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.
South Carolina Commit Likes Ohio State
When four-star Florida offensive tackle Issiah Walker received his offer from Ohio State on Thursday night, he gave his family a hug. Having committed to South Carolina in May, Walker hadn’t heard from as many schools as other recruits. Besides his South Carolina offer, the 6-foot-4, 284-pound tackle had 11 others, and he hadn’t heard from Ohio State.
But Thursday, Ohio State offensive line coach Greg Studrawa called Walker, and in the same phone call, extended him an offer.
“Their offer changes things a little bit, yeah,” said Walker, who emphasized that he’s still committed to South Carolina. “I’d say they’re very high for me.”
The No. 15 tackle in the 2020 class is committed to South Carolina in May 2018 but said his recruitment is still open. Walker said he’s looking at other schools and trying to find a place that feels like home. For Ohio State, though, he said he understands that the Buckeyes have proven to be able to send offensive linemen into the NFL and has seen how they play on TV and Youtube.
Studrawa told Walker that he saw his tape and liked what he saw enough to extend the No. 172 prospect an offer. Walker is an athletic offensive tackle with adequate size for the position. He gained 40 pounds between his sophomore and junior seasons, and according to 247Sports, he has the capability of being a multiple-year starter at the Power 5 level.
“I just want to try to get to know them now,” Walker said. “I just want to make sure I go somewhere that feels like a home.”
315 2x pic.twitter.com/z6CT0pMqQ2
— Issiah Walker (@walker_issiah) March 1, 2019
Walker is the 21st offensive tackle Ohio State has offered in the Class of 2020, and with that offer, the Buckeyes have now offered 11 of the top-15 tackles in the nation.
Ohio State Targets Receive Offers
Four-star Dublin all-purpose back Mike Drennen, who was discussed in yesterday’s Hurry Up, received an offer from Colorado on Thursday. That bumped his offers total to 28, including offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State. Drennen is ranked as the No. 5 all-purpose back and the No. 3 Ohio prospect. He is being recruited by Ohio State as either a running back or a slot receiver.
The No. 37 recruit in the 2020 class, Clark Phillips, out of California received an offer from North Carolina on Thursday as well. The No. 4 cornerback in his class has 37 offers with little giving hint toward where he’s leaning.
North Carolina Offered!! Blessings... pic.twitter.com/gTJQjtN2b6
— Clark Phillips III (@ClarkPhillips28) March 1, 2019
Four-star, No. 21 offensive tackle Jake Wray, out of Georgia, received an offer from Illinois on Thursday night. Wray was committed to Ohio State from April 2018 until December, when he reopened his recruitment.
Four-star offensive tackle Tate Ratledge received an offer from Penn State on Friday. Ratledge is the nation’s No. 51 recruit and the No. 5 tackle.
Kentucky four-star offensive tackle John Young was extended an offer from Nebraska on Friday in what follows a fruitful month for the Louisville native. He received offers from Georgia Tech, Northwestern, Oregon, West Virginia, Kentucky and Georgia in February. The No. 4 Kentucky recruit in the 2020 class has a lot of interest in Kentucky and Louisville.
I am honored to say I have received an offer from the University of Nebraska! #GBR #Huskers pic.twitter.com/3EycZCovMJ
— John Young (@the_johnyoung) March 1, 2019
