Ohio State is No. 2
Ohio State checks in at No. 2 in the first College Football Playoff rankings of 2024.
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.
OSU Exceeds Expectations for Beaux Collins
Ohio State’s coaching staff jumped on 2021 wide receiver Beaux Collins quickly, as soon as wide receivers coach Brian Hartline and head coach Ryan Day saw his tape.
Collins’ high school coach, Jason Negro out of St. John Bosco High School, accompanied the four-star wide receiver to a Rose Bowl practice in late-December of 2018, when Ohio State was preparing to play Washington. Upon meeting Collins, Day and Hartline sat down to watch his film, and after seeing his speed-size combination, they offered him that day.
“I just saw it as a blessing for them to see what they saw in me,” Collins said. “They said they really liked size and speed, but they also liked the way I blocked and the way I ran and could make those tough catches. I appreciated that they were willing to work with me and see how I can develop as a player.”
Since then, Collins has been in touch with Hartline and Day, but particularly Hartline, who he talks to at least once per week, developing a relationship with the wideouts coach that eventually brought him to Columbus for Student Appreciation Day.
While on his visit Saturday, he met with Hartline and Day again, as well as with some of the other recruits, including 2021 California quarterback Miller Moss, 2021 Washington athlete Emeka Egbuka and 2021 Pickerington wideout Lorenzo Styles.
The visit, which featured a spring practice, a photoshoot and a heavy student presence, exceeded Collins’ expectations, he said.
“It was really cool just getting to hang out with the guys and meeting some of the other recruits,” Collins said. “It was cool knowing that they were all looking for the same things that I was.”
Collins said that what he offers a wide receivers room is not only size, speed and high energy but the ability to be coached. Though he said he can improve on his aggressiveness and attacking the ball.
Collins has a visit planned for April 12 at Oregon and visited Notre Dame the day before he made his way to Columbus – a visit he said that was successful.
George Rooks, Another Defensive Tackle Offer
A 6-foot-4, 246-pound George Rooks out of New Jersey was also in Columbus over the weekend, and he left with another prestigious offer. Rooks, who is expected to be one of the top defensive tackles in the 2021 class, has already been offered by Auburn, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and others. Now, he’s been offered by the Buckeyes too.
“The practice was the highlight of the visit,” Rooks said. “I loved seeing guys compete.”
Rooks recorded 48 tackles, 10 for loss, and 4.5 sacks as a sophomore at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City, New Jersey, and he has developed a relationship with Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, who extended him the offer.
“Coach Johnson said to me that he likes me hands and feet for a defensive lineman,” Rooks said. “My hands are my strength right now as a young player, and my versatility to play either 3-technique or 5-technique.”
Rooks was one of five notable defensive linemen to make the visit to Columbus on Saturday, along with five-star Pickerington defensive end Jack Sawyer, Missouri defensive end Travion Ford, Pennsylvania defensive tackle Elliot Donald and Florida defensive end Greg Crippen – who also received an offer Saturday. Ohio State has now offered 10 defensive tackles in the 2021 class, the second-most among all of the positions.
'Bama Offers Mike Drennen
Dublin-native all-purpose back Mike Drennen, who visited Columbus for Student Appreciation Day and has been around the program many times recently, received an offer from Alabama on Tuesday.
Wow!!! Blessed to say that I've received my 32nd D1 football offer from Alabama!!!!! #RollTide #HopeBoyz #ItsJustDifferent pic.twitter.com/Hi7aBSLd48
— Mike Drennen II (@UhhMyNameDonut) March 27, 2019
Drennen is leaning heavily toward Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame as of late, but the Alabama offer is his most notable since he received his offers from those schools.
He is being recruited as both a running back and a slot receiver, and Ohio State is favoring the slot receiver position for the No. 3 Ohio prospect.
