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.
GLASS TO VISIT COLUMBUS THIS WEEKEND
Ohio State's struggles within the running game have been well documented over the past month or so. The Buckeye have relied heavily on quarterback Dwayne Haskins' arm but have found little to no success on the ground.
In an effort to boost their 2019 recruiting class, and the future of the running game, the Buckeyes have been hot on the trail of several outstanding running backs, including Katy (Texas) running back Deondrick Glass.
Glass was named Texas' District 19-6A Offensive Player of the Year as a junior. Over the next two weekends, he'll take his talents on the road, visiting Ohio State this Saturday before a visit to Alabama the following week.
Hand a great time on my visit @okstate thanks for everything @patsy_aleta @CoachThomas6 @CoachGundy @JohnWozniak2 go pokes!! pic.twitter.com/GpjKiNbavC
— Deondrick Glass (@deondrickglass) October 29, 2018
Last weekend, Glass was at Oklahoma State, which is considered to the leader in his recruitment. Oklahoma State, Ohio State and Alabama are his only scheduled official visits, meaning the Buckeyes are very much in the mix.
Glass is considered Texas' 29th-best overall prospect and the nation's 13th-best running back in his class. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound back has 176 carries for 1,543 yards and 22 touchdowns this fall. His Tigers are 7-1 with the only blemish coming in a season-opening 35-21 loss.
This weekend's visit could certainly be imperative for both Ohio State and Glass' futures. It's also important to note that Trinity Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.) running back Marcus Crowley will be in Columbus on Saturday. Look for more on Glass and Crowley's visits Thursday at elevenwarriors.com.
BATTLING FOR BATTLE
Ohio State commit and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) safety Jordan Battle was also supposed to make a visit to Columbus this Saturday. However, that won't be happening.
Since committing to Ohio State on June 29, Battle's relationship with the Buckeyes has seemed off. After Urban Meyer's summer saga, Battle reaffirmed his commitment, telling cleveland.com, "I'm going to see how things play out right now. But right now, I'm still a future Buckeye."
Since that time, according to 247Sports, the 6-foot-1, 168-pound safety has taken visits to Miami (FL) on Sept. 27 and Oct. 6 as well as a visit to Oklahoma on Sept. 29. He's now scheduled to take a visit to Alabama on Nov. 11.
Visits to other programs are to be expected but what's concerning is the fact that Battle has cancelled his past two scheduled visits to Columbus, citing travel problems.
Battle was supposed to be in Columbus on Oct. 13 when the Buckeyes hosted Minnesota. But Battle's father Fred said that after a Friday night game, it's hard to book flights to be in Columbus by early afternoon. The same could be said this weekend, with kickoff scheduled for noon. Battle was hoping to be in Columbus on Nov. 24 for the Michigan game but with that game starting at noon, his presence seems unlikely.
It could be nothing and it could be something. But it's definitely a situation to watch.
DECISION TIME COMING FOR ROBINSON
Since Ohio State wide receivers coach Brian Hartline accepted an interim position on Urban Meyer's coaching staff, he's been after 2019 Western Hills (Ky.) all-purpose back Wandale Robinson.
And for good reason ... Robinson is responsible for 2,510 total yards; 1,844 on the ground, 493 as a receiver and 173 as a passer. He's scored 41 of his team's 53 total touchdowns.
I will be committing at 2:30 on Thursday in the Western Hills High School gymnasium. All family and friends are welcome.
— Wandale Robinson (@robinson__era) October 27, 2018
Media contact @hillsfootball .
At 2:30 p.m. Thursday, the recruiting world will learn of Robinson's college choice as Ohio State and Nebraska seem to be the frontrunners for his commitment.
Robinson spoke about both Ohio State and Nebraska to Rivals.com.
On Ohio State:
"The relationship has been good with them and I had a really good visit up there. They're emphasizing that they are probably going to lose KJ Hill and Paris Campbell and they're really going to need someone at that position to come in and have an impact. They've told me that those guys at that position are the main focus of their offense and they think I could really excel there as well. That' been the big thing for them. Come in and be that guy. Going up there for a visit and getting to see a game live, it was crazy. Those are some fans that are crazy. There aren't many places like that around the country to go in and play a game and that's a real good environment as a player."
