It seems that today was “announce your future commitment date” day in the recruiting world.
Three Ohio State targets gave updates on when they plan to announce their commitments, including the nation’s best wideout in the class of 2023. So let’s start there.
Inniss down to five
In a graphic that gives off strong Lebron James “The Decision” vibes, 2023’s top receiver Brandon Inniss set a commitment date for Aug. 22.
I prayed for times like this to shine like this #thecommitment pic.twitter.com/6HlM9rXnBv
— BrandonSHOWTIME inniss (@brandon5star2) August 12, 2021
The five-star playmaker will pick from Ohio State, Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida and Miami. All the buzz nationally has centered around Oklahoma over the last few weeks, with two 247Sports experts predicting Inniss will land with the Sooners. He visited Oklahoma for the school’s ChampU BBQ in June.
Inniss is the ninth-best prospect in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, so don’t expect the other four in contention to go down without a fight before decision day. The Fort Lauderdale, Florida resident camped at Ohio State on June 22. While working out with the Buckeyes, he displayed exceptional quickness, route-running and ball skills for his 6-foot, 190-pound frame, showcasing why he’s viewed as a five-star recruit.
“I have a lot of interest in Ohio State. They produce guys for the NFL, and they have the coaches to go with it, the wins to go with that,” Inniss said of the Buckeyes while at the camp in June.
In his sophomore season at TRU Prep Academy, Inniss racked up nearly 1,000 total yards and 10 touchdowns.
Öhrström to announce decision Wednesday
Theodor Öhrström, a four-star tight end rated as the No. 158 overall prospect and No. 13 tight end in the 2023 class, announced he is down to three schools and will make his decision public on Wednesday morning.
Ill be announcing my commitment next Wednesday at 9:30 am ET on @CBSSportsHQ! Tune in to see where Ill spend college career! pic.twitter.com/pVlad30xrf
— Theodor Melin hrstrm (@TheodorMelin) August 12, 2021
Lettermen Row’s Zack Carpenter reported earlier this week Öhrström is down to just Ohio State and Texas A&M, not LSU, and that the tight end from Sweden is considering reclassifying to 2022.
Öhrström camped at Ohio State on June 8 along with top defensive tackle target Hero Kanu as part of the Premier Players International’s DreamChasers Tour. The Buckeyes offered the international tight end that day. While the rest of the PPI crew departed for the next destination later that day, both Kanu and Öhrström stayed behind to spend one more day in Columbus.
“I felt like I had to get the whole feel of the whole university,” Öhrström said in June. “When I go back to Sweden, it’s going to be hard to visit, so I really wanted to get a full impression while I’m here.”
Öhrström boasts prototypical size and speed for a tight end, clocking in at 4.64 seconds in the 40-yard dash with a 6-foot-6, 245-pound frame. He profiles as a prolific pass-catcher at the next level.
“I gotta say, this has been one of the best places I’ve been to so far,” Öhrström said of Ohio State in June. “I really like the hospitality everyone’s shown here, and the facilities and everything’s been really, really great.”
Ohio State currently has one tight end committed for the class of 2022: four-star Bennett Christian. Four-star tight end Benji Gosnell decommitted from the Buckeyes in late July. OSU has no commitment from any position in the 2023 class.
Four 247Sports Crystal Balls have been placed this week in favor of Öhrström winding up with Texas A&M. Öhrström visited College Station twice this summer.
Pope will commit on Monday
In another announcement on Thursday, three-star 2022 safety Jake Pope said he will make his commitment on Monday evening.
Thank you to every team who has recruited me. Its time to make my college decision and you can watch it live Monday at 6:45pm on @High5Sports . Please no interviews before this announcement. @buford_football @CoachApp35 @Coach_Davis22 @Mansell247 @ChadSimmons_ @SWiltfong247
— Jake Pope (@JakePope24) August 12, 2021
A 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back, Pope is ranked as the 373rd-best player and 26th-best safety in the cycle. He announced a top-five of Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Notre Dame on June 29.
He led Buford High School (Buford, Georgia) to a state championship last season while racking up 63 tackles and four interceptions. If that school sounds familiar, that’s because it’s the same high school current Ohio State center Harry Miller attended.
Pope received an offer from OSU in February and took an official visit to Columbus in mid-June. He also visited Georgia, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Alabama over the summer.
The thinking here is Pope has trended away from Ohio State in recent weeks. Two 247Sports Crystal Balls placed Thursday projected he will land at Alabama.
Feel-good NIL deals
In Wednesday’s Hurry-Up, we discussed name, image and likeness deals that involved Jack Sawyer getting a truck and Quinn Ewers being sponsored by a local company in Texas. While those were interesting, we have to mention two companies that did something really cool on Thursday.
Walk-On’s, an aptly-named restaurant chain that’s popular in the southern region of the country, announced it will award weekly NIL deals to various college athletes. Any college athlete that’s a walk-on, male or female in any sport, is eligible. More details are in the video below.
Every week were giving a Name, Image & Likeness deal to a collegiate walk-on who embodies hustle, grit & determination. These athletes will join @drewbrees @dak @DevinWhite__40 in our #WOFamilyOfAthletes. pic.twitter.com/kKh8dqbO7r
— Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux (@walk_ons) August 12, 2021
Meanwhile: Built Bar, a protein bar brand in Utah, is paying tuition for all 36 walk-ons at BYU.
BIG things happening at BYU!!
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 12, 2021
Thank you to Nick and @bar_built. pic.twitter.com/ShJSiY21Bd
There have been many concerns voiced about what sort of Pandora’s box NIL may open up in the college football landscape, but you have to admit these two developments are pretty wholesome.
