The Hurry Up: Running Back Zachary Evans Includes Ohio State Among Top Schools While Announcement Looms for Linebacker Kane Patterson

RESPECT HIS DECISION

Much to the dismay of our readers — and some of the nation’s top prospects — Houston North Shore five-star running back Zachary Evans included Ohio State in his Top 25 on Saturday night alongside... well, you can see for yourself.

Blessed to be in this position
These are my Tops! pic.twitter.com/xdqdHZeKZh

— T H R E E (@Runzekerun01) July 8, 2018

If you’re not caught up on your school-specific hashtags, the other 24 programs are Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Houston, Iowa State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC and Wisconsin.

For what it’s worth, the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Evans — who is considered the top-rated running back and No. 5 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, as he carried the ball 184 times for 1,483 yards and 27 touchdowns to lead the Mustangs to the state quarterfinals last fall — cut nine programs from his list of scholarship offers.

Evans was one of seven underclassmen invited to The Opening Finals after he posted a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, a 3.91-second 20-yard shuttle and a 34-inch vertical jump at the Houston Regional. He did not attend the event after he chose to participate in the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge a few days prior instead.

Evans hoped to visit campus for the first time this spring, but was unable to make the trip. He caught up with several Ohio State staff members — including the offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Wilson and wide receivers coach Zach Smith — during a satellite camp in Houston in early June, however.

There’s also obviously plenty of time Evans to make that trip, especially considering he’s eyeing a decision during the Early Signing Period a little over 17 months away.

Ohio State holds commitments from a pair of running backs this cycle in Georgia four-star Steele Chambers and Indiana four-star Sampson James. I anticipate they’ll take three next cycle, however, with Evans, California five-star Kendall Milton, Virginia five-star Chris Tyree, Arizona four-star (and Akron native) Darvon Hubbard, Dublin Coffman four-star Michael Drennen II, Dallas four-star Emmitt “E.J.” Smith and Florida four-star Demarkcus Bowman among those worthy of consideration.

LET'S FLIP THE TRACK, BRING THE OLD SCHOOL BACK

Dickinson, Texas, three-star tight end Jalen Wydermyer was a bit more to the point, meanwhile, as he listed Ohio State in his Top 8 on Sunday morning alongside Auburn, Baylor, Georgia, Miami, Missouri, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.

Top 8 schools @Recruit_Edits pic.twitter.com/tsHuwzrGQf

— Jalenwydermyer (@Wydermyer81) July 8, 2018

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Wydermyer is considered the 16th-best tight end and No. 369 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, though he racked up 1,221 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns while splitting time between quarterback and wide receiver for the Gators last season.

Wilson offered Wydermyer during the Spring Evaluation Period back in May, and the two caught up during the aforementioned satellite camp in Houston. He’s never been to campus, but previously told Eleven Warriors he’s hoping to take an official visit in the fall.

It’s unclear at this time if the Buckeyes will take a tight end this cycle, but even if that happens, Wydermyer sits behind Tennessee three-star Cormontae Hamilton and West Virginia three-star Brenton Strange on the staff’s list of priorities. The Aggies are considered the favorite in his recruitment after the program signed his good friend and former teammate, three-star receiver Montel Parker, last cycle.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER BOOM?

Ohio State may have offered Washington D.C. St. John’s College four-star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett less than a week ago, but it appears he may be on the verge of making his college decision after he teased an major announcement at 7:30 p.m. Sunday evening.

Major Announcement Coming Soon !

— Rakim Jarrett (@RakimJarrett) July 7, 2018

The 6-foot, 182-pound Jarrett, you may recall, landed an offer from the Buckeyes after he revealed he didn’t have one during an exchange on Twitter with a fan.

"It’s definitely one of my dream schools," he told Eleven Warriors. "My family is from there, so it’s kind of a hometown team."

Jarrett is considered the ninth-best wide receiver and No. 45 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, as he hauled in 43 receptions for 513 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Cadets to their first Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship last fall. He holds nearly two dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.

While I've been told Jarrett will release a Top 4 this evening, I wouldn't entirely rule out a commitment. He’s not been shy about his affinity for the program and has publicly mingled with some of the Buckeyes’ pledges over the last few days.

My only reservation is that Jarrett has never been to campus, though he’s set to visit later this more. Of course, that didn’t stop Marcus Baugh, J.K. Dobbins or Haskell Garrett from pulling the trigger — and, might I add, sticking with their decision throughout the process.

NEXT IN LINE

The Class of 2020 has been getting all of the headlines as of late, but Dynasty ‘19 is likely to add another piece when Nashville Christ Presbyterian Academy four-star linebacker Kane Patterson announces his college decision on Monday afternoon.

I will be announcing my commitment at noon central time tomorrow.

— Kane Patterson (@kane_prime4) July 8, 2018

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Patterson is considered the eighth-best inside linebacker and No. 194 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 64 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, an interception and a blocked field goal and rushed for 1,003 yards and 23 touchdowns to lead the Lions to the state semifinals last season. He recently narrowed his list of nearly 30 offers to Alabama, Ohio State, Tennessee and Texas A&M after visiting all four schools this spring.

Patterson has been to campus three times — twice since the Buckeyes offered him a scholarship in late January. He’s built a strong relationship with head coach Urban Meyer, linebackers coach Bill Davis and running backs coach/area recruiter Tony Alford in that time.

“[Ohio State has] everything I want: championships, coaches and elite education,” Patterson told Eleven Warriors.

The Buckeyes hold just one commitment at linebacker in Lexington four-star Cade Stover, but there’s a chance he develops into a defensive end at the next level. Indiana three-star athlete Craig Young will likely begin his career at linebacker, but his versatility means he could end up being a defensive end or a safety, depending on how he matures physically. That means the staff still needs to bring on a true middle linebacker, and Patterson more than fits that bills

All that said, I placed my 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction in favor of Ohio State for both Jarrett and Patterson on Sunday.