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.
ANOTHER DYNAMIC DUO?
Bradenton, Florida, IMG Academy four-star running back Noah Cain was back in Columbus with his father for a two-day visit that concluded on Friday evening.
“[It] went really good,” Cain told Eleven Warriors. “They were as real as they can get.”
The 5-foot-11, 209-pound Cain is considered the second-best running back and No. 32 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he rushed for 524 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Ascenders to their third-consecutive undefeated season last fall. He holds nearly 30 offers from programs such as Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas and Texas A&M, but his relationship with running backs coach Tony Alford has Ohio State at or near the top of his recruitment.
The Cains watched practice and spent a considerable amount of time with running back J.K. Dobbins and Alford, who was able to answer a number of questions they had about where the coach sees him fitting into the program. After all, the Buckeyes have a loaded depth chart at the position and already hold a commitment from Indiana four-star running back Sampson James.
“[They’re] just keeping it G [gangsta] with me every time I come up there and showing me the plan for me to make an impact if I choose there,” Cain said.
Previously, Cain said James’ pledge would not have an affect on his eventual decision, which he plans to make during the Early Signing Period in December.
“I would just beat him out like I would have to compete anywhere else,” he said.
Cain — who has been to campus numerous times in the past, including the loss to the Sooners last September — plans to narrow his list of offers down this summer and then return again in an official capacity this fall. At the very least, I expect the Longhorns and Tigers to make the cut and receive another visit, as well.
BEST OF THE BEST
Fort Lauderdale Cardinal Gibbons four-star defensive end Khris Bogle included Ohio State in his Top 14 on Saturday evening alongside Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and USC.
Stay Focused Youngin Stay Focused..
— K H R I S B O G L E (@khris_a1) April 1, 2018
They Only Criticize It Cause Yo Name On It !
41.....to 14 pic.twitter.com/nXmWBOQDRK
The 6-foot-4, 207-pound Bogle is considered the fifth-best defensive end and No. 79 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 70 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss, 13.5 sacks, one pass break up and one blocked field goal to lead the Chiefs to the regional finals last fall. He holds more than 40 offers from programs all over the country, but is certainly sought by the nation’s best.
The Buckeyes offered Bogle a scholarship last May, but he’s yet to make a trip to Columbus. The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are the heavy favorite in his recruitment thanks to proximity and six unofficial visits since last summer — and I don’t foresee that changing in the future.
TRY AGAIN LATER
It’s April, which means prospects can now take official visits through the Sunday before the last Wednesday in June. This calendar change was part of the recruiting reform legislation approved by the NCAA Division I Council last summer.
Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas four-star cornerback Jaden Davis was supposed to be among the first prospects to take advantage of the expedited process, but his official visit — set for next weekend — is now off. He’ll be instead traveling to Los Angeles with his 7-versus-7 team, the South Florida Express.
I will no longer be taking my official to Ohio State...I will be going to LA with @SouthFLExpress
— IV (@Jayd4_) April 1, 2018
The Buckeyes were also set to host Davis’ teammate, four-star cornerback Jordan Battle. He also confirmed to Eleven Warriors he’s unable to make it to Columbus because of the tournament.
"I can't [go] because of the trip to L.A.," he said.
They’re hoping to reschedule for later this spring, but nothing is set in stone just yet.
Battle’s visit, in particular, has been circled on the calendar for quite some time. Though it was supposed to be his first time on campus, he’s grown extremely close to wide receivers coach Zach Smith, defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, co-defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson and defensive line coach Larry Johnson from afar, and a commitment was not entirely out of the question.
DOESN’T WANT TO WAIT
On Saturday, Springfield four-star safety Moses Douglass opted to follow in his father’s footsteps and committed to Kentucky.
Maurice Douglass, who is also Moses’ head coach, played defensive back at Kentucky and went on to have an 11-year career in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and New York Giants.
Committed!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/X62yFU1rbi
— Moses Douglass (@MosesDouglass) March 31, 2018
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Douglass is considered the 24th-best safety and No. 312 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 65 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble at Springfield last season. He holds 30 offers from programs such as Alabama, Cincinnati, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, Tennessee and West Virginia, but Ohio State remains an obvious omission from that list.
Douglass and his teammates — three-star defensive tackle Isaiah Gibson and two-star wide receiver Michael Brown-Stephens — were in Columbus last Monday to watch practice. There, he spent time with head coach Urban Meyer and co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Alex Grinch, and they outlined the process for him to land an offer.
“[Meyer] and the staff believe that I can play there, but they basically said I have to come to a camp,” Douglass said.
Such is the case for many in-state prospects, and Douglass admitted it is a bit of a put off to have to prove himself following a third-team all-state junior year. Given his commitment to the Wildcats, I doubt he attends a one-day camp this summer. But if the Buckeyes ever did offer, they’d surely have a chance to flip his pledge.
“Get the home state offer… we lit,” Douglass said.
