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.
SOONER THAN EXPECTED
Though Pennsylvania five-star defensive end Micah Parsons previously planned to attend Ohio State's Oct. 28 game against Penn State, he told Scout.com's Ed O'Brien he will instead use his official visit for this weekend's matchup with Oklahoma.
5-star DE Parsons Reveals Where He'll Take First Official Visit https://t.co/nx3Cnt58BR via @scoutmedia
— Coach Cleezy (@EdOBrienScout) September 4, 2017
The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Parsons, a former Penn State commit who is considered the top-rated weak-side defensive end and No. 5 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, is just one of dozens of high-profile prospects set to be in attendance — we'll, of course, have a full list for you on Friday afternoon. This will mark his sixth trip to Columbus in the last year, the most recent visit being for Friday Night Lights in July.
Parsons gave no reason for his change of plans, and the only discernible difference between the two matchups is an 8 p.m. kick as opposed to 3:30 in the afternoon. No matter, Saturday's visit is more so about defensive line coach Larry Johnson continuing to impove upon their relationship and show Parsons how much of a priority he truly is.
The bright side when it comes to Parsons, as illustrated by the fact that he's paid his way to Columbus several times in the past, there's a great chance he returns — unofficially — for the game against the Nittany Lions in late October, as well.
Parsons' only other scheduled official visit is for Nebraska's Oct. 7 game against Wisconsin. The Cornhuskers have made a significant push in his recruitment since he took an unofficial visit for their rendition of Friday Night Lights in late June. The perceived shift in culture on head coach Mike Riley and his relationship with commits like four-star safety Brendan “Bookie” Radley-Hiles has seemingly pushed Nebraska even with Ohio State in the race for his pledge.
Alabama, Florida State, Miami and Penn State will all vie for the three other official visits, though I wouldn't be surprised if the Nittany Lions don't get him on campus. I wrote the following shortly after he announced his intentions to officially visit Ohio State last month:
One thing to keep in mind is that the general feeling surrounding Parsons was that he'd either end up with the Buckeyes or re-up with the Nittany Lions. But with that, sources close to the Penn State program have told Eleven Warriors the Nittany Lions have only one spot along the defensive line open for the current recruiting cycle.
Surely they'd like to be in a position where they could land Parsons, New Jersey four-star Jayson Oweh and Cleveland Heights four-star Tyreke Smith, as Ohio State is — not to mention the already committed Brenton Cox. But maybe Parsons' indecisiveness on another trip to Happy Valley signifies they've either placed focus elsewhere or given up hope that he'll recommit?
Anyway, Parsons doesn't seem close to making a decision — though he does plan to graduate and enroll early at his school of choice. There are bound to be more ups and downs in his roller-coaster recruitment. Buckle up.
TAKING HIS TIME
There was an overwhelming belief for most of the summer that Mufreesboro, Tennessee, Blackman four-star wide receiver Trey Knox would pledge his services to Ohio State during or shortly after his unofficial visit for this weekend's game against Oklahoma. That's no longer the case.
“I think I'm gonna hold off and wait a little longer,” Knox told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Knox — who is considered the 19th-best receiver and No. 105 prospect overall in the Class of 2019 — wants to visit schools like Clemson, Florida and Tennessee again before he makes a decision ahead of his senior season. The Buckeyes' staff has been nothing but supportive of his new timeline, too.
“They are encouraging me to take trips because they want me to go where I can call home for three to four years,” Knox said.
Knox will be making the trip to Columbus this weekend with his family and three-star running back commit Master Teague III, his fourth visit in the last year.
“It's gonna be live and it's gonna be a great game,” he said.
The staff has laid its cards on the table when it comes to Knox's recruitment, showing him everything from campus life to how they see him fit into their plans. And they feel comfortable with where they stand, hence the support.
Now it's simply a matter of waiting until he's ready.
4s UP
When it comes to wide receivers from the current recruiting cycle, Ohio State has truly targeted only two prospects: St. Louis four-star Kamryn Babb and commit L'Christian “Blue” Smith. But one name that continued to be linked to the Buckeyes — as if he was just waiting for the staff to show genuine interest — was Nazareth, Pennsylvania, four-star wide Jahan Dotson.
That ship sailed on Monday night, though, when he committed to UCLA following an official visit for the Bruins' come-from-behind win over Texas A&M this weekend.
110% Committed .
— Jahan Dotson (@H55ZY) September 5, 2017
University of California Los Angeles pic.twitter.com/30JZMKQ1f1
The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Dotson — considered the 24th-best wideout and No. 118 prospect overall in the Class of 2018 — had been to Columbus four times in the last year, most recently for Friday Night Lights. But it only took one trip to Los Angeles to realize UCLA was the right place for him.
Dotson, who recently re-enrolled at Nazareth after spending his junior season at The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey, had long been considered a Penn State lean. Sources close to the program told Eleven Warriors he was set to commit to the Nittany Lions in June, but seemingly pulled back in hopes of a spot eventually opening up at Ohio State or Michigan.
Maybe he got tired of waiting?
HOMEGROWN TALENT
The visitor list for Saturday's game against Oklahoma continues to grow by the minute, and among the latest to inform Eleven Warriors of his intentions to attend is Northland running back John Branham Jr. His younger brother, Kalil, will tag along as well.
The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Branham attended Friday Night Lights in late July, but hadn't had much contact with the staff prior to that because of NCAA rules for underclassmen. Once the recruiting calendar permitted it on Sept. 1, though, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was among the first coaches to reach out.
“He keeps saying he thinks I can be the best running back in the state,” Branham said.
Branham is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites, but holds offers from Cincinnati, Kent State, Ohio and Toledo. Programs like Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State and USC have also shown early interest, especially after he rushed for 284 yards and three touchdowns and returned a kickoff 72 yards for a score in last weekend's 31-28 win over Whitehall.
He hopes you'll vote for him for Player of the Week, too.
