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.
THE PLOT THICKENS
Ohio State search for a quarterback this recruiting cycle has — in a word — been fascinating to follow.
After preaching about the overall lack of depth at the position in the current class, it appeared head coach Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ryan Day had zeroed in on Houston four-star signal caller Grant Gunnell. But in the weeks since his official visit, the Buckeyes have offered Michigan State four-star commit Dwan Mathis and hosted Wisconsin four-star pledge Graham Mertz for an unofficial visit — quite possibly suggesting they’re not as sold on Gunnell as everyone once thought.
We can throw another name in to the mix, too, now that the staff offered a scholarship to Orange, California, Lutheran four-star quarterback Ryan Hilinski on Thursday evening.
Humbled to say I have received an offer from The Ohio State! #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/YFDHkGuN5N
— Big Bo (@ryan_hilinski) May 11, 2018
The 6-foot-4, 222-pound Hilinski is considered the sixth-best pro-style quarterback and No. 166 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he threw for 3,749 yards and 33 touchdowns (compared to just six interceptions) to lead the Lancers to the second round of the state playoffs last fall. He committed to South Carolina in April over finalists Arizona, Arizona State, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oregon and Texas A&M, but has since picked up offers from the likes of LSU and UCLA.
Hilinski — the younger brother of late Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski, who tragically took his own life earlier this year — has remained firm in his commitment to the Gamecocks, but seems open to visiting Columbus for the first time in the coming months. And if that happens... well, let’s just say things might get interesting.
To add another layer, the Buckeyes also offered Hilinski’s teammate and top target, four-star wide receiver Kyle Ford, earlier this week.
FENCING THE GARDEN STATE
Without defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, it’s entirely conceivable to think Ohio State would have missed out last cycle on four-star defensive ends Tyler Friday and Javontae Jean-Baptiste. But thanks — in large part — to the relationships he formed during his time as Rutgers’ head coach, the Buckeyes have made significant inroads in the state of New Jersey.
The staff hopes to keep that run going well in to the future, too, which is why Schiano and head coach Urban Meyer offered a scholarship on Thursday afternoon to one of Jean-Baptiste’s former teammates at Oradell Bergen Catholic, four-star safety Jordan Morant.
Im very blessed and honored to have received an offer from THE Ohio State University #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/15UIB83FeT
— Jordan Morant (@jordanmorantt) May 10, 2018
“I was speechless. When coach Schiano told me he was offering me, I didn’t know what to say,” Morant told Eleven Warriors. “Especially when coach Meyer talked to me, it was just a fantastic feeling. I would’ve never thought I was gonna be offered by them this early in my recruitment. But when I did, it was just an amazing feeling.”
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Morant — the son of former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Johnnie Morant — is considered the fourth-best safety and No. 140 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, as he recorded 60 tackles, seven pass break ups, four interceptions and one sack to lead the Crusaders to the state championship last season. He holds more than a dozen offer from programs such as Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin, but Ohio State has already made quite the impression.
“They stand pretty high in my recruitment,” Morant said. “Ohio State is an amazing school academically and their football program is one of the best in college football. The coaching staff is just fantastic.”
Morant has never been to campus, but plans to visit for the first time this summer.
JAYLEN, JAELEN AND JALEN
Mansfield, Texas, Legacy four-star safety Jalen Catalon listed Ohio State in his Top 8 on Thursday evening alongside Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and TCU.
For our fallen brother, I dedicate the rest of this process to you... #LLJB #Top8 pic.twitter.com/CYSpt0pfwT
— Jalen Catalon (@jcatalon27) May 11, 2018
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Catalon is considered the 11th-best safety and No. 187 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 101 tackles, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, three interceptions, three pass break ups and three tackles for a loss to be named first-team all-state. He also completed 62 passes for 1,145 yards and 15 touchdowns and added another 1,031 yards and 13 touchdowns on 123 carries from the quarterback position to help the Broncos to the state semifinals last fall — the deepest playoff run in school history.
Catalon attended the Buckeyes’ 39-38 win over Penn State last October.
“It's a great university and the atmosphere was electric,” Catalon told Eleven Warriors. “I loved it.”
Catalon has maintained contact in the months since with Schiano, co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Alex Grinch and offensive coordinator/area recruiter Kevin Wilson, and they’re hoping to get him back on campus for an official visit this fall.
“They keep in touch on a consistent basis,” Catalon said. “Just asking about school and how my sports are going.”
That said, Ohio State already holds commitments from two safeties in the aforementioned Hickman and Maryland three-star Bryson Shaw and remains among the favorites for Florida four-star Jordan Battle and Maryland four-star Nick Cross — though Battle and Shaw may very well play cornerback at the next level. Adding anyone beyond that would be a surprise.
ADD HIM AND CALL IT A DAY
Staying in the Lone Star State, Katy four-star running back Deondrick Glass included Ohio State in his Top 10 on Friday afternoon alongside Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, TCU and USC.
Sorry for the wait!!! here's my TOP 10 pic.twitter.com/UYkbnApdDA
— Deondrick Glass (@deondrickglass) May 11, 2018
“I’ve been a Buckeye fan since I was like 10 [years old],” Glass told Eleven Warriors. “[They schools has] great tradition and seems like a great place to earn a degree.”
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Glass is considered the 17th-best running back and No. 224 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he rushed for 1,690 yards and 26 touchdowns to lead the Tigers to the state semifinals — where they lost a cold, rain-soaked contest to Ohio State quarterback Matthew Baldwin and five-star wide receiver commit Garrett Wilson — last season.
Glass has never been to campus, but has been eyeing a trip to Columbus for quite some time.
“I can’t wait to to take my official visit soon,” Glass said. “I’m thinking [it’ll be] in the fall so I can see what the campus and football atmosphere is like during that time. Looking forward to seeing everyone and everything.”
The Buckeyes already hold commitments from a pair of running backs in Georgia four-star Steele Chambers and Indiana four-star Sampson James, but there’s possibly room for one more if its the right fit — or the former decides he wants to play linebacker at the next level instead.
With that said, running backs coach Tony Alford has kept close tabs on Glass and Florida four-stars Noah Cain and Kenny McIntosh, and the Buckeyes should remain in the running in their respective recruitments until the very end as a result.
