The Hurry-Up: Malik Hartford Loves Ohio State’s “Family Atmosphere,” Buckeyes Offer No. 1 Overall Prospect in 2025, Brandon Inniss and Mark Fletcher Excel on National TV

Ohio State security commit Malik Hartford is off to a powerful begin to his senior season. 

The four-star prospect has helped lead Lakota West to a 2-0 report early within the 2022 season, most just lately dominating rival Lakota East in a 49-6 victory Friday. 

Hartford made his presence felt early by delivering a devastating hit on his workforce’s first kickoff of the night time, stopping the returner in his tracks and establishing an extended area for Lakota East. 

“We simply got here out and knew it’s a rivalry recreation, and we wished to set the tone,” Hartford informed Eleven Warriors after Friday’s recreation. “That’s what we did, and we continued to prosper all through the sport.” 

Hartford performed each methods for the Firebirds and made a number of first-down catches at extensive receiver. He didn’t see many performs come his approach defensively, although, as a result of Lakota East is a run-heavy workforce. 

Hartford was competing in opposition to a fellow Ohio State commit, Lakota East offensive lineman Austin Siereveld. However the pair set their friendship apart for only one week.  

“I personally needed to protect it off this week,” Hartford mentioned of not conversing with Siereveld for the complete week main as much as the sport. “We weren’t buddies no extra. We have been taking part in soccer. However in fact, we’re proud of one another, and we inform one another to get higher day-after-day.” 

You’ve heard of Buckeye-on-Buckeye violence within the NFL earlier than, however Friday additionally humorously offered a chance for future Buckeye vs. future Buckeye motion after issues received chippy with Siereveld and Hartford later within the contest. After a play was over, Hartford continued to comply with by means of on an try and strip the ball from Lakota East’s operating again, which Siereveld took exception to. Utilizing pure intuition to defend his teammate, Siereveld pushed Hartford off his operating again, drawing a private foul from an official. 

“I used to be on high of the pile on the finish. I used to be attempting to get the ball out,” Hartford mentioned. “I assume he felt some sort of approach about that. He was attempting to assist out his teammate. That’s alright. It will get chippy. It’s soccer. I mentioned, ‘C’mon Austin, don’t try this.’ And he informed me the identical shit again. However we dapped up after the sport. We’re all good.”

Outdoors of drawing the amusing private foul from a future teammate, Hartford had a fairly uneventful second recreation of the season defensively in his workforce’s victory, with the outcome being lopsided from the beginning. The identical can’t be mentioned for his first recreation of the season, by which Lakota East held on to beat St. Xavier 16-13. Hartford grew to become a quick Web sensation after delivering a violent hit to a large receiver over the center that drew many flags from officers, regardless that he led together with his shoulder. 

“It was late within the recreation. The quarterback was trying a method, so I weaved a method,” Hartford mentioned of the play. “I sort of want I didn’t weave as a result of then I’d have picked the ball off. I came to visit and made an enormous hit, and the receiver made a fantastic catch. The refs made a questionable name, however it’s what it’s. We received, so we’ll take it recreation by recreation.” 

Since committing to Ohio State in April, Hartford mentioned he often communicates with the workforce’s teaching employees. That was very true after his hit made the rounds on-line, as a number of Buckeye coaches wished to get the 6-foot-3, 175-pound security’s ideas on the play. 

“Coach Day was texting me in regards to the hit. All of the coaches have been texting me in regards to the hit,” Hartford mentioned. “We simply proceed to maintain our relationship tight. That’s what I like about Ohio State. It’s a household environment. A few of the coaches requested me (in regards to the play), however most of them thought it was fairly clear. They informed me in faculty, you get a evaluation. So they’d have overturned it.” 

Hartford shall be one of many many recruits attending Ohio State’s season opener in opposition to Notre Dame on Saturday. He mentioned he’s lent his providers to serving to peer recruit Ohio State’s remaining targets within the 2023 class, primarily five-star defensive finish Keon Keeley, who is anticipated to take an official go to to Columbus this weekend. 

“I attempt to recruit, however when it will get to be within the season, it’s a little bit troublesome,” Hartford mentioned. “I speak to a couple gamers right here and there.” 

Hartford is trying ahead to taking in what is going to seemingly be the most effective atmospheres at Ohio Stadium this season. 

“I already comprehend it’s going to be loopy,” Hartford mentioned. “I believe LeBron goes to be there, a number of different celebrities shall be there, so I’m simply excited and able to stand up there. The Silver Bullets, I’m trying ahead to them flying round. They’ve a fantastic scheme that can enable them to prosper, and I can’t wait to see the fellows fly round and make large performs.”

OSU provides Sanders Jr.

Ohio State supplied the top-ranked prospect within the 2025 recruiting class on Sunday. North Carolina offensive sort out David Sanders Jr. obtained his OSU provide from offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and offensive line coach Justin Frye after talking with the pair this weekend.

Simply briefly underway in his sophomore yr, Sanders Jr. is already 6-foot-6 and 255-pounds. As you would possibly anticipate from his No. 1 rating in 247Sports’ early high 100 for 2025, he’s picked up no scarcity of provides, accumulating 23 Division I provides. His provide checklist contains faculties reminiscent of Georgia, Boston School, Duke, Florida State, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, NC State, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. 

Inniss, Fletcher shine for American Heritage

2023 Ohio State commits Brandon Inniss and Mark Fletcher have been within the nationwide highlight this weekend in the course of the second recreation of their senior seasons.

Enjoying in a nationally televised recreation on ESPN2 Saturday, Inniss and Fletcher every helped American Heritage (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) to a 56-27 victory over Los Alamitos to enhance to 2-0 on the season. Inniss, coming off a gap week the place he had greater than 200 receiving yards and two touchdowns, hauled in a landing catch late within the first quarter in the best nook of the tip zone, then instantly threw up an O-H sign after scoring. 

Fletcher had a monster afternoon, operating for 224 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns. 

Each Inniss and Fletcher are anticipated to be in attendance for Ohio State’s season opener in opposition to Notre Dame Saturday. 

Umeozulu commits to South Carolina

As anticipated, four-star defensive finish Desmond Umeozulu didn’t choose Ohio State when he dedicated Monday. 

The 2023 pass-rusher picked South Carolina as an alternative, as Ohio State has set its sights on attempting to land a trio of higher-ranked defensive ends in Keeley, Damon Wilson and Matayo Uiagalelei.