Colin Hurley doesn’t typically chase offers. This one was different.
The 2025 quarterback prospect and Jacksonville, Florida, native walked a mile from his hotel to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center Tuesday just to clear his mind before going through workouts with Ryan Day and Corey Dennis at Ohio State camp.
Hurley came in with a goal and he left campus having achieved it. The rising high school sophomore at Trinity Christian Academy became just the second quarterback in the cycle to receive an offer from Ohio State (Findlay’s Ryan Montgomery being the first) after impressing Day and company, even when throwing the ball alongside No. 1 2024 quarterback prospect and Buckeye commit Dylan Raiola.
“I was going in there with the intention to get the offer because this is a really big offer. For a skill position this is a big offer, but especially at the QB position. So obviously I was going in there with the intention to really go get this offer,” Hurley told Eleven Warriors. “I don’t really chase offers, I’m really grateful to all the coaches that have offered me, but today I was really going for the offer. This one meant a lot for me as a quarterback.”
Despite entering the day with offers from Georgia, LSU, Florida and a host of other programs around the country, Hurley told media members at the conclusion of camp that he doesn’t necessarily have any top schools at the moment.
After earning an offer from Ohio State, that notion quickly seemed to change.
“I definitely think of Ohio State as a top school for me,” Hurley said. “Just looking at the QBs that they’ve put in the NFL and how successful they’ve been over the years, they’re always No. 1 in offense and quarterbacks there surely succeed under Coach Ryan Day. I feel like he’s done a great job there over the past few years. So Ohio State is definitely gonna be in my top list.
“Ohio State’s always been a dream school of mine, they’ve been so successful so they’re definitely in the top list of mine right now. They’re definitely up there, one of the top schools I’m looking at.”
Highly touted 2025 QB Colin Hurley says I always loved Ohio State growing up and that an offer from the Buckeyes would mean a lot.
— Griffin Strom (@GriffinStrom3) June 21, 2022
Hurley goes to Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville. pic.twitter.com/RO4Lcj2mKQ
Day brought Hurley into his office shortly after the conclusion of camp to extend the offer, and the 6-foot, 205-pound passer said it “really meant a lot for me.” Hurley said he couldn’t help but think about the recent first-round draftees and Heisman Trophy finalists who have operated under center for the Buckeyes, and there’s little doubt he has those same aspirations in the future.
As for what Day and Dennis like about Hurley’s game, he said the pair wasn’t short on positive feedback after seeing him spin the ball Tuesday.
“They liked how quick the ball comes out of my hand, they say I have a really powerful arm, a really explosive arm as well,” Hurley said. “They said whenever I get on the move I’m athletic and I’m able to make throws on the run. And they’re especially surprised with my timing and anticipation because they know a lot of quarterbacks need to work on that. But they surely loved my anticipation and timing, even throwing to new receivers that I’ve never really thrown to. They were really pleased with that.”
2025 QB Colin Hurley (@ColinHurley) throwing to 2024 RB Stacy Gage (@3stacygage). pic.twitter.com/0deMWlbO7E
— Garrick Hodge (@Garrick_Hodge) June 21, 2022
Hurley figured to have his work cut out for him to stand out in a group that also included Raiola, the No. 2 overall prospect in the class above him, but he managed to do so nonetheless. Hurley said he even learned a thing or two from the future Buckeye, as Day and Dennis put him through several drills he said he’d never previously attempted.
It would be difficult to deny the recruiting momentum Ohio State has gained with offensive skill players in short order over the past couple days, as five-star 2023 wideouts Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss committed to the program in back-to-back days. Beyond the success of recent Buckeye quarterbacks Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud, the potential to throw to the best receivers in the country is yet another alluring factor about the program for Hurley.
“this school’s really high on me and I’m really high on them as well. They’re looking at me as the best ’25 quarterback, so I really feel like Ohio State’s gonna be in that top list of mine.”– Colin Hurley
“Ohio State’s Ohio State. They’ve produced many good wide receivers over the past years. Their offense is always just so explosive and it’s just a fun offense for a QB or receiver to be in,” Hurley said. “You watch them on Saturdays and they’re just different. They score every time they get the ball, they’re just a different team.”
With three years of high school football left to play, Hurley has plenty of time left to figure things out in his recruitment. During that process, he said he “definitely” plans to make return visits to Ohio State’s campus.
“I love this relationship I have with the coaches (at Ohio State),” Hurley said.
Hurley said Day is already touting him as the best quarterback in his class, and in the next season and beyond, the Florida native intends to prove the Buckeye head coach right.
“Just know that this school’s really high on me and I’m really high on them as well,” Hurley said. “They’re looking at me as the best ‘25 quarterback, so I really feel like Ohio State’s gonna be in that top list of mine. … They came to watch me at the Elite 11 and they were able to watch me today as well. (Day) really believes in me and he knows that I’m gonna be the best quarterback in the ‘25 class. So we’re gonna start this relationship now and I can’t wait for down the road.”
