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.
TICK, TICK ... BOOM?
We've talked ad nauseam about the embarrassment of riches that Ohio State has at the quarterback position for the foreseeable future, and it looks as if another four-star prospect is about to join the crowded depth chart. According to Jordan Hofeditz of the Times-Georgian, Emory Jones — the second-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the Class of 2018 — is expected to announce his college decision on Friday.
The wait for 2018 QB Emory Jones (@eXjones6) could be over shortly. Expect a decision soon. @TGeorgianSports pic.twitter.com/WIsPLyGU54
— Jordan Hofeditz (@jhofeditz) July 27, 2016
The Buckeyes are the clear favorite to land the 6-foot-3, 173-pounder from Franklin, Georgia, though Tennessee has given its best effort in recent months. Jones was in Knoxville for a few hours last Thursday, but spent the entire weekend in Columbus after a stellar showing at Friday Night Lights.
There, Jones stole the spotlight from a pair of well-known 2017 commits, Danny Clark of Archbishop Hoban (Akron) and Tate Martell of Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada). With Clark and Martell seemingly preoccupied with trying to one-up one another during passing drills, Jones displayed a knack for throwing tight spirals all over the field.
“I feel like it was the best performance at a camp I ever had,” he told Eleven Warriors. “I just feel very comfortable here around these coaches and in this stadium. I was just feeling it.”
Jones, who has long maintained that he'd like to commit before the start of his junior year at Heard County High School, added that he's not really worried about the composition of Ohio State's roster.
“I know I'm going to have to compete anywhere I go,” he said.
The Volunteers, meanwhile, may have tipped Jones' hand on Wednesday, when it offered 2018 quarterback Justin Fields. The three-star prospect from Kennesaw, Georgia, is considered the 22nd-best dual-threat quarterback in his class by 247Sports Composite.
Blessed to have received an offer from the University of Tennessee!! #GoVols pic.twitter.com/vHgrneuAEF
— Justin Fields (@justnfields) July 28, 2016
THE CURIOUS CASE OF JERMAINE ESKRIDGE
It has been a strange week for four-star athlete Jermaine Eskridge. The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder from Tampa, Florida, revealed on Monday evening a top-3 list of Alabama, Miami and Ohio State. The following day, Eskridge added two more schools at his mother's insistence. Now, he's committed to a school that wasn't even on his radar four days ago.
Go bulls pic.twitter.com/xtpcEX0Kxy
— EJ2 (@Iam_Jermaine4) July 28, 2016
Eskridge told Eleven Warriors that he was going to visit Ohio State on Wednesday and that a decision would come shortly thereafter. That never came to fruition, however, and he committed to USF during a campus visit on Thursday. It should be noted that he has yet to visit any of the schools he listed on his latest top-5.
Considered the No. 7 overall athlete in the Class of 2018 by 247Sports Composite, Eskridge owns nearly 50 scholarship offers. However, he seems easily influenced and I have a feeling this isn't the last time he makes a pledge before signing day.
It's just a Tampa thing no disrespect to other schools
— EJ2 (@Iam_Jermaine4) July 28, 2016
Eskridge becomes the 11th recruit to commit to the Bulls in the last six days, which includes former Ohio State commit Bruce Judson.
MASSIVE DEFENSIVE TACKLE HAPPY TO GET OFFER
One high school junior who already has the size to dominate at the next level is Jackson, Tennessee's, Greg Emerson. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound defensive lineman towered above several other prospects at Friday Night Lights, so it was no surprise Ohio State offered him a scholarship following the event.
“I talked to coach [Larry] Johnson in his office,” Emerson told 247Sports ($). “He pulled up my film. He showed me what to work on and he told me I have an offer. That was an offer I was hoping to get. I was happy.”
@sneakerhad_greg with his mother and Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson at Friday Night Lights: pic.twitter.com/LOjKUkuMno
— Andrew Lind (@AndrewMLind) July 28, 2016
The four-star prospect and No. 73 player overall in his class holds 14 scholarship offers from some of the top programs in the country, including Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan State, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas A&M and USC.
The 247Sports Crystal Ball points toward the in-state Volunteers for Emerson, though Ohio State has made quite the impression thus far.
“I'll definitely try to get back to Ohio State,” he said.
One thing that will help the Buckeyes moving forward is the fact that Emerson plays for former Ohio State captain Donnie Nickey at North Side High School.
OHIO STATE TARGETS LITTER ESPN JUNIOR 300
ESPN released its list of the top 300 football prospects in the class of 2018, and Ohio State's only commit from the junior class, four-star prospect Brian Snead, comes in at No. 95 overall. Snead, who committed to the Buckeyes last Friday evening, is a 5-foot-11, 195-pound running back from Seffner, Florida.
First edition of the ESPNJr300 rankings for the 2018 class.https://t.co/fnauZHwC6h
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) July 28, 2016
Several Ohio State targets are among the athletes listed, including offensive tackle Jackson Carman (No. 7 overall), offensive tackle Richard Gouraige (No. 19), saftey Jaiden Woodbey (No. 21), cornerback Anthony Cook (No. 26), running back Jaelen Gill (No. 34), quarterback Emory Jones (No. 37) and tight end Leonard Taylor (No. 45), among many others.
