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.
DENZEL 2.0?
Ohio State hosted more than a dozen prospects for an unofficial visit this weekend, including Macedonia Nordonia three-star cornerback Nyles Beverly.
Had an amazing visit at The Ohio State University #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/XnuhK6J5gK
— Nyles Beverly (@_nsb11) March 31, 2018
“It was great,” Beverly told Eleven Warriors. “The facilities were fantastic, as well as the campus, and I talked to coach [Urban] Meyer and coach [Taver] Johnson, which was really exciting.”
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Beverly is considered the 47th-best cornerback and No. 570 prospect overall in the Class of 2019. He’s seen his stock rise considerably over the last month though, which is why he holds nearly a dozen offers from programs such as Kentucky, Michigan, Pittsburgh, Purdue and Vanderbilt.
Meyer and Johnson outlined a path for Beverly to land an offer from the Buckeyes this summer, as well.
“They said that they are highly interested in me and want me to come back down to visit again soon,” Beverly said. “They want to get a chance to work with me and further evaluate me during summer camp.”
Beverly, unlike some in-state prospects we’ve discussed recently, isn’t put off by the fact that he has to prove himself to the staff. And if he’s able to earn an offer in the next few months, I have no doubt he’d commit to the Buckeyes on the spot or soon thereafter.
“It would mean a lot to me,” Beverly said. “I grew up an Ohio State fan, of course, so it’d be really special.”
MULTI-TALENTED PROSPECT
Grand Rapids, Michigan, East Kentwood four-star defensive end Bryce Mostella also made his first trip to campus on Friday afternoon.
On my way to Ohio State University!!
— Bryce Mostella (@bjm47kkwik) March 30, 2018
“It was great,” Mostella told Eleven Warriors. “We saw most of the football facilities, the weight room, the field and the indoor practice facility.”
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Mostella is considered the 12th-best weak-side defensive end and No. 243 prospect overall in the Class of 2020. He holds offers from Bowling Green, Indiana, Northern Illinois, Purdue, Toledo and a handful of other Mid-American Conference programs, but schools like Alabama, Auburn, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Penn State have taken notice, as well.
This marked Mostella’s first trip to Ohio State, and he was able to get some one-on-one time with Meyer and defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Now he’s on the path to landing an offer from the Buckeyes.
“They want people with winning mentalities,” Mostella said, noting how Ohio State has already offered a pair of his teammates in Wisconsin four-star offensive tackle commit Logan Brown and four-star defensive tackle Mazi Smith. “I just need to keep working on my craft, and if I go to a camp and perform well, that would put me in good standing [for an offer].”
Fun fact: Mostella is also a stellar xylophonist who lines up with his fellow percussionists in the band to perform at halftime of every game.
STEELE-ING FROM THE SOUTH
Roswell, Georgia, Blessed Trinity Catholic four-star athlete Steele Chambers was also on campus Friday, at which time he watched practice; toured the facilities and dorm rooms; met the dean of the business school; and had dinner with Meyer and his family.
“My visit went really well,” Chambers told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Chambers is considered the 31st-best athlete and No. 340 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he rushed for 1,301 yards and 23 touchdowns and recorded 70 tackles, six tackles for a loss, two sacks and one interception while leading the Titans to the state championship last season. He holds more than two dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Stanford, but programs seem to be torn on whether or not he’s a running back or outside linebacker at the next level.
Meyer, running backs coach Tony Alford, defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and linebackers coach Bill Davis will leave that decision up to Chambers, though.
“I had an awesome time meeting with the staff,” Chambers said. “The coaches provided me with their evaluation and, basically, it’s up to me to decide if I want to play offense or defense. I have a spot on both sides of the ball. That’s what I need to decide on now.”
Chambers, whose only other trip to campus was for the 39-38 win over the Nittany Lions last October, hopes to make a decision on his future before the start of his senior season. The Buckeyes are without a doubt among his top schools, but he’s unsure if he’ll make it back for an official visit before then thanks to a busy spring schedule that includes high school and travel baseball.
WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN
Once upon a time, Ohio State was considered the favorite to land a commitment from Allen, Texas, four-star quarterback Grant Tisdale. And given his desire to play alongside his teammate — four-star wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. — at the next level, the Buckeyes were sitting pretty for two of the Lone Star State’s best prospects.
Things have changed drastically in the months since, however.
Tisdale has slipped far behind Texas four-star Grant Gunnell and North Carolina four-star Sam Howell on the staff’s list of priorities to the point where he’s unlikely to take an official visit this spring. And Wease — who planned to make that trip with Tisdale — did not include Ohio State among his Top 5 schools. He instead listed Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and USC.
Happy birthday Mikey,
— Theo Wease Jr (@_TheoWeaseJr) April 1, 2018
Love you big bro... #RollTide #GeauxTigers #BoomerSooner#FightOn #GigEm pic.twitter.com/yZyOOtYPSO
Wease, a one-time Sooners commit, is considered the fifth-best wide receiver and No. 31 prospect overall in the Class of 2019. I anticipate both he and Tisdale will end up with the Aggies.
The Buckeyes, meanwhile, remain in the hunt for several other top-rated wideouts, including Indiana four-star David Bell; Texas four-star Jalen “Boobie” Curry and Garrett Wilson; St. Louis four-stars Marcus Washington and Jameson Williams; and Tennessee four-stars Trey Knox and Lance Wilhoite. They’re projected to have just four or so spots available this cycle.
