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.
SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE
Clayton Northmont three-star defensive end Gabe Newburg committed to Michigan on Monday evening, just three days after he took an unofficial visit to Ohio State.
This has been my dream for so long.. BLESSED. #GoBlue @CoachJim4UM @CoachWash56 pic.twitter.com/UuErdggqcV
— Gabriel Newburg (@Gabe_Newburg) April 2, 2018
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Newburg is considered the 53rd-best weak-side defensive end and No. 799 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 58 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery to lead the Thunderbolts to the state playoffs last season. He picked the Wolverines over nearly a dozen offers from programs such as Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Harvard, Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio and Toledo.
The Buckeyes were a notable omission from that list, but Newburg hoped the staff would offer during Friday’s visit. While on campus, he spent a considerable amount of time with Meyer and defensive line coach Larry Johnson and much of the conversation revolved around just that.
“It went well,” Newburg told Eleven Warriors. “[Meyer] said he was very close on an offer with me. He kept talking about how much he liked me, even though I’m a Michigan fan. We’d talk and then he’d look at his assistants and say, ‘I like this kid.’ He said that a few times.”
Ohio State is only expected to take only one or two defensive ends this cycle, and five-star Zach Harrison and four-stars Ani Izuchukwu and Noah Potter are all higher priorities for the staff. So Meyer was honest with Newburg and asked him to be patient with the process.
Newburg admitted he has a ton of respect for Johnson and would love to play for a coach of his stature. But with an offer from his favorite school in hand, he wasn’t going to wait around for the Buckeyes to figure things out on their end.
“For me, when I find that right place and feel in my heart it’s the right decision, I’m gonna commit,” Newburg said. “I’m not waiting on anyone.”
MAYBE THIS WEEKEND?
St. Louis Cardinal Ritter College Prep four-star wide receiver Jameson Williams has a busy week ahead, with a trip to Los Angeles to see UCLA and USC on the docket before he returns to Columbus for a two-day visit beginning Sunday.
Im in Columbus Sunday !!! #GoBucks
— juiceman (@juicedupjameson) April 2, 2018
The 6-foot-2, 160-pound Williams is considered the 42nd-best wide receiver and No. 248 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he racked up 1,261 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns to lead the Lions to the second round of the state playoffs last season. He is also the state record-holder in the 300-meter hurdle, as his time of 37.28 seconds last spring broke the mark set by former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott.
This will mark Williams’ second time on campus since the Buckeyes offered him a scholarship last August, as he also attended the 48-3 win over Michigan State just a few months later. There, he spent time with Meyer, wide receivers coach Zach Smith, director of player personnel Mark Pantoni and assistant Keenan Bailey.
“The environment and the people outside of football [stand out],” Williams told Eleven Warriors shortly thereafter.
Williams recently celebrated his 17th birthday and listed Ohio State in his Top 8 that day alongside Alabama, Florida State, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Oregon, UCLA and USC. He recently visited the Crimson Tide and Ducks, as well, so I get the sense he’s closing in on a decision sooner rather than later.
That said, the Buckeyes remain the heavy favorite to land his pledge when the time comes.
A TINY CHANGE OF PLANS
Powder Springs, Georgia, Hillgrove four-star safety Jaylen McCollough was supposed to be on campus for an unofficial visit this weekend, but rescheduled at the last minute.
“I will be going up April 14,” McCollough told Eleven Warriors.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound McCollough is considered the fourth-best safety and No. 76 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as recorded 85 tackles, six pass break ups, three interceptions and three sacks for the Hawks to garner second-team all-state honors. He recently included Ohio State in his Top 7 alongside Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina back in January.
The Buckeyes extended an offer to McCollough last May and he made his first and only other trip to Columbus for the 39-38 win over Penn State in October.
“I went up for the Penn State game and I just fell in love with Ohio State,” McCollough said. “The coaching staff recruits me very hard. I get a text or call from a least one staff member daily. And the tradition is great.”
As mentioned, Meyer; defensive coordinator Greg Schiano; and co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Alex Grinch are in constant contact with McCollough. Former assistant coordinator Kerry Coombs was also instrumental in building a relationship with him early in the process.
“hey also check up on me outside of football,” McCollough said. “[They're] always making sure I stay on top of my grades and making sure my family and I are [doing] well.”
McCollough has been to Auburn, Columbia and Knoxville so far this spring and plans to narrow his list down to four sometime in the next few months. He’ll take his official visits in the fall with the plan to sign with and enroll early at the school of his choice.
A NAME TO REMEMBER
Ohio State welcomed Clinton Township, Michigan, Chippewa Valley three-star linebacker Marcel Lewis to campus on Monday afternoon.
THEE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY... pic.twitter.com/F5aCE56F6l
— 6 (@marcel1lewis) April 2, 2018
“It was really good,” Lewis told Eleven Warriors. “I loved the visit, got a chance to talk to all the coaching staff and learned a lot — not even about football, but outside of football.”
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Lewis is considered the 25th-best inside linebacker and No. 682 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 88 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss and three sacks to help the Big Reds to the state quarterfinals last season. He already holds nearly 20 offers from programs such as Cincinnati, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Purdue, and I get the sense more schools will start to take notice when he hits the camp circuit later this spring and into the summer.
This was Lewis’ first time on campus, though he’s been in contact with linebackers coach Bill Davis and cornerbacks coach and area recruiter Taver Johnson for several months.
“They told me they are highly interested in me,” Lewis said. “[Davis] loves my film and feels like I could fit in the defense perfectly. He told me that [an offer] is coming, just be patient.”
The coaches plan to visit Lewis at his school in the coming months to watch him work out. And if all goes well, the Buckeyes will have a great shot to land his pledge.
“It’s my dad’s dream school, and they would for sure be up on my top list of schools,” Lewis said. “If they offer, they would no doubt be in my Top 5.”
