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.
NEW DAY, SAME QUESTION
Just a few short weeks ago, there was a lot of concern about Franklin, Georgia, Heard County five-star quarterback Emory Jones' commitment to Ohio State.
He'd recently visited Alabama, and talked publicly about his desire to check out Florida and Florida State. So, naturally, speculation about a potential flip ran rampant in all corners of the internet — even though Jones repeatedly said he was just making sure Columbus was the right place for him.
For someone supposedly on the fence, though, Jones has taken his rightful place as lead recruiter for the Buckeyes. He's part a group text message that involves several committed and uncommitted prospects — including five-star defensive end Micah Parsons — and he played an instrumental role in helping the Buckeyes land four-star defensive end Brenton Cox a little over a week ago.
“There's no reason to be worrying,” Jones told Buckeye Grove's Kevin Noon. “I'm 110 percent committed to Ohio State, and they know that.”
That certainly doesn't sound like someone who's wavering in his commitment. So while the staff — and fans, alike — would rather Jones shut down his recruitment entirely, maybe these visits aren't such a bad thing. Maybe it gives him more time with Georgia targets like Atlanta five-star guard Jamaree Salyer, Stockbridge four-star athlete Marquez Ezzard, Alpharetta three-star cornerback Jaycee Horn and Tucker three-star linebacker Michael Harris?
“I'm just trying to recruit more, get the best of the best from anywhere,” Jones said. “It does not matter which state or anything, but I have some people that I am talking to in Georgia right now.”
LEFT IN THE COLD
Jones can afford to be a little more hands-off with the above-mentioned Harris, who previously said he would commit to Ohio State after he earned the necessary test scores this spring. But seeing as the Buckeyes could potentially add two linebackers in the next month or so in Virginia Beach five-star Teradja Mitchell and Toledo four-star star Dallas Gant, Harris could soon find himself in a place of uncertainty.
Why, you ask?
Yes, the Buckeyes plan to take anywhere from three to five linebackers in the Class of 2018. But both Harris and Mitchell are inside linebackers, and you're going to take the higher-rated one every time.
Harris also hasn't visited Ohio State and has no plans to do so anytime soon, though linebackers coach Bill Davis stopped by Tucker today. He has been to Auburn and Georgia in the last few months, meanwhile, and continues to build a strong relationship with both staffs.
Point blank: The longer he goes without a trip to Columbus, the less likely Harris ends up with the Buckeyes. As of right now, I think he picks the Tigers sometime this summer.
Of course, the recruiting landscape will continue to change every day. Maybe Mitchell lands at Florida State or LSU, and Harris becomes the priority once again. Or maybe an in-state prospect like Lakota West's Xavier Peters gets an offer this summer and Harris is on the outside looking in.
Only time will tell.
TEXAS REVOLUTION
No matter your view on spring football, there's one benefit you can't deny.
Ohio State's coaches are spread out all over the country right now, watching prospects live and in person — as opposed to on film — and it leads to new offers being handed out every day. The latest extended to Dallas, Texas, Bishop Dunne four-star safety Brian Williams.
Extremely Blessed to Receive an offer from Ohio State University! pic.twitter.com/bdj7G3yr7X
— Brian Williams (@BWi11_) May 4, 2017
The 6-foot, 185-pound Williams is considered the top-rated safety and No. 12 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he totaled 78 tackles, eight interceptions, six pass breakups, five tackles for a loss and two defensive touchdowns to help the Falcons to the state championship last season. He holds more than two dozen offers from programs such as Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas and USC.
Ohio State already has commitments from a pair of safeties in Jaiden Woodbey and Josh Proctor for the Class of 2018. But with the Buckeyes' knack for sending defensive backs to the National Football League at an unprecedented rate and the turnover that follows, there's no reason to already count them out for any top-rated prospects at the position in 2019.
The Buckeyes also extended a scholarship offer to his teammate and Nebraska four-star athlete commit Marquez Beason.
Wow!! Blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University pic.twitter.com/f9nDq8Sqz7
— Marquez Beason (@ezmoneyquez) May 4, 2017
The 5-foot-11, 173-pound Beason is considered the 15th-best athlete and No. 134 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he recorded 40 catches for 581 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 350 yards and four more scores for the Falcons last fall. He committed to the Cornhuskers following their Spring Game last month.
Naturally, he's still excited about his pledge to Nebraska but acknowledged the offer from Ohio State means a lot.
ANOTHER ONE *DJ KHALED VOICE*
New Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson will undoubtedly increase the usage rate of tight ends within Buckeyes' offense moving forward, so it should come as no surprise he's combing the country in search of the best players at the position.
Yesterday, he offered Florida four-star Keon Zipperer, and today, Plano, Texas, four-star Austin Stogner.
#AGTG!! Blessed to say I have received an offer from THE Ohio State University pic.twitter.com/WuBKHejTCD
— Austin Stogner (@austin_stogner) May 4, 2017
“It was awesome [to get the offer],” Stogner told Eleven Warriors. “They are preseason No. 1 and a school with great academics and tradition with great coaches.”
The 6-foot-6, 230-pound Stogner is considered the third-best tight end and No. 65 prospect overall in the Class of 2019, as he hauled in 13 receptions for 273 yards and 5 touchdowns to lead the Lions to the state semifinals last year. He holds nearly 20 offers from programs such as Baylor, Florida State, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
As I mentioned in yesterday's edition of The Hurry Up, Ohio State will take two tight ends in next year's recruiting class and at least one in 2019. If it comes down to Stogner and Zipperer, the former is already making his case.
“[I'm] a very versatile tight end who can play anywhere on the field,” he said.
