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.
BEST BACK IN THE COUNTRY
Clovis, California, Buchanan five-star running back Kendall Milton included Ohio State in his Top 10 on Monday afternoon alongside Alabama, Florida State, Fresno State, Georgia, Miami, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas and USC.
TOP 10 pic.twitter.com/xAhBVT19IX
— Kendall Milton (@therealkmilt) July 9, 2018
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Milton is considered the second-best running back and No. 10 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, as he racked up 1,514 all-purpose yards and 25 total touchdowns for the Bears last season.
Though he’s never been to campus in a recruiting capacity, Milton has grown close to running backs coach Tony Alford in the six months since the Buckeyes extended a scholarship offer. The two briefly caught up when Alford was in California during the Spring Evaluation Period.
“They’ve let me know that I am their top running back prospect and that is something that means a lot to me,” Milton told Eleven Warriors.
Not only that, but Milton is also being heavily recruited by the Ohio State commits in his class. They’ve gotten to know him throughout the process — particularly Arizona four-star quarterback Jack Miller III — and all five reached out on Twitter after he announced his top schools.
Milton actually participated in a wrestling tournament in Columbus when he was in middle school and actually had a date picked out for a return visit this summer, but was forced to change those plans because of college football’s recruiting dead period. He hopes to make it back for a game this fall instead.
LARRY JOHNSON HOLDS THE TRUMP CARD
Concord, North Carolina, Cox Mill three-star defensive end Terrell Dawkins listed Ohio State in his Top 5 on Monday afternoon alongside Florida, North Carolina State, Notre Dame and Tennessee.
5 5 5 pic.twitter.com/GHAzfNSfbX
— Terrell Dawkins (@T_dawk89) July 9, 2018
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Dawkins is considered the 58th-best strong-side defensive end and No. 869 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 59 tackles, nine sacks, five tackles for a loss and an interception for the Chargers last season. He’s also a track standout who runs the 100-meter dash and throws the discus.
Dawkins has been to campus twice, as he attended the Spring Game in April — during which you may recall he was decked out in a vintage Charles Barkley windbreaker and Jeff Gordon “Rainbow Warrior” T-shirt — and a one-day camp in June. He spent time at the Buckeyes’ job fair and worked directly with defensive line coach Larry Johnson during his most recent visit.
“I really got to see how he coaches and all the stuff he talked about is really beneficial for me,” Dawkins told Eleven Warriors. “I like everything about him, he’s a pretty good coach. I learned a lot of new things from him today. Working with him has really got me better and thinking about it.”
Dawkins isn’t a fan of the recruiting scene and plans to take just one official visit this fall. None of his top schools have emerged as the favorite, which means the Buckeyes sit in an excellent spot to land his pledge if they miss out on Olentangy Orange five-star defensive end Zach Harrison — or rather, opt to take three players at the position this cycle.
“Ohio State has always been a great school to me. I always looked up to them and wished I could get an offer from them. It was pretty big for me,” Dawkins said. “Communication and the connection with the coaches and how everything is overall [will be the deciding factor].”
THE NEXT JEFFREY OKUDAH?
Cedar Hill, Texas, Trinity Christian five-star cornerback Dwight McGlothern Jr. included Ohio State in his Top 13 on Sunday night alongside Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M, TCU and USC.
TOP 13 , I Love Yall . #2020vision pic.twitter.com/jZmOtxlx6Z
— Dwight McGlothern jr (@DMcglothern2) July 8, 2018
“Ohio State is a great school with academics and sports-wise,” McGlothern told Eleven Warriors. “I like this recruiting class so far. It’s going to be very good for Ohio State. Coach Meyer is a great dude and knows how to win.”
The 6-foot-2, 173-pound McGlothern is considered the third-best cornerback and No. 28 prospect overall in the Class of 2020, as he recorded 43 tackles, 10 pass break ups, six tackles for a loss, four interceptions and one forced fumble and was named first-team all-district at New Caney last fall. He transferred schools back in January.
The Buckeyes offered McGlothern last summer and he talked with former assistant coordinator Kerry Coombs regularly until he left to take a job with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans in January. He’s still looking forward to his first trip to campus and building a bond with new cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson.
BOOM COMING SOON
Last but not least, Washington D.C. St. John’s College four-star wide receiver Rakim Jarrett listed Ohio State in his Final 4 on Sunday evening alongside Alabama, Florida State and Penn State.
— Rakim Jarrett (@RakimJarrett) July 8, 2018
The 6-foot, 182-pound 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 picked up his offer from defensive line coach/area recruiter Larry Johnson last week, but has since been in contact with wide receivers coach Zach Smith.
“He was excited about me and can’t wait to get me up on campus,” Jarrett told Eleven Warriors. “[He thinks] I’ll fall in love with the place.”
It will be a quick turnaround for Jarrett, as he’ll also visit campus for the first time in a recruiting capacity alongside his teammates, five-star linebacker Mekhail Sherman and four-star defensive tackle Tre Williams, on the weekend of July 27-29. He has family in the area, so he’s at least driven by Ohio Stadium before.
“[I’m looking forward to seeing] the academics, such as how good the business school is; how the coaches would utilize me in the offense and where do they see me; my comfort level with the coaches; and how the team is, just seeing how they interact and seeing if it really is a great brotherhood,” Jarrett said.
With that that, Jarrett admits he’s closing in on his college decision. He wants to take at least one more visit before an announcement, though.
“I would love to do it before August, but its highly unlikely because I haven’t gotten to see Florida State yet,” Jarrett said. “But I wouldn’t count anything out after I visit Columbus.”
