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.
NEXT IN LINE
Norfolk, Virginia, Maury four-star cornerback Sheridan Jones made his first trip to Columbus last week for a two-day unofficial visit. He was joined by his mother, Patrice.
All Flights Cancelled #BIA #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/vpLu0aPeB5
— SHERIDAN JONES (@SJones3_) March 30, 2018
“It went really good,” Jones told Eleven Warriors. “The practice was the best part.”
The 6-foot, 170-pound Jones is considered the 17th-best cornerback and No. 139 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 26 tackles, 10 pass break ups, two interceptions, one defensive touchdown, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery last season at Virginia Beach Bishop Sullivan, where he was a teammate of Buckeyes four-star linebacker signee Teradja Mitchell.
Jones — who recently included Ohio State in his Top 7 alongside Alabama, Clemson, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech — received the red-carpet treatment with tours of Ohio Stadium, the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and the student-athlete dorm rooms. He also spent time with head coach Urban Meyer, defensive coordinator Greg Schiano and cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson.
“[They told me] that they pretty much breed defensive backs and they can see me perfectly at their school — not only athletically, but academically and spiritually,” Jones said.
Jones plans to visit all seven of his finalists before making a decision on his future. And though Columbus was the second stop on the trip, the Buckeyes made a last impression.
“They’re in a pretty good position,” Jones said.
TAKING HIS TIME
Ohio State also recently welcomed Cincinnati St. Xavier four-star offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. to campus for an unofficial visit, his fourth trip to Columbus since the Buckeyes offered him a scholarship in early December.
He was also joined by his mother, Monica.
#Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/B8yLAcMT1T
— Paris Johnson Jr. (@ParisJohnsonJr) March 30, 2018
“We had a great visit,” Johnson told Eleven Warriors. “We enjoyed watching them practice. Their competition drills were great to watch.”
The 6-foot-7, 275-pound Johnson is considered the top-rated offensive tackle and No. 7 prospect overall in the Class of 2020. He now holds more than 30 offers from programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pittsburgh and Stanford, but Ohio State certainly has the advantage of proximity on its side.
That said, the staff watched as five-star offensive tackle Jackson Carman — who also hailed from the greater Cincinnati area — spurned them for the Tigers last cycle, and they’re doing their best to get Johnson on campus as much as possible to prevent the same thing from happening once again. Meyer, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and offensive line coach Greg Studrawa also continue to preach to him the life-after-football aspect of the program. After all, Johnson plans to be a sports analysts and entrepreneur after his on-field career has come to a close.
“We talked about development and opportunities that are offered at the university as a student-athlete,” Johnson said.
Johnson doesn’t plan to make a decision on his future until National Signing Day and is simply enjoying the recruiting process right now. He’s recently traveled to Ann Arbor, Bloomington, Cincinnati, East Lansing, Lexington, Louisville, Pittsburgh and State College and has a return to trip to Columbus on the docket for April 14, the date of the Spring Game.
“[I’m just looking forward to] building relationships with the coaching staff and players,” Johnson said.
CHOPPING IT UP
As I mentioned in yesterday’s edition of The Hurry Up, Ohio State welcomed Fort Wayne, Indiana, three-star wide receiver Craig Young to campus for an unofficial visit on Wednesday.
“The visit was great,” Young told Eleven Warriors. “I talked to the coaches and viewed the campus.”
The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Young is considered the 93rd-best wide receiver and No. 691 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he hauled in 29 catches for 367 yards and four touchdowns to help the Generals to the sectional round of the state playoffs last season. He holds offers from Central Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Michigan State, Purdue, Toledo and Wisconsin.
This marked Young’s first time on campus since the Buckeyes offered him a scholarship in late January — but second overall, as he also attended Friday Night Lights last summer.
“It meant a lot [for them to offer],” he said. “Ohio State is the place to be.”
Once on campus, Young spent a considerable amount of time with Meyer, director of player personnel Mark Pantoni, wide receivers coach Zach Smith and wideout Austin Mack — a fellow Fort Wayne native.
“We were just joking around and having a little talk about how I’ve been,” Young said.
Young plans to return to campus for the Spring Game next weekend.
ANOTHER JEREMY RUCKERT
Park Hills, Kentucky, Covington Catholic four-star tight end Michael Mayer told Eleven Warriors he’ll visit Ohio State on Monday, April 9. He’ll be joined on the trip by his father, Andy.
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Mayer is considered the fifth-best tight end and No. 226 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, as he hauled in 14 catches for 235 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Colonels to the state championship last fall. He holds nearly a dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Cincinnati, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State, and hopes the Buckeyes follow suit.
“It would mean a lot because coach Meyer is a great coach,” Mayer said. “Ohio State is obviously a big football school. It would definitely mean a lot because they’re one of those schools that are competing for national championship every year.”
Mayer has never been to campus in a recruiting capacity, but did attend the Buckeyes’ 50-28 win over the Bearcats in 2014 as a fan of the visitors. He has, however, been in contact with the aforementioned Wilson and is looking forward to sitting down with Ohio State’s offensive coordinator to see where he would fit within the Buckeyes’ offense.
“Definitely my work ethic in the classroom, weight room and on the field,” Mayer said when asked what he thinks stands about his game. “I always give 110 percent.”
