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.
THANKS FOR BEING PATIENT
At about this time tomorrow, we'll know the fate of Dinwiddie, Virginia, four-star linebacker K'Vaughan Pope, who has long stated his desire to commit to Ohio State but was asked to hold off on making the call until the staff got a look at his final junior transcripts. He is scheduled to make his announcement at 6 p.m. on Friday in his high school's auditorium.
K'Vaughan Pope will be making announcement on his commitment Friday August 4th at 6 PM in the Dinwiddie HS auditorium
— Dinwiddie Football (@GeneralsFootbal) August 1, 2017
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Pope — considered the seventh-best inside linebacker and No. 168 prospect overall in the Class of 2018 — has been on commitment watch since he attended a one-day camp in Columbus in mid-June, where he worked with linebackers coach Bill Davis for the first time.
Pope told Eleven Warriors at Nike Football's The Opening Finals in early July he planned to commit soon after he flew back home from Oregon, as the above-mentioned transcripts were faxed over and awaiting Davis' review. But he announced shortly thereafter he was pushing back his commitment in order to visit a few other schools.
Then, just a few hours after a trip to Georgia later that month, Pope set his announcement date for tomorrow.
Typically, that might be a red flag, but the Bulldogs aren't even considered a serious threat to the Buckeyes' chances. It always has been — and I anticipate it will be — Ohio State for Pope. It was just a matter of making sure it was the right fit for both sides.
The Buckeyes already hold commitments from a pair of four-star linebackers in Teradja Mitchell — another highly touted Virginian — and Dallas Gant, but Pope's pledge wouldn't have an impact on any of their remaining targets at the position. California linebackers Solomon Tuliaupupu and Palaie Gaoteote are simply too good to stop pursuing, and if one of them wants to join the fold, the staff will certainly make the numbers work down the line.
FROM TARGET TO ENEMY
Though highly unlikely, Ohio State could land a pair of pledges tomorrow if Erie, Pennsylvania, Cathedral Prep four-star center Fredrick “Juice” Scruggs goes against public opinion and picks the Buckeyes over conference foe Penn State.
The 6-foot-3, 270-pound Scruggs — who is considered the second-best center and No. 196 prospect overall in the Class of 2018 — was among Ohio State's top targets at the position for much of the current recruiting cycle, and there was talk of a possible commitment during the Spring Game in mid-April. A pledge from New York four-star Matthew Jones in mid-June changed the scope of his recruitment, though, as Jones' versatility along the line and his ability to play the center position essentially rendered the staff's pursuit of Scruggs' useless.
In addition to Jones, Ohio State holds a commitment from Tennessee four-star Max Wray and seems confident in closing out its offensive line haul by chasing Fairfield five-star tackle Jackson Carman and Florida four-star tackle William Barnes through National Signing Day.
Penn State, meanwhile, is set on using Scruggs at guard, the position he'd reportedly rather play at the next level. And now that the Nittany Lions have given him the green light, it's seemingly only a matter of making his decision public.
AT THE VERY LEAST
Ohio State currently sits atop the 247Sports Composite Team Rankings, and it's easy to see why after MaxPreps released its 2017 preseason all-American teams earlier this week.
ICYMI: It's about go time.https://t.co/kzi4vCof8l pic.twitter.com/PK7zrT05Vw
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) August 2, 2017
At least five future Buckeyes are listed among the first-team offense and defense, including:
- Five-star running back commit Jaelen Gill
- Four-star tight end commit Jeremy Ruckert
- Five-star defensive tackle commit Taron Vincent
- Four-star linebacker commit Teradja Mitchell
- Four-star safety commit Jaiden Woodbey
Five-star defensive end commit Brenton Cox was named second-team all-defense, while several top targets are scattered throughout the list, as well, including:
- Atlanta five-star offensive guard Jamaree Salyer
- Fairfield five-star offensive tackle Jackson Carman
- Pennsylvania five-star defensive end Micah Parsons
- Las Vegas five-star linebacker Palaie Gaoteote
- California four-star linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu
- Houston five-star cornerback Anthony Cook
To think nearly half of Ohio State's potential haul for the Class of 2018 is among those listed is absolutely absurd. Of course, only time will tell how many actually end up with the Buckeyes, though.
ALOHA, BLUE
Though I'm still trying to convince my bosses to fly me to Hawaii for the second-annual Polynesian Bowl this January, my pitch got a little stronger on Wednesday when it was announced that Huber Heights Wayne four-star wide receiver L'Christian “Blue” Smith would play in the all-star game.
Aloha! We're proud to announce that 4-star WR L'Christian Smith (@bluesmith_) has committed to play in the 2018 Polynesian Bowl! #TheOpening pic.twitter.com/2jqOec2Lfl
— Polynesian Bowl (@polynesiabowl) August 2, 2017
The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Smith — who is set to choose between Ohio State and Kentucky later this month — will be joined in paradise by four-star running back commit Brian Snead and the aforementioned Ruckert, Parsons, Gaoteote and Tuliaupupu. And in case you're wondering how that's possible, only 75 percent of those selected for the game will actually have Polynesian ancestry.
What's even more awesome about the Polynesian Bowl is that, unlike the U.S. Army All-American Bowl or Under Armour All-America Game, each player receives travel accommodations, lodging and meals. The only hang up is that NCAA rules prevent early enrollees from playing in the game, so Smith and any other potential Buckeyes may not actually play.
Polynesian Bowl representatives have told me my credential is already waiting, so here's to hoping Smith's inclusion gives me a better chance at actually covering the game.
