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.
A FAMILIAR TREK
Back on Sept. 22, East Kentwood (Mich.) guard Dallas Fincher was on hand for Ohio State's 49-6 win over Tulane. The three-star 2020 lineman has offers from the Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota and, of course, the Buckeyes, among others.
At 6-foot-4, 260 pounds, Fincher is considered the 21st-best guard in the country and the No. 16 prospect in the state of Michigan. While he doesn't have much else to see in terms of college choices – he's made visits to multiple schools – there is one thing he hopes to do before making his final decision.
I had a great time at OSU yesterday!!!! pic.twitter.com/WH73TApMt8
— Dallas Fincher (@Dallas72D) September 23, 2018
"There isn't anything more I need to see," Fincher told Eleven Warriors. "[But I'd like to] build more of a relationship with the coaches and see if [the universities] have what I'm looking for major wise."
According to current crystal ball predictions, Michigan State has a 100 percent chance to land Fincher. But a lot could change between now and when he makes his choice, especially considering the fact that he plans on making multiple visits before then ... including yet another to Columbus.
"I like the feel of [Ohio State's] campus and how close it is to the city," Fincher said. "And I have visited four times and I plan on visiting again soon. Coach [Urban] Meyer has definitely made the biggest impact on me [on the coaching staff]."
RACING RAZORBACK
At one point not so long ago, Ohio State was among the suitors for Blackman (Tenn.) receiver Trey Knox. However, with the Buckeyes taking only three or four receivers this cycle and concerns about Knox's speed, the 2019 6-foot-5 wideout fell on Ohio State's list.
Monday, he found a future home as he announced his commitment to Arkansas.
— Trey Knox Snag Crew CEO (@Fbu1Tk) October 1, 2018
According to 247Sports, Knox is rated as the sixth-best prospect in Tennessee and the 29th-best receiver in the nation. If you're wondering where the Buckeyes' two receiver commits rank on that list, Garrett Wilson is at No. 2 and Jameson Williams is at No. 24. Ohio State is still targeting David Bell (Indianapolis, Ind.) at No. 22 on that list, Elijah Higgins (Austin, Texas) at No. 15, Kyle Ford (Orange, Calif.) at No. 5.
However, the most likely addition still seems to be four-star all-purpose back Wandale Robinson. The Frankfort, Kentucky playmaker was in town a few weeks ago and will return to Columbus next weekend for an official visit. Robinson is being recruited as a slot receiver/H-back and is also considering schools like Kentucky, Alabama, Nebraska, and Michigan.
MILLER TIME
Following Buford's (Ga.) 49-0 drubbing of Johnson High School this past Friday, five-star center Harry Miller was named the Atlanta Touchdown Club's Lineman of the Week. Miller, who committed to Ohio State this past June, was given his award during a ceremony that featured ESPN's Holly Rowe as the keynote speaker.
Congrats to Harry Miller for being awarded Atlanta TD Club lineman of the week. Holly Rowe of ESPN was an inspiring speaker! pic.twitter.com/zqdhADFSce
— Buford Football (@buford_football) October 1, 2018
The hits keep coming, literally, for the 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman that's considered the second-best center in the country. Miller is a key part of the Buckeyes' 2019 recruiting class and will arrive on campus alongside fellow linemen Doug Nester and Ryan Jacoby.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Remember the names Chris Oats or Darian Kinnard? Both former Ohio prospects are now ascending the depth chart at Kentucky, the No. 13 ranked program in the latest AP poll.
Oats, a linebacker originally from Cincinnati's Winton Woods High School, was offered by the Buckeyes very early in the 2018 recruiting cycle. Things were trending in a positive direction between the two parties, but then nothing really seemed to happen for an extended period of time as interest from both sides fizzled.
Ohio State then went on to sign three linebackers as well as a defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid in Javontae Jean-Baptiste. In effect, Oats went on to do what a number of talented Ohio prospects do when he opted to sign with the Wildcats. Today, the true freshman was named a starting linebacker; at least for one week.
New UK football depth chart has true freshman Darian Kinnard No. 2 at both left and right offensive tackle and true frosh Chris Oats No. 1 at middle linebacker with Kash Daniel forced to sit of the first half at Texas A&M after his targeting penalty vs. South Carolina
— Mark Story (@markcstory) October 1, 2018
He'll be taking the place of Kash Daniel at mike linebacker, who will be sitting out due to a targeting call during Kentucky's win over South Carolina last week.
Kinnard, another true freshman who many wanted the Buckeyes to pursue, will be the No. 2 option at both right and left tackle when the Wildcats face Texas A&M. A four-star prospect from Cleveland St. Ignatius High School, Kinnard saw his stock rise late in the process and ended up with offers from the likes of Penn State and Missouri.
The Buckeyes ended up with a big boom of their own when they signed five-star tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere on national signing day.
