The Hurry Up: "Rocket" Ronnie Hickman Talks Commitment While Ohio State Leads for Linebacker Derek Wingo

LIFE AFTER FOOTBALL

Wayne, New Jersey, DePaul Catholic four-star athlete “Rocket” Ronnie Hickman got last weekend off to a booming start when he committed to Ohio State on Friday evening while in town with several members of his family on an unofficial visit for the program’s annual Spring Game. 

Dreams really do come true! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/hZbUtBZifU

— Ronnie Hickman (@asvprocket_) April 14, 2018

His decision to pick the Buckeyes over finalists Florida, Notre Dame, Penn State, Rutgers and Virginia Tech brought to close a recruitment that felt rather cut-and-dried from the time defensive coordinator Greg Schiano offered him a scholarship last April.

“The university offers so much on the field, as well as off the field,” Hickman told Eleven Warriors. “They have a great support system for their players, [and] Real Life Wednesdays played a huge role in my ultimate decision, as well.”

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Hickman is considered the 13th-best athlete and No. 124 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he plays both wide receiver and safety for the Spartans. Ohio State has him earmarked for the defensive side of the ball, though. 

You can read more about Hickman’s decision here, as well as the impact he’ll have on the Buckeyes Dynasty ‘19 recruiting class here. You don’t have to worry about the strength of his pledge, either, as he plans to take just one official visit — to Columbus, of course — this fall, though he’s unsure for which game.

ON THE WRIGHT TRACK

Akron Manchester sophomore athlete Ethan Wright was among the dozens of prospects in attendance for Saturday’s Spring Game.

Had a great time at Ohio States spring game today! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/xBTq8vjb9Q

— Ethan Wright (@EthanWright_25) April 14, 2018

“It was great,” Wright told Eleven Warriors. “Seeing how everything works on game day — and how busy it was — was amazing. The energy is the stadium was just great. The people at Ohio State are great, and I enjoyed the visit.”

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Wright is not yet ranked any major recruiting sites, but was named first-team all-state and the Division V co-offensive player of the year after he rushed for 2,468 yards and 32 touchdowns to lead the Panthers to the regional semifinals last season. He also added 28 catches for 366 yards and seven more scores through the air.

This marked Wright’s second trip to campus in as many months, as running backs coach Tony Alford invited him to attend a spring practice back in March.

“His message is to always keep in contact with him, ask questions and keep working and getting better,” Wright said.

Wright doesn’t hold any offers at this time, but I have a feeling that’ll change sooner rather than later since he’s set to attend The Opening Canton Regional next month and camp at Michigan State, Ohio State and West Virginia this summer. Of course, eventually landing an offer from the Buckeyes would be a dream come true.

“As an Ohio native, getting an offer from them would be an amazing feeling,” Wright said. “Growing up watching them to [then] being someone who could possibly play for them is a crazy thing to me.”

BATTLE THIS YEAR, WINGO NEXT?

Though he holds more than a dozen offers from programs all over the country, St. Thomas Aquinas three-star linebacker Derek Wingo told Eleven Warriors he currently has a Top 3 of Georgia, Ohio State and Oklahoma.

“Ohio State is No. 1 just because that’s always been my dream school,” Wingo said on Monday. “To be coached by the staff of Urban Meyer will prepare you for the next level.”

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Wingo is considered the 15th-best outside linebacker and No. 254 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, but should see his stock continue to climb as he gets more time at his natural position. He actually focused most of his attention at quarterback last season, and finished the year with 880 all-purpose yards and eight total touchdowns compared to just five tackles on defense.

The Buckeyes offered Wingo a scholarship back mid-January, and he’s maintained constant contact with linebackers coach Bill Davis and assistant wide receivers coach/South Florida native Keenan Bailey.

“I talk to them on a daily basis,” he said. “[They think I can be] a game-changer and someone who can bring up the energy, keep everyone fired up and just be able to make plays in tough situations.”

Wingo plans to attend a one-day camp in June or Friday Night Lights in July, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pledge his services to the staff then. After all, he’d rather put the entire recruiting process behind him sooner rather than later.

“I’m close with a lot of the top guys in my class,” Wingo said. “I feel like I can be a leader and get a lot of people to join in the make wherever I go the No. 1 class.”

NEXT IN LINE

On Friday, Ohio State offered a scholarship to Brooklyn Erasmus Hall defensive end Jahzion Harris.

Im truly honored and blessed to receive my second D1 offer from Ohio state #Buckeyesnation pic.twitter.com/9IJjrnJfkD

— Jahzion Harris (@JahzionHarris) April 13, 2018

“I was very excited about it,” Harris told Eleven Warriors, “but I knew I had to keep my cool and stay humble because it is only going to get better.”

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Harris is not yet ranked by any major recruiting sites, but is one of just nine prospects from the Class of 2021 holds an offer from the Buckeyes. It came at the recommendation of Dutchmen head coach Danny Landberg, who was in Columbus at the time for the Buckeyes’ annual coaches clinic.

Harris, whose only other offer is from Syracuse, actually attended a one-day camp in Columbus last summer alongside his former teammate, Ohio State freshman center Matthew Jones. He worked directly with defensive line coach Larry Johnson, and the two have kept in touch ever since.

“I liked the environment and how welcoming [the coaches] were,” Harris said.

There’s no doubt the Buckeyes are the early favorite in Harris’ recruitment, since Erasmus Hall has been a pipeline to Columbus in recent years thanks to Jones, running back Curtis Samuel (2014) and safety Jahsen Wint (2016). He hopes to return for another one-day camp in June.