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.
CURRENT, FUTURE BUCKEYES WELCOME EMORY JONES
Ohio State isn't yet finished hauling in four- and five-star athletes to fill out its Class of 2017, but already made quite the splash in the following cycle after it received a commitment from arguably the best quarterback in the Class of 2018. Shortly after dual-threat signal caller Emory Jones pledged his services to the Buckeyes, both current and future players — and a couple priority targets, too — took to Twitter to welcome him to the Scarlet and Gray.
True freshman quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who spent much of this past weekend with Jones; 2017 offensive tackle commit Wyatt Davis; and 2017 wide receiver target Tyjon Lindsey are just a few of the many:
@eXjones6 You listened. Congrats bro! Looking forward to you coming
— Dwayne Haskins, Jr. (@dh_simba7) July 29, 2016
Aye congrats man welcome to the fam https://t.co/onsITWQtqp
— Wavy Dub (@wyattdavis53) July 29, 2016
sauce https://t.co/nrzaa4MMme
— Tyjon A. Lindsey (@tyjonlindsey) July 29, 2016
Ohio State has a history of plucking talent from Georgia, as a pair of stalwarts from the 2014 national championship squad — former defensive back Vonn Bell and current linebacker Raekwon McMillan — hail from the Peach State.
In all three cases, Ohio State had to fend off schools like Alabama and Tennessee along the way.
That fact was not lost on McMillan, either, who urged the high school junior quarterback to help keep the pipeline going.
@eXjones6 congrats bro !! Keep that GA connect going. https://t.co/djRMhwZdDF
— Raekwon McMillan (@Kwon_daTRUTH) July 29, 2016
One can only imagine that Jones will do his best to help the Buckeyes secure a commitment from a couple of highly sought Georgia prospects, five-star offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer and four-star defensive back Tre' Douglas. Both picked up an offer from Ohio State earlier this month.
Blessed to receive an offer from THE Ohio State University #GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/nSqCY8JfeH
— Jamaree Salyer (@jamareesalyer69) July 13, 2016
Beyond blessed and absolutely excited to receive from THE OHIO STATE Buckeyes #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/UJGBEJhwh6
— Tre' Douglas (@tredough8) July 27, 2016
The 6-foot-4, 327-pound Salyer is considered by 247Sports to be the top-ranked offensive guard in his class. One hundred percent of Crystal Ball predictions have the Atlanta Pace Academy product landing with the Georgia Bulldogs, though.
Douglas, meanwhile, is considered the 28th-best cornerback in the state. He is just starting to earn national recognition for his stellar play at McDonough's Eagles Landing Christian Academy, and has offers from schools like Florida, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.
SON OF NBA ALL-STAR MAKING NAME FOR HIMSELF
Ohio State offered a scholarship to — I'm sensing a theme here — Marietta, Georgia's Dominick Blaylock on Friday afternoon. Only a sophomore, the 6-foot, 175-pound wideout has more than 20 offers from schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
NEW OFFER! 2019 ATH/WR @domblaylock (6' 0" 180) thankful @OhioStateFB offered! #OSU #Big10 https://t.co/69nA7jKw5v pic.twitter.com/BbBnwdw2V9
— Walton(GA)Recruiting (@WaltonRecruits) July 29, 2016
Blaylock is the son of former NBA All-Star Mookie Blaylock and former Oklahoma volleyball player Janelle Woods and brother to Kentucky football players Daron and Zach Blaylock. He made headlines in 2015 when he received offers from the Tigers and Gamecocks as an eighth grader.
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Though it already has two of the country's top defensive tackles from the Class of 2017 locked down in Bishop Gorman's (Las Vegas, Nevada) Haskell Garrett and Winton Woods' (Cincinnati) Jerron Cage, Ohio State remains of much interest to four-star prospect Donovan Jeter.
The Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, native released his Top 5 on Wednesday evening, and the Buckeyes were listed among Alabama, Penn State, Pittsburgh and Tennessee.
Well here it is.... #Final 5 pic.twitter.com/uB9QhkLfGM
— 5God (@JeteNificent34) July 28, 2016
Jeter visited Ohio State twice last summer and earned a scholarship offer shortly thereafter, but hasn't been back since. Pitt is considered the favorite to land the 6-foot-4, 265-pounder, while the Buckeyes have instead shifted their focus to four-star Jay Tufele of South Jordan, Utah.
COMMITS RACKING UP MAXPREP ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Seven Ohio State commits have been named MaxPreps All-Americans so far this summer. An eighth was honored on Friday, when Shaun Wade of Trinity Christian Academy in Jacksonville, Florida, was named the feature defensive back of the MaxPreps Small School All-American Team.
Last of the Preseason All-Americans is highlighted by @OhioStateFB pledge @shaunwade2017 https://t.co/xFxHbrtS92 pic.twitter.com/HZ4e7S31al
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) July 29, 2016
Considered the No. 17 overall player in the country for the Class of 2017, Wade had 35 tackles, 11 pass deflections and two interceptions for the Conquerors last season.
Joining him in the All-American defensive backfield is Ohio State target Lamont Wade of Clairton, Pennsylvania. The No. 7 overall cornerback narrowed his college choices to eight programs on Friday and plans to make a decision on his future in December.
Elite Eight... pic.twitter.com/KqARoN7N3E
— 38Savage (@Goony_38) July 29, 2016
Shaun Wade joins quarterback Tate Martell, running back J.K. Dobbins, offensive linemen Josh Myers and Wyatt Davis, defensive tackle Haskell Garrett, safety Isaiah Pryor and kicker Blake Haubeil as MaxPreps All-Americans.
FROM RIGHT UNDER TOM HERMAN'S NOSE
Earlier this week, Ohio State handed out a scholarship to four-star defensive back Anthony Cook of Houston, Texas. The 6-foot-1, 168-pounder is considered the fifth-best cornerback and No. 43 overall prospect in the Class of 2018, and has offers from more than 20 top schools.
Few mean as much as Ohio State's, however.
“After this one, I'm not really looking for any more,” Cook told 247Sports. “I was excited. That was a big one.”
LSU is the Crystal Ball favorite to land Cooke, who plans on making a trip to Columbus soon.
“I hope to get up there for a game,” he said. “I'm talking to my mom and coach about it.”
FOR WHOM MARKQUESE BELL TOLLS
Rutgers has long been the favorite to land Markquese Bell, the nation's sixth-ranked athlete in the Class of 2017. However, Ohio State has been making a late push for the Bridgeton, New Jersey, native.
Really enjoyed myself at OSU #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/YuKIkAVCGa
— I C E (@MarkqueseB) July 24, 2016
Bell was in Columbus one week ago tonight for Friday Night Lights, from which he came away quite impressed.
“Friday Night Lights was a great experience,” Bell told 247Sports ($). “I got to go in Urban Meyer's office and hold the national championship trophy and the Heisman Trophy. That was really cool.”
The 6-foot-3, 194-pounder is being recruited as a safety, though the Buckeyes are still in the race for the top-ranked player at that position, Jeffrey Okudah. He has more than 20 offers, but hopes to narrow down his choices in the next few weeks.
