Finding the right fit for your college football program isn't just about what happens on the field, but off it as well. Today, Ohio State added a key piece. How will that commitment impact the Buckeyes?
Less than an hour ago, Urban Meyer and Tim Beck secured a commitment from yet another one of America's top quarterbacks when Emory Jones, the No. 3 dual-threat passer for 2018, announced his commitment to Ohio State.
Let's take a closer look at what the nation's 34th-ranked overall prospect will be bringing to Columbus.
On the Field
Jones certainly has the necessary size and frame to play the position. 247Sports lists the four-star at 6-foot-1.5 and 193 pounds while Rivals.com lists him at 6-foot-4. Either way, anyone who's seen him when he's been on campus can probably tell you that height really isn't a concern here. As for his frame, he certainly has the potential to put on 15-20+ pounds of muscle. Jones is currently a bit on the skinny side, but that's not surprising for someone who hasn't even started his junior year of high school yet.
One of the more common descriptors for those who have seen him throw is that he has a "live" arm. Jones' deep ball is also something the pundits have raved about. You can get an idea of what kind of arm he brings to the table in this video, courtesy of the fine folks over at Rivals.
While he certainly possesses the legs to take off and run, Jones prefers to pick defenses apart with his passing. Throughout the spring and summer, it has been his precision passing game that has turned heads the most. Our very own Eric Seger came away impressed on last Friday night.
Displaying a smooth release, excellent touch and a penchant for throwing a tight spiral, Jones put the ball wherever he wanted to and did it with Meyer, Tim Beck, J.T. Barrett, Stephen Collier and Dwayne Haskins hovering close by. Once he warmed up and got in a rhythm, you could make the argument that Jones was the most impressive passer at the camp.
Scout.com's Bill Greene noted that Jones was perhaps the most impressive overall player at Friday Night Lights.
Emory Jones might have stood out to me more than any player in the camp, and after seeing him for the first time, I would say he is a more talented J.T. Barrett. Can he be the QB that Barrett is? We shall see. But he's quicker, more athletic and has a much stronger arm than J.T. Via ($)
A more athletic J.T. Barrett with a stronger arm and better size? Yes, please.
In the Class
Ohio State is absolutely loaded at quarterback. There's really no other way to put it at this point. The talent at the position may be better than it's ever been. With Tate Martell and Danny Clark both set to join the 2017 class, it's difficult to imagine – barring something unforeseen – anyone other than Emory Jones signing with Ohio State in February of 2018.
In the recruiting world, it's rare to state something near definitively when we are 18 months away from signing day, but we expect Jones – and only Jones – to be the guy for the 2018 class.
Ohio State had looked at players like Phil Jurkovec and Artur Stikowski, but it's been pretty much all Emory Jones since he received the coveted offer back in May.
The Intangibles
One of the biggest takeaways from listening and reading comments from the nation's No. 2 dual-threat quarterback is his desire to compete. That much should be fairly obvious considering the quarterback room that he will be walking into when he arrives in Columbus. Jones has repeatedly been asked about depth charts and other commitments, and he has never really wavered on his stance.
From last month, following the commitment of Tate Martell:
But while one would think all of those names could potentially hurt Ohio State in the running for Jones, the nation's No. 2-rated dual-threat quarterback in the 2018 class said the Buckeyes' stacked quarterback room won't affect his recruitment.
“The commitments aren’t really affecting me; I know everywhere I go I’m going to have to compete anyway," Jones said. "Them pointing me out as their top 2018 quarterback, that’s exciting.”
Jones also hasn't been shy about his affinity for all things Ohio State. The Buckeyes were identified as his dream school the minute the offer was extended.
"“They’ve been my dream school since I was growing up," he said. "I love the university here and I just love everything they have to offer me.”
In Jones, Urban Meyer and Tim Beck are getting not only one of the nation's top passers, but a competitor who appears ready to embrace the challenge of playing quarterback for the school he fell in love with as a child.
