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.
IN EVERYONE'S TOP FIVE
Ohio State already holds commitments from five-star Taron Vincent and four-star junior college transfer Antwuan Jackson and remains in among the favorites to land Idaho four-star Tommy Togiai, but that didn't stop Ramsey, New Jersey, Don Bosco Prep four-star defensive end Tyler Friday from including the Buckeyes in his Top 5 on Monday night alongside Miami, Michigan, Penn State and UCLA.
— Big Smooth (@almighty_ty5) November 7, 2017
The 6-foot-3, 263-pound Friday is considered the third-best defensive tackle and No. 64 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, as he was named second-team all-state after helping the Ironmen to the state semifinals last season. The Buckeyes were among the first programs to offer him a scholarship in December 2015, but his only trip to Columbus came this past March.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines' success in recruiting Top 100 prospects from the Garden State in recent years — having landed Jabrill Peppers in 2014, Rashan Gary in 2016 and Cesar Ruiz in 2017 — has most believing Friday will end up in Ann Arbor. If the Buckeyes miss out on Togiai, who is expected to make his decision in early December, they may be able to make a push late in the process.
Friday has not taken any official visits and is expected to wait until February to make a final decision. That certainly plays in Ohio State's favor.
LIVING HIGH SCHOOL LIFE TO THE FULLEST
Football season may be over for Ohio State four-star wide receiver commit L'Christian "Blue" Smith, as Huber Heights Wayne fell to Pickerington North in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday evening. But that doesn't mean he's done suiting up for the Warriors just yet.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound Smith announced on Monday afternoon he will no longer enroll in classes in Columbus this winter and will instead play basketball. He will still graduate next month and sign with the Buckeyes during the December Signing Period, but will take a course at Sinclair Community College in Dayton to remain eligible in the meantime.
After talking to the man above...I have decided to hoop my senior season..!!!!
— BLUE (@bluesmith_) November 6, 2017
Smith, who will now arrive at Ohio State in June, finished his senior season on the gridiron with 869 yards and nine touchdowns receiving. He set the Ohio High School Athletic Association record for consecutive games with at least one catch in his final game, passing Minster's Bryce Schmiesing with a reception in 45-straight contests.
There was the belief that Smith may play both sports in college, but he decided last summer to focus solely on football. He led the Wayne on the hardwood last season with 17 points and 10 rebounds per game, and held offers from elite programs such as Georgetown, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse and UCLA, among a handful of others.
NOT LOOKING GOOD ON OLE ROCKY TOP
Knoxville, Tennessee, Catholic five-star offensive tackle Cade Mays announced on Tuesday morning he was reopening his recruitment, backing off of his two-year commitment to the home-state Volunteers.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Please respect my decision. pic.twitter.com/ANvoIpP1Bf
— Cade Mays (@_mayc2) November 7, 2017
With the program sitting at 4-5 overall and dead last in the SEC East, plenty of speculation has surrounded head coach Butch Jones. Several commits have started to look around, and Mays becomes the third to back off his pledge in the last month.
Now, Ohio State has the first chance to make an impression on Mays following his decommitment, as he’s set to take an official visit for Saturday’s game. From last night’s edition of The Hurry Up:
The 6-foot-6, 318-pound Mays — who is considered the second-best offensive tackle and No. 15 propsect overall in the Class of 2018 — has never been to Columbus. He doesn’t have an offer from the staff yet, either. But with uncertainty surrounding five-star target Jackson Carman and the staff's desire to add at least one more offensive tackle to fold, Mays is certainly an attractive option.
It's seems as if he's pretty excited to get up to Ohio, too.
“I’ve actually never been up north, so getting up there is going to be pretty special,” Mays told Buckeye Sports Radio.
“I’ve heard Columbus is unbelievable. I’ve heard the atmosphere there is great. The people there are great. It’s a college city. So, I’m excited to get up there and talk to Urban Meyer in person, and Coach [Greg] Stud[rawa] too. I actually met Coach Stud not to long ago. I’m just excited to get up there and get around some of the players, some of the recruits, and just seeing what they’re about up there.”
I'm not sure Ohio State can overcome Mays' proximity to Clemson and Georgia, but that's not going to stop the staff from rolling out the red carpet this weekend. He visited the Bulldogs last weekend and plans to see the Tigers in December, but I also wouldn't rule out a return to the Volunteers, either.
His father and uncle both played at Tennessee, with the former once being named a team captain. If the Volunteers cut ties with Jones sooner rather than later and bring on a great coach to replace him — let's say someone like Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano — the chances of that happening only increase.
KERRY COOMBS’ SPECIALTY
Ohio State will also welcome Detroit Martin Luther King wide receiver Rashawn Williams to campus this weekend, marking his first time on campus since the Buckeyes extended an offer during a one-day camp in June.
Ohio State This Weekend #Buckeyes #Zone6
— Rashawn Williams (@troule19) November 7, 2017
“I’m excited to be around the atmosphere and watch the Buckeyes get the win,” Williams told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Williams — like most prospects from the Class of 2020 — is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites, but already holds offers from Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Kentucky, Syracuse and Temple, as well.
