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.
WELL-ROUNDED
Washington D.C. St. John’s College five-star linebacker Mekhail Sherman was one of just seven underclassmen invited to participate in Nike Football’s The Opening Finals this week. He was on the same team (Hype) as Ohio State wide receiver commit Garrett Wilson.
“It was fun. Most people my age don’t really get that experience,” Sherman told Eleven Warriors. “There were a lot of elite players, but I felt comfortable with it. I saw a lot of competition from all over the country. It was actually pretty fun. I think I did well, though there are still some things I can work on since I’m still a raw prospect and haven’t hit my full potential. That camp is a learning experience to work on and find out my faults and best capabilities.”
The 6-foot-3 and 234-pound Sherman — whose first name is pronounced ‘mu-kyle’ — is considered the second-best outside linebacker and No. 17 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, as he recorded 51 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, seven sacks, two pass break ups, one forced fumble and one interception to lead the Cadets to the Cadets to their first Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title last season. He recently named a Top 10 of Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State and South Carolina.
“I feel like those schools are recruiting me the most, are healthy academically and will strive me to be the best that I can be. I feel like Ohio State can do that,” Sherman said. “They have the academics to back it up. They also have my major, which is kinesiology. I know they have a good balance between chemistry and the business side, so I want to explore that to detail when I go on a visit. Also, I know how hard they work on the football field. I really see the work ethic, so I might want to be a part of that in the future. I feel like they could make me better as a linebacker, defensive end or both.”
Sherman won’t have to wait long to see what the program and university is all about, either, as he is set to visit campus when the dead period comes to a close later this month. He’ll be joined by a pair of his teammates in four-star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett and four-star defensive tackle Tre Williams.
“I’m pretty sure I can see the football side of things, but I just want to be introduced to the actual campus,” Sherman said. “What it has to offer for athletes and non-athletes, as well. The question when it comes to a school is what happens if football is not there for me? If, God forbid, I get a career-ending injury, will I still be able to continue my four years at that school? I always have to weigh that heavily. I just want to have a good time at Ohio State and see if I like it.”
Sherman admits he’s nowhere close to making a decision, and the next few months will be all about visiting schools and narrowing things down further. Schools that aren’t currently in the picture still have a chance to make an impression, as well.
“My recruitment is still open,” Sherman said. “The academics and how they’re going to support me, because I’m always going to need a Plan B; the lifestyle for athletes and non-athletes; the defensive scheme and their plan for me, whether they want me to play linebacker or defensive end; as well as the environment of the campus and how my family are the main factors [in my eventual decision].”
YOU'RE EITHER WITH US OR YOU'RE AGAINST US
Catawissa, Pennsylvania, Southern Columbia five-star wide receiver Julian Fleming narrowed down his list of nearly two dozen offers on Wednesday afternoon, listing Ohio State in his Top 6 alongside Clemson, Georgia, Penn State, USC and Virginia Tech.
Top 6 (recruitment still open) pic.twitter.com/EZYpuciSRW
— 0J4 (@julian_040) July 4, 2018
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Fleming is considered the second-best wide receiver and No. 12 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, as he’s hauled in 105 catches for 2,418 yards and 33 touchdowns in his two-year varsity career to lead the Tigers to back-to-back state championship game appearances (1-1).
The Buckeyes extended an offer to Fleming back in February and hosted him for an unofficial visit in mid-June. He was accompanied on the trip by his grandfather, and the two spent a considerable amount of time that weekend with head coach Urban Meyer and wide receivers coach Zach Smith.
Quarterback commit Jack Miller III, speaking at Friday Night Lights ahead of his own decision, pointed out Fleming as one of his personal top targets.
“I want to commit soon just so I can start building on my class, for sure,” Miller said. “Like [IMG Academy four-star defensive back] Lejond Cavazos, [Pennsylvania five-star wide receiver] Julian Fleming and [California five-star running back] Kendall Milton. My teammate [four-star running back] Darvon [Hubbard], too. I have a lot of guys in mind.”
Fleming gave no timetable for a decision, but most anticipate he’ll land with the Nittany Lions when the time comes — after all, his hometown roughly an hour and a half away from State College. He’s since added an offer from Florida State, so it’ll be interesting to see if that has any impact on his top schools list moving forward.
TO FOLLOW OR FORGE YOUR OWN PATH
With coaches not permitted to have face-to-face contact with recruits or visit their high school for most of July, Ohio State invited Mount Juliet, Tennessee, four-star defensive end Reggie Grimes II to campus for an unofficial visit late last month.
Had Great time up at Ohio State yesterday@MJGOLDENBEARFB @grimesreginald @BuckFitz @V7Npa @CoachBillDavis @CoachTonyAlford @CoachTBarr pic.twitter.com/1BRewlqEXv
— Reggie Grimes II (@iamreggiegrimes) June 24, 2018
“It was great,” Grimes told Eleven Warriors as returned home from a cruise in Mexico. “We were there for two days and we saw pretty much the entire campus.”
The 6-foot-4, 213-pound Grimes is considered the seventh-best weak-side defensive end and No. 64 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, though the Buckeyes are giving him the option to play linebacker, as well. He recorded 30 tackles to lead the Golden Bears to the regional championship last fall, and now holds more than a dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Georgia Tech, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
This marked the first time on campus for Grimes, whom running backs coach Tony Alford and linebackers coach Bill Davis offered back in May. He, too, spent most of his time on campus with Meyer.
“It was exciting,” Grimes said. “[I loved] how much coach Meyer focused on life after football.”
Grimes, who is the son of the former Crimson Tide defensive lineman of the same name, plans to return to campus for a game this fall. Most believe he’ll end up following in his father’s footsteps and play his college ball in Tuscaloosa, though.
