goals set for me, and that kind of just sealed the deal for me," Vincent told Eleven Warriors at The Opening, noting he's aiming to become a freshman all-American and Big Ten Freshman of the Year, major in sports medicine and become an athletic trainer. "Just me being comfortable and my parents being comfortable with trusting this man that's going to be able to develop me as a player and as a man.”
The 6-foot-2, 285-pound Vincent was excited to be able to spend a couple days with seven other Ohio State commits and several top targets because it offers a taste of things to come over the next few years.
“Just building a relationship and a bond so we're all fluent with each other [once we get to Columbus]," he said.
Alabama and Florida State continue to recruit him, but Vincent said he's done with the recruiting process and doesn't plan on taking any visits this fall.
BATTLING THE BULLDOGS ONCE MORE
Vincent gained a very talented teammate in January when Georgia five-star defensive end Nolan Smith II transferred to IMG Academy. Ohio State offered him a scholarship during the spring evaluation period, and Vincent and four-star defensive end commit Brenton Cox were recruiting him a bit this past weekend.
“Brenton and I, we're both from Georgia, and we got a connection just being from the state we represent,” Smith told Eleven Warriors at The Opening. “I just look up to him. He's my dog. He's recruiting me, and I really take that into consideration because he's one of the big dogs.”
The 6-foot-3, 223-pound Smith is considered the second-best weak-side defensive end and No. 3 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 75 tackles, 27 quarterback hurries, 16 tackles for a loss and 12 sacks at Savannah's Calvary Day last season. He committed to Georgia in January over offers from Alabama and LSU, among others, but hopes to make his first visit to Columbus this fall.
“Ohio State is big,” Smith said. “That's the only Big Ten school I'm looking at.”
The aforementioned Johnson took a liking to Smith while in Bradenton to watch the Vincent practice, which is when he offered. Smith gave a glowing review of the defensive line coach, as well.
“I heard he's a good person,” he said. “I asked Taron a lot about him because I've never made it up there. Hopefully I will soon.”
It'll be difficult to flip him from the Bulldogs, but given the Buckeyes' recent success recruiting the Peach State and Smith's already established relationships, it's surely setting up to be a battle over the next year and a half. In talking to Smith, it's easy to see why Johnson is one of his biggest fans.
“I take care of the small things. Big things take care of themselves,” Smith said. “ou can't worry about the sack, you gotta worry about getting past the person in front of you first, then you can think about the sack. I just take care of the small things [like] hand placement, using your eyes and getting off the ball. Everything else will take care of itself.”
