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.
PUTTING THE RUMORS TO REST
When four-star safety Josh Proctor unexpectedly picked Ohio State over Oklahoma during the Spring Game in April, the Buckeyes knew they'd have to fend off the home-state Sooners all the way through the Early Signing Period. And though he did take an official visit to Norman this fall and speculation of a flip followed, he'll fax his National Letter of Intent to Columbus later this week.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/cqHyNN3iBM
— Josh (@Jproctor_2018) December 17, 2017
“It's Buckeye Nation at the Proctor residence,” Proctor's mother, LaVonia, told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Owasso native publicly remained firm in his pledge ever since he made his decision, even in the face of friends, teammates and teachers advocating for him to stay closer to home for college. Those same people will celebrate Proctor's decision, though, as the Rams are holding a ceremony in his honor on Tuesday afternoon.
“Owasso schools are out on Christmas break on Dec. 20, and they wanted the teammates to participate,” Mrs. Proctor said.
THERE ALL ALONG
Following an in-home visit on Saturday night from head coach Urban Meyer, defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and defensive line coach Larry Johnson, New Jersey four-star defensive end Jayson Oweh has reportedly narrowed his list of scholarship offers to two: Ohio State and Penn State.
@OSUCoachMeyer & Assistant @OSUCoachSchiano In The Here At #HGShowcase pic.twitter.com/6xC4OR4Bpi
— Hoop Group (@TheHoopGroup) December 16, 2017
“It shows how much they want me, and I guess I needed that,” Oweh told 247Sports. “For them to come to a basketball game, that was really good.”
This marked the Buckeyes' final pitch to the 6-foot-5, 236-pound Oweh — who was on the verge of committing to the staff during Friday Night Lights this summer, but decided he wanted to take more time to evaluate his options — before he announces his college decision during the Under Armour All-America Game on Jan. 4. He briefly considered offers from Michigan and Notre Dame, but make no mistake, it's always been a two-horse race between Ohio State and Penn State.
Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin and defensive line coach Sean Spencer also conducted their in-home earlier in the week, on the same day they were supposed to meet with fellow four-star defensive end Tyreke Smith. As you know by now, Smith cancelled two visits with the coaches last week, and all signs now point toward him choosing Ohio State next month.
Penn State currently has eight defensive ends on the roster, a number which would reach double digits if it lands Oweh and five-star Micah Parsons. Surely that crowded depth chart — compared to the Buckeyes' lack of depth at the position — played a big role in Smith's change of heart. But you also have to wonder how much he was impacted by the rumors about Johnson's possible retirement, which the coach emphatically shot down on Friday afternoon.
Oweh admitted some schools have been using that as ammunition against the Buckeyes, but it's unlikely we'll ever find out which schools. For what it's worth, sources close to Smith told Eleven Warriors Penn State was not one of those schools.
“A lot of people were saying coach Johnson was going to leave, so you have to keep that in perspective,” Oweh said. “I talked to him about it a lot. He reassured me that he is not leaving. That's really important. I didn't think he was [leaving] at first, but then a lot of people started telling me he was old.”
Though Oweh has a great relationship with Johnson and Schiano, I anticipate he'll choose the Nittany Lions next month.
DIDN'T WANT TO WAIT
When Ohio State offered Chattanooga, Tennessee, Baylor School three-star offensive tackle Walker Culver during his official visit last month, a flurry of 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions were placed in favor of the Buckeyes. After all, his versatility and ability to play any position along the offensive line could have tremendously helped a unit plagued by a lack of depth.
But after Meyer and offensive line coach Greg Studrawa suggested Culver hold off on a commitment as Ohio State worked out the numbers, he decided to pledge his services to Virginia Tech following his official visit on Sunday evening.
I am thankful for all of the great schools and coaches that have recruited me and I am proud to say I am committed to Virginia Tech! #ExitLight18 pic.twitter.com/l3ihOp75QD
— Walker Culver (@WalkerCulver58) December 18, 2017
The Buckeyes, who already hold a commitment from four-star Max Wray, have long planned to take three offensive tackles this cycle. But with Fairfield five-star Jackson Carman and Maryland four-star Rasheed Walker above him on the priority chart and still undecided, the staff took a wait-and-see approach with Culver — and he didn't want to be anyone's second option.
“Virginia Tech is just the best overall fit for me,” Culver told 247Sports. “Coach [Justin] Fuente and coach [Vance] Vice did a great job of building relationships with me and my family for a long time, and they have always been honest and straightforward with us. The whole coaching staff is awesome and seems to work together like a family. I’m excited to have the opportunity to be a part of the program.”
