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.
COME TO PENN STATE
Though he gave Eleven Warriors advance notice at The Opening Finals last week, Cleveland Heights four-star defensive end Tyreke Smith announced on Tuesday he will not be attending Ohio State's Friday Night Lights camp in two weekends.
I will not be able to make Ohio states Friday Night Lights...But I will be back in Columbus soon
— Tyreke Smith (@T_23_baller) July 11, 2017
The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Smith will instead be in California, visiting his mother's side of the family and checking out USC's campus for the first time — something that has been planned for a while. While it would be great for the Buckeyes to get him on campus, he's been a regular visitor and isn't in a position where he needs to compete at the camp to earn his spot in the class.
Smith, the fourth-best weak-side defensive end and No. 88 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, recently revealed a Top 5 of Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and USC. Of all the schools listed, though, this is shaping up to be a battle between only the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions.
Neither school is pressuring Smith to commit, and he doesn't necessarily have a timetable just yet. Head coach Urban Meyer has made it known, though, that he is a priority and the staff would prefer him to do it sooner rather than later.
I fully expect Ohio State to win out, given the staff's ability to put players into the National Football League and the opportunities they've created for players after football, but Smith's relationship — and his family's relationship — with Penn State head coach James Franklin is not something to take lightly.
The Nittany Lions are in a great spot, and their staff has a chance at this weekend's Lasch Bash to convince Smith that State College is the place for him.
It's a rather large recruiting weekend for Penn State, too, as several of the nation's top prospects are set to be on campus. Other Ohio State targets expected to be in attendance include:
- 2018 New Jersey four-star defensive end Jayson Oweh
- 2018 Maryland four-star defensive tackle P.J. Mustipher
- 2018 Maryland four-star offensive tackle Rasheed Walker
- 2018 Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller four-star defensive tackle Aeneas Hawkins
- 2019 Olentangy Orange five-star defensive end Zach Harrison
- 2019 Virginia four-star defensive end Brandon Smith
- 2019 New Jersey four-star athlete Ronnie Hickman
If you're interested in hearing more about the Lasch Bash, follow along with our friends at Roar Lions Roar. There's bound to be something that happens that impacts Ohio State.
ANOTHER B1G BATTLE
Nazareth, Pennsylvania, four-star wide receiver Jahan Dotson is among the ever-growing list of prospects set to attend Ohio State's Friday Night Lights camp on July 21 — of course, we'll have a full list in the days preceding the event.
This will mark the fourth trip to campus for the 5-foot-11, 165-pound Dotson in the last year, which includes the double-overtime win over Michigan last November and a spring practice in early April. He is considered the 20th-best receiver and No. 106 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, as he's racked up nearly 2,500 receiving yards and more than 30 touchdowns in his three-year varsity career.
Dotson, who recently re-enrolled at Nazareth after spending his junior season at The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, has long been considered a Penn State lean. Sources close to the program tell Eleven Warriors he was set to commit to the Nittany Lions last month, but seemingly pulled back in hopes of a spot opening up at Ohio State or Michigan.
The Buckeyes are currently chasing only one true wide receiver in St. Louis four-star Kamryn Babb and Huber Heights Wayne four-star athlete L'Christian “Blue” Smith expects to play out wide at the next level despite talk of lining up at tight end. With Ohio State the favored destination spot for both, it's unlikely Dotson ends up in Columbus, too. But, then again, he could find a way to sneak into the class with a great performance in Ohio Stadium next Friday.
Dotson has no plans to make a decision on his future at this time, so there's still time to see where he could potentially fit into the class.
JUST FOR APPEARANCES
As you all know well by now, not every school included in a prospect's top schools list is on the same footing. Sometimes players adds elite programs despite not having a committable offer to make their list better. It happens often, especially for a team like Ohio State.
Such is the case with Tampa Hillsborough three-star cornerback Ken Montgomery Jr., who listed the Buckeyes in his Top 4 over the weekend alongside Alabama, Penn State and UCLA and shared a commitment date of July 27.
July 27th I will be committing on @SpecSportsFL
— Ken Montgomery Jr (@KenKensmiley5) July 8, 2017
Alabama
Ohio State
Penn state
UCLA
“My relationship with the staff is very consistent and the defensive backs they produce,” Montgomery told Eleven Warriors when asked about his interest in Ohio State.
The 6-foot-2, 155-pound Montgomery is considered the 37th-best cornerback and No. 395 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, as he recorded 30 tackles, 10 pass break ups and a forced fumble for the Terriers last season. Defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and assistant coordinator Kerry Coombs offered him a scholarship following an in-school visit with his coach in January, but he hasn't been to campus in the months since.
Montgomery said that wouldn't stop him from committing, but it's hard to see where he would fit into Ohio State's plans. The Buckeyes already hold a commitment from four-star cornerback Sevyn Banks and are among the favorites for Texas five-star Anthony Cook and Florida five-star Tyson Campbell.
All that said, this seems to be a two-horse race between the Bruins and Nittany Lions.
“[It'll come down to] communication with the coaches,” Montgomery said when asked about his decision."
