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.
Wilcoxson sets OV for June
Kamar Wilcoxson is committed to Florida, but that’s not going to stop the IMG (Fla.) Academy junior from visiting other schools.
That includes Ohio State. Wilcoxson says he will make an unofficial visit to Ohio State in March and then an official visit June 12-14.
Big Blessing.
— (@KamarWilcoxson4) January 31, 2020
Blessed to Receive an Offer from THE Ohio St University .. #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/9JmL699Vvb
“Me and coach Coombs talked about it. (We’re gonna) lock it in when I come in the spring, but I already know the date,” Wilcoxson told Eleven Warriors.
Wilcoxson is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior ranked as the No. 21 athlete, No. 267 overall player and No. 40 recruit in Florida. But Wilcoxson, who committed to Florida in November 2018, decommitted last April and then recommitted in July, is being recruited by Ohio State as a cornerback.
Ryan Day visited IMG Academy on Jan. 31 as part of his Florida tour during the final two days of the most recent contact period, and he offered Wilcoxson a scholarship.
“(Coach Day and I) were talking about (Jeff) Okudah then he said he was looking for the next (Okudah), and I said, ‘I’m here.’ Then he offered,” Wilcoxson said. “I was pretty happy because I’ve wanted that offer for a minute.”
The return of Coombs has helped put Ohio State on the map as an option for his future, Wilcoxson says.
“They have a known prestige when it comes to corners and getting them in the league,” Wilcoxson said. “Coach Coombs is back as well, and he’s the best.”
Coombs and Day are just as impressed with Wilcoxson.
“They said they were really impressed with me on and off the field,” Wilcoxson said. “They like my physicality, feet, range and hips. Coach Coombs said he wants me to play CB.”
i aint committed nowhere but The University of Florida, stop playing with my top.
— (@KamarWilcoxson4) February 9, 2020
Wilcoxson has reiterated that he is still committed to Florida, but he did say that his recruitment is not done yet.
“I don’t know when I’ll be 100 percent done with recruitment,” Wilcoxson said. “Maybe before the season. Maybe after. I don’t know yet.”
“Relentless worker” Megwa looks to visit OSU this spring
Emeka Egbuka isn’t the only highly talented Emeka being heavily recruited by Ohio State at a skill position.
Nolan Catholic (Texas) running back Emeka Megwa is a 6-foot, 200-pounder in the 2022 class who, by 247Sports’ lone rankings, is listed the nation’s No. 85 overall player and No. 12 running back and Texas’ No. 8 player in the sophomore class.
Appreciate Coach @ryandaytime coming from @OhioStateFB to talk evaluate and talk about a bunch of @NolanCatholicFB Vikings! Appreciate you & glad to have another Northeast guy on campus! #iroNClad pic.twitter.com/UMg6SNrBng
— David Beaudin (@CoachBeaudin) January 28, 2020
Ohio State has taken notice of Megwa’s ability, and Tony Alford has him as one of the top targets at the position in the sophomore cycle. Alford and Day visited Nolan Catholic and the program’s head coach David Beaudin during the last week of the January contact period.
“He knows and has a great relationship with Tony Alford,” Beaudin told Eleven Warriors. “He has also gotten to know Corey Dennis and thinks very highly of Ryan Day. They love his leadership abilities, how he is a team-first guy who is obviously a freak of nature physically, but more importantly a blue-collar guy who works extremely hard and is extremely coachable.
“They are impressed with his maturity and character. Physically, they like his size, but are impressed with his fluidity at that size. They know that he is an amazing young man off the field.”
As Ohio State continues looking to add quality character to its program among its top-tier recruits, Megwa seems to be one who would fit right in.
“He is extremely intelligent in all areas, on and off the field,” Beaudin said. “On the field, he has a high football IQ and handles things in protection that are far beyond his years. Emeka is a relentless worker, doesn't let all of the praise and accolades get to his head, is grounded, comes from an amazing family, and will have zero off-the-field problems. I love him like a son.”
As for what Megwa loves about Ohio State, Beaudin says Megwa “loves the culture, the history of great RBs, the coaches, the tradition and the education.”
Megwa and his mother visited Ohio State last June, when the two spent extensive time with Alford, touring the facilities, finding out more information about the school itself and beginning to build a relationship with Alford.
Megwa is only a sophomore, but his recruitment will soon pick up steam as he schedules visits for the spring and summer. As of now, Beaudin says Megwa is unsure of when and where he will be taking his next few visits, but Columbus is one of the main places he wants to visit.
“I know he wants to visit Notre Dame, Michigan and Ohio State soon and is going to try to hit those three this spring,” Beaudin said. “He is planning on visiting again but doesn’t have an exact date yet.”
