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.
Advice for self-guided visits
Some of today's Hurry-Up is inspired by our interview this week with Dallan Hayden, one of the Buckeyes' top running back targets in the 2022 class, who recently visited and stopped at a few restaurants during his time in town. Many of you had some #takes about the four spots he hit, and now we're curious for some more.
So for our main note on this beautiful Sunday in Columbus, we're doing something a little different and we're seeking some help from you, Mr., Miss or Mrs. Reader.
It might be a tad late here, as we’re sit two months from the dead period likely being lifted and recruits not having to visit Ohio State through the “self-guided visit” route. (And, as an aside, it’ll be terrific once we no longer have to say the words “self-guided visits” except to explain to people how, once upon a time, the NCAA gave recruits no other choice but to go on “self-guided visits.”)
But I digress.
Being a recruiting reporter is a weird job. As part of that job, sometimes players ask you for advice on what they should do during their visits to Ohio State.
I’ve had multiple players ask me for which spots to hit, but as a Columbus resident for only 18 months (and being the type of person who, ah-hem, likes the nightlife and enjoy it a bit more at 27 years old than a 16- or 17-year-old can), maybe I don’t have the best advice. I often tell them to hit Mirror Lake during their Ohio State campus tour, take that 360-degree walk around The Shoe and take a walk up and down High Street to explore the best shops, restaurants and bars and just get a feel for the liveliness of it.
Personally, one of my favorite mini trips to take in this city is to – on a nice day – take my dog, Kemba, for a ride in the car with the windows down, playing feel-good music while driving the eight miles-or-so through Clintonville, the Short North and the Arena District into downtown. And, sometimes, I’ll take a trip through the German Village before parking and taking Kemba on a walk down the Scioto River. I’ve really grown a love for this city, and just talking about all that gets me excited for consistent spring weather and the summer.
However … that may or may not be every recruit’s cup of tea, and they typically have much more important places to see and things to do on their visits.
So, following our mailbag released earlier this week, I’ll be the one asking you the question:
If a recruit is planning a self-guided visit and needed advice on the best places to go, what are some of the spots you would tell him to head to in order to get the best idea of what it would be like to go to school at Ohio State and be a resident of Columbus?
Pope’s top 8
About a month ago, we briefly touched on three-star safety Jake Pope’s recruitment after he trimmed his list (sort of) to 14 schools.
Pope is a player we’ve mentioned a couple of times to keep an eye on, and that remains the same today following Pope trimming his list to a top eight over the weekend.
Blessed to be in this position...top 8 @Hayesfawcett3 pic.twitter.com/yVupozlXPo
— Jake Pope (@JakePope24) April 3, 2021
Ohio State finds itself pitted against Alabama, Notre Dame, Auburn, North Carolina, Michigan, Georgia and Oklahoma for the nation’s No. 392 overall player, No. 26 safety and No. 37 prospect in Georgia’s 2022 class – one who hails from Harry Miller’s alma mater, Buford High School.
Pope is likely to take an official visit to Columbus at some point this summer as the Buckeyes search for at least one safety in this cycle (with Xavier Nwankpa still the clear No. 1 target and Zion Branch not being far behind).