On Nebraska:
"Nebraska has been showing me the same kind of attention for months now, both before I went for the official visit and after. They have always been the school that recruited me the hardest and been up front about how they really need me. Just being a playmaker, they see me doing big things in their offense. Ever since I visited they talk to me a lot and ask how I am and check up on me. As far as how their offense would fit me, the numbers speak for themselves with that offense and knowing they don’t have a guy that can do what I can do. They see me playing in the slot and also some at running back. That's something that Coach Frost has emphasized, me being the De'Anthony Thomas type of guy for them. I watched him a lot growing up as a kid and he was one of my favorite players to watch. To be that guy in that offense would be exciting."
Having said that, the Cornhuskers are said to be in the lead and it would come as no surprise if Robinson chooses head coach Scott Frost and company. While Hartline did make a visit to Robinson this past Friday — Hartline is the only reason the Buckeyes have any shot at Robinson in the first place — Frost has done a tremendous job fostering a relationship with the 5-foot-10, 179-pound back.
Make no mistake, if Robinson chooses Nebraska and it's looking more likely that he may, the relationship and level of comfortability with Frost and his coaching staff was the key piece.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Speaking of Robinson ... which I feel like I say every week at this point ... he was spectacular like usual this past Friday in a 25-18 win. Robinson rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown, racked up 103 receiving yards and two scores, and made nine tackles.
Here's a look at how some of Ohio State's other top recruiting targets fared:
| NAME | POS | HIGH SCHOOL | OPPONENT | SCORE | STATS/NEWS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZACH HARRISON | DE | OLENTANGY ORANGE (LEWIS CENTER, OH) | WESTERVILLE SOUTH (WESTERVILLE, OH) | Won 17-0. | 6.5 tackles, 3 TFL, sack |
| DARNELL WRIGHT | OL | HUNTINGTON (HUNTINGTON, WV) | PARKERSBURG (PARKERSBURG, WV) | Won 27-21 (OT). | Highlanders improve to 7-2 this season. |
| TREVOR KEEGAN | OL | CRYSTAL LAKE SOUTH (CRYSTAL LAKE, IL) | KENWOOD (CHICAGO, IL) | Won 49-0. | Advances into second round of Class 6A playoffs. |
| TOMMY EICHENBERG | LB | ST. IGNATIUS (CLEVELAND, OH) | ST. EDWARD (LAKEWOOD, OH) | Won 21-7. | Will play St. Edward this week in first round of playoffs. |
| KAIIR ELAM | CB | THE BENJAMIN SCHOOL (NORTH PALM BEACH, FL) | KING'S ACADEMY (WEST PALM BEACH, FL) | Lost 22-21. | 2 receptions, 60 yards, TD, 3 tackles |
| ELIJAH HIGGINS | WR | BOWIE (BOWIE, TX) | AUSTIN (AUSTIN, TEXAS) | Won 52-14. | Bowie improves to 6-2. |
| MARCUS CROWLEY | RB | TRINITY CHRISTIAN (JACKSONVILLE, FL) | BISHOP KENNY (JACKSONVILLE, FL) | Won 52-10. | 11 carries, 124 yards, 2 TD |
| WANDALE ROBINSON | APB | WESTERN HILLS (FRANKFORT, KY) | HARRISON COUNTY (LOUISA, KY) | Won 25-18. | 17 carries, 95 yards, TD, 3 catches, 103 yards, 2 TD |
| DAVID BELL | WR | WARREN CENTRAL (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) | BEN DAVIS (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) | Won 49-28. | 5 catches, 96 yards, 2 TD |
| DEONDRICK GLASS | RB | KATY (KATY, TX) | CINCO RANCH (KATY, TX) | Won 70-17. | 17 carries, 76 yards, 3 TD |
Deondrick Glass photo credit: Craig Moseley/Houston Chronicle
