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.
SIZING UP THE SHOE
As reported in yesterday's Hurry Up, the Buckeyes are set to host the nation's top-rated prospect – 2020 defensive end Bryan Bresee – during Saturday's game vs. Tulane. But he'll be joined by various other Ohio State targets as well.
After a visit to Pittsburgh this past weekend, Akron East's Bangally Kamara will also be in Columbus this weekend. Kamara, a three-star outside linebacker in the class of 2020, currently has offers from Cincinnati, Akron, Kent State and Toledo.
Ohio state this weekend H
— BANGALLY (@bengally_kamara) September 17, 2018
The Pickerington North duo of 2020 receiver Chris Scott and 2021 defensive end Jack Sawyer will also be in attendance. 2018 signee and current Buckeye defensive end Alex Williams also hails from the school.
Scott is a three-star wideout who has 25 receptions for 374 yards in four games this fall while Sawyer, who is being recruited by Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, had 58 tackles last season. There's still room for a ton of development in Sawyer's but some Bosa comparisons have already been made.
The Buckeyes offered Sawyer in April and he currently has additional offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Cincinnati. However, crystal ball predictions are confident the Pickerington North star will be a Buckeye, currently showing a 100 percent chance he lands in Columbus.
Saturday's visit will be the fourth instance where Sawyer has been on campus. He was at a game last season, attended spring practice after the Buckeyes offered him and attended camp this summer.
"I’m visiting the Shoe this weekend with my parents and I’m really looking forward to seeing the coaching staff again and coach (Urban) Meyer," Sawyer told Eleven Warriors.
While Columbus seems to be near to his heart, Sawyer said he'll be looking at multiple characteristics of each campus before making a final decision. But one thing is a guarantee: wherever he ends up, he's aiming to be the hardest-working guy in the room.
"Really going to be looking at the relationships I’ve made and where I can see myself for 3-5 years, along with a winning tradition," he said. "My favorite part about football is competing. I love going against guys that are good and just going as hard as I can and making as many plays for my team as possible."
Pickerington North is 4-0 after Friday's 52-7 win over Westerville North. This week, the Panthers host Dublin Coffman. Sawyer currently has 17 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
"I have full belief that our team can go all the way if we stay working and keep getting better every day," Sawyer said.
PASSING OUT THE OFFERING
In case you might have missed it, Ohio State extended scholarship offers to two class of 2020 recruits over the weekend. Offensive tackle Zak Zinter and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba made announcements via Twitter Monday evening.
Zinter is a 6-foot-6, 300-pound lineman from Buckingham Browne & Nichols (Ma.) while Smith-Njigba is listed at 6-foot-1, 188 pounds from Rockwall High School (Tx).
Excited, Honored, and Humbled to announce that I have received an offer to play football at The Ohio State University! @OhioStateFB @OSUCoachMeyer @ryandaytime @CoachStudOL @devonssmith @markpantoni @Coach_Willey_FB @MissionAE pic.twitter.com/RmnoqWnU9x
— Zak Zinter (@zak_zinter) September 18, 2018
Of the two, Smith-Njigba is looking like the bigger potential prize, garnering a four-star composite rating. In two games this season, he's compiled 20 catches for 390 yards and five touchdowns.
Smith-Njigba told Eleven Warriors he received the offer on his way home from practice yesterday and that he has a visit to Columbus already planned.
"I was very excited because I’ve been waiting on this one," he said. "I haven’t been (to Columbus) but I will be on November 2 for an unofficial."
The Buckeyes play host to Nebraska on Nov. 3.
Among others, Smith-Njigba has been in regular contact with Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline and assistant wide receivers coach Keenan Bailey.
When asked what he's looking for the most in a potential college of choice, he said, "How a school treats me like family, what their plans are for me, how they plan to develop and play me."
If the Buckeyes could land Smith-Njigba, he'd join a loaded 2020 class that includes the likes of St. Xavier's Paris Johnson Jr., Chaparral's (Az.) quarterback and running back duo, Jack Miller and Darvon Hubbard, IMG Academy (Fla.) safety Lejond Cavazos and offensive linemen Luke Wypler (Montvale, N.J.) and Jake Wray (Marietta, Ga.).
Together, those names currently make up the nation's third-ranked 2020 recruiting class.
"Winning and competing," Smith-Njigba said. "I love to win."
Blessed beyond measure to receive an offer from OHIO ST UNIVERSITY pic.twitter.com/iundERTeAY
— Jaxon Smith-Njigba (@jaxon_smith1) September 18, 2018
COMPETING WITH 'BAMA
Western Hills (Ky.) all-purpose back Wandale Robinson, one of Ohio State's top remaining wideout targets, will be making an official visit to Alabama this weekend. This past Friday, in a 41-23 win over Frankfort, Robinson had 242 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, a 21-yard touchdown catch and a 96-yard punt return for a score. Not a bad night.
The 5-foot-10, 179-pounder is considered the fourth-best all-purpose back and the No. 319 overall prospect in the class of 2019. The Buckeyes, however, are recruiting him as a wide receiver. Robinson was on hand for the Buckeyes' 52-3 win over Rutgers on Sep. 8 and Brian Hartline will be looking to get him back in town for an official visit.
(Jack Sawyer photo provided by @jacksawyer40/Twitter)
