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.
Davies recruitment shifts to seven schools
In addition to the guys we’ve talked about so much in Hurry-Ups over the past few weeks (Jakailin Johnson, Tony Grimes, Jordan Hancock, etc.), another one of Ohio State’s top targets at cornerback is Mater Dei (Calif.) High School four-star Jaylin Davies.
Davies, the nation’s No. 10-ranked cornerback in the 2021 class, is on the outskirts of being ranked in the top 100 overall and top 10 in the state of California.
The 6-foot, 165-pound Davies, who is still working his way back from a leg injury, is starting to heat up his recruitment, as he told Eleven Warriors he’s now focusing the most on Ohio State, Washington, Arizona State, Texas, UCLA, USC and Texas A&M. That’s not an official trimmed list for Davies, but that should be coming in the near future.
Davis has scheduled visits to Arizona State in March, Washington in April and Ohio State in June, and he says those are the only three visits he has planned as of right now.
“OSU sits high on my list, but once I visit most of the schools mentioned above, I'll know who's serious about me and then I'll have a clearer vision,” Davies said.
Davies says he communicates with Ryan Day once a week, but the next step will be for him to get into contact with Kerry Coombs. Davies and Coombs have not yet spoken or met, and the building of that relationship will be crucial if the Buckeyes want to pull Davies away from the Pac-12.
Ohio State is intriguing to Davies because of its recent history of developing defensive backs, but Davies' strongest relationships are with the coaches at Arizona State, Washington and USC.
Allen to visit this summer
The biggest focus for Ohio State recruiting over the next several weeks and months will be running back in the 2021 class, as a commitment from Evan Pryor – whether to Ohio State, Georgia, North Carolina or elsewhere – is on the horizon, and the Buckeyes are continuing to heavily pursue Donovan Edwards, Camar Wheaton, Brandon Campbell and Lovasea Carroll, among others.
But the push for a 2022 running back is also ongoing as Ohio State tries to get a head start there and avoid some of the pitfalls it had during the 2020 cycle.
Emeka Megwa is one whom we touched on last week, as the potential five-star from Texas’ Nolan Catholic High School is continuing to rise in the sophomore class and is looking at a spring visit for his first time in Columbus.
Another key player in the 2022 running backs crop is IMG (Fla.) Academy standout Kaytron Allen, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound sophomore who hails from Norfolk, Virginia, and does not at all lack any confidence between the lines.
“I’m patient running. I like to read the defense and react. I can do a lot with the ball in my hand,” Allen told Eleven Warriors. “Any kind of offense (fits my style). Just put the ball in my hand. That will be fine.”
Blessed to receive an offer from THE hio State University #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/1M2zUDTaLV
— Kaytron Fatman Allen (@kaytron_allen) September 16, 2019
Like Megwa, Allen is looking to visit Columbus for the first time very soon, as Allen told us he will be visiting this summer with his mom, aunt, uncle and another family. They do not have a date locked in yet for that visit, but Allen knows some of the things he’s looking for on the visit.
“(I’m) looking for, can they bring the best version of myself and my family other than football?” Allen said.
Ohio State offered Allen in September, and 13 total programs have offered him thus far, including Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Penn State and Texas.
Allen’s relationships with coaches, including Tony Alford, are continuing to grow, as they’re in the early stages right now.
“Coach Alford recruited me, and we have a good relationship but we really can’t talk because I’m in 10th grade,” Allen said. “(We) talk once in a while.”
Jackson plans summer visit too
Alford was visiting running backs all over the country in January, but he also took a trek to Orlando, Florida, toward the end of the contact period to dish an offer to Boone High School four-star strongside defensive end Shambre Jackson.
Blessed to receive an offer from Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/crOV6KPRB8
— shambre jackson (@JacksonShambre) January 29, 2020
Jackson, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound junior, is ranked No. 236 overall, No. 15 at SDE and No. 34 in Florida for the class of 2021. He’s a long shot as of right now, but Jackson says he texts Ohio State’s coaches every day and talks with them on the phone frequently.
Ohio state showing love. pic.twitter.com/6ltiuwBm40
— shambre jackson (@JacksonShambre) February 19, 2020
“They say, ‘I really want you here; you’re a good player,’” Jackson told Eleven Warriors. “I’m a good player. I’m fast. I’m strong.”
Florida State and Florida seem to be in the lead for Jackson, but he says FSU, UF, Georgia, Auburn, Alabama, Miami and Ohio State are all among the schools recruiting him the hardest right now.
Jackson says he has plans to visit Columbus for the first time this summer.
Another Jackson
Another key Jackson in the 2021 class is Episcopal (Texas) High School offensive guard Donovan Jackson, one of the Buckeyes’ biggest commits in the class.
Jackson has already flown up the rankings, as he’s now the No. 1-ranked offensive guard and No. 45 overall player in the nation in the 247Sports composite rankings – he’s also the top-ranked guard and No. 8 overall player in 247Sports’ own rankings system.
It’s possible Jackson could move even higher up the list before he signs later this year, as he’s making impressions at the Rivals Camp Series.
#OhioState OL commit Donovan Jackson (@D_jack78) impressing at the @Rivals camp. #GoBucks @Kevin_Noon @MarcGivlerBG @samspiegs pic.twitter.com/Zh4YzlB9S6
— Chad Simmons (@ChadSimmons_) February 23, 2020
Hart wins wrestling title
Cherokee Trail (Colo.) High School three-star tight end Sam Hart is already committed to Ohio State, and it’s possible Hart will move up the rankings down the road.
For now, Hart has been focused on his wrestling season, and that culminated in Hart capturing a state championship in the 220-pound weight class this weekend, polishing off an undefeated season.
5A State Wrestling Tourney: Day 3-220 lbs.-Cherokee Trail's Sam Hart completes the undefeated season with his state crown win!! Congrats!! @CTHSAthletics @CthWrestling @creeksports @raptorathletics @WolvesWrestling @WeAreOverland @SmokySports pic.twitter.com/SejjX167wQ
— Cherry Creek Schools Athletics & Activities (@CCSDATHACT1) February 23, 2020
Hart is the first individual state champion in Cherokee Trail history.
Egbuka backs up ranking, position switch
Five-star Steilacoom (Wash.) High School’s Emeka Egbuka was long listed as an athlete because of his standout ability at both receiver and defensive back.
But Egbuka was finally switched to receiver last week on his recruiting profile, where he’s now listed as the No. 1 receiver and No. 7 overall player in the country. Over the weekend, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound talent dominated at the Pylon 7-on-7 showcase, backing up the scouts’ ranking and position switch.
247Sports No. 1 WR Emeka Egbuka has been the most dominant player at @Pylon7on7 Vegas. This is his seventh score in two-plus games: https://t.co/SwBjnrpwPH pic.twitter.com/O1GT4b2ate
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) February 23, 2020
BYE! 2021 WR from @HeirFootball in Washington Emeka Egbuka @emeka_egbuka caught the ball and reversed field and went to the crib! #TheMecca #7v7szn pic.twitter.com/aMk81nBVJg
— Pylon 7on7 Football (@Pylon7on7) February 23, 2020
Egbuka’s recruitment is most likely going to come down to Washington, Clemson or Ohio State, and he will be making an official visit to Ohio State this spring or summer.
