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.
IT'S A DATE
For those of you hoping for a Wandale Robinson #BOOM, well ... your day could be coming soon. The 2019 Western Hills (Ky.) four-star all-purpose back announced Monday on Twitter that he'd be making his commitment decision on Nov. 1. He's expected to pick between Ohio State, Duke and Kentucky, which are said to be the leaders at this point.
I will be committing November 1st for my cousins birthday! #LongLiveShanna
— Wandale Robinson (@robinson__era) October 8, 2018
The Buckeyes' top 2020 commit Paris Johnson Jr. had some thoughts on Robinson's announcement ...
my brotha right here https://t.co/v2JSAcg6WB
— Paris Johnson Jr. (@ParisJohnsonJr) October 9, 2018
As did current Ohio State wide receiver Parris Campbell ...
Lil bruh! https://t.co/3taQKDYLvB
— Parris Campbell (@PCampbell21) October 9, 2018
Current crystal ball predictions show a 67 percent chance that Robinson ends up a Buckeye. That makes sense considering his history with the program. This past Saturday's visit was his second to Ohio State in a month. During that visit, wide receivers coach Brian Hartline gave his full attention to Robinson and his family for about 15 minutes during pregame warmups. Hartline even called his wife over to introduce her.
Those types of recruiting efforts aren't misplaced. Robinson seems to be the real deal.
In seven games this season, Robinson is responsible for 2,088 all-purpose yards – 1,379 rushing, 367 receiving, 47 kick return, 161 punt return, 134 interception return – and 31 total touchdowns. To put that in perspective, Western Hills has scored 38 touchdowns this fall ... Robinson is legit scoring 26.9 points per game by himself.
LINKING WITH THE LONGHORNS
Late in September, Permian (Odessa, Texas) receiver Peyton Powell told Eleven Warriors, "I'm at the end of my recruiting, trying to see the last top programs I haven't visited yet. I've only been on one official to Ohio State ... loved everything about them and how they took me in."
Saturday, the 2019 four-star receiver will make an official visit to Texas as the Longhorns face Baylor. Texas seems to be one of those "last top programs" he hasn't been to yet.
Texas official visit This weekend Hookem
— [P] (@PPowell_) October 8, 2018
The Longhorns aren't expected to make a push for Powell but strangers things have happened. On Sept. 30, Powell visited TCU after making a visit to AT&T Stadium to see Ohio State beat the Horned Frogs on Sept. 15. He was also at Oklahoma on Sept. 1.
The Horned Frogs and Sooners are certainly the Buckeyes' main competition for Powell and, as of now, it seems both have an edge over Ohio State. If Powell is to choose Ohio State, he'll be doing so, most likely, with the assumption that he'll be playing in the defensive backfield at the next level.
RINGING THE BELL
2019 Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) wide receiver David Bell has awhile before making his college decision. He's already said he'll be choosing his future school on Jan. 5, 2019 at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.
Bell, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound, four-star prospect, still has the Buckeyes near the top of his list, alongside Purdue and Penn State. Bell visited Penn State on Sept. 29 – yes, the whiteout game – and has scheduled visits to Purdue on Nov. 3, Ohio State on Nov. 24 – yes, the Michigan game – Indiana on Dec. 7 and Iowa on Dec. 15.
Needless to say, his recruiting process is still an ongoing one.
But he's done nothing to hurt his chances with any program this season – especially in last week's 41-17 win over Mount Carmel. Bell caught nine passes – including five consecutive catches to start the game – for 134 yards and three touchdowns.
From the Indianapolis Star:
There was no plan to throw David Bell the ball on the first five plays of the game. Not that it is ever a bad idea. Warren Central quarterback Jayden George figured he would keep going to the four-star senior receiver in Friday’s showdown until Carmel covered him with at least two defenders.
“They just gave it to us,” George said. “They didn’t respect him that much, so we just took what we could get.”
Five times, five catches for No. 4 to start the game. The fifth, a 12-yard touchdown pass, was wiped out by a holding call. Three plays later, on fourth-and-28, Carmel covered Bell with three defenders. George still went to him — and was rewarded with a 30-yard touchdown pass.
On the year, Bell now has 56 receptions for 1,128 yards – an average of 20.1 YPC – and 17 touchdowns. I'd throw him the ball, too.
