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.
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT
After a brief drop in the rankings, Ohio State quarterback commit Emory Jones returned to five-star status in the 247Sports Composite Rankings on Monday afternoon.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Jones was previously a five-star prospect, but saw his stock fall off after suffering a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the last half of his junior season at Franklin, Georgia, Heard County.
He's returned to form this offseason, though, recently competing in Nike Football's The Opening Atlanta Regional and earning an invitation to the Rivals Five-Star Challenge during recruiting service's camp series.
Jones, the second-ranked dual-threat quarterback and No. 24 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, becomes the Buckeyes' second five-star pledge, joining IMG Academy defensive tackle Taron Vincent. Only Clemson, Penn State and USC can also make that claim.
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME
Houston, Texas, Alief Taylor five-star wide receiver Brennan Eagles included Ohio State in his Top 10 on Sunday night alongside Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, TCU and USC.
He previously unveiled a similar Top 10, but swapped out UCLA for the defending champion Tigers this time around.
New top 10...No interviews please, thank you! pic.twitter.com/qPlOVtMbfU
— Brennan Eagles (@_BrennanEagles_) April 30, 2017
The 6-foot-4, 214-pound Eagles is considered the fourth-best wideout and No. 44 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, having recorded recorded 55 catches for 1,069 yards and 13 touchdowns to help the Lions to the state playoffs last fall. He was recently invited to Nike's The Opening and the Rivals Five-Star Challenge.
Outside of St. Louis four-star Kamryn Babb, Eagles is Ohio State's top wide receiver target. He hasn't been on campus yet, but an official visit this fall could easily put the Buckeyes at the forefront of his recruitment.
TAR HEEL BLUE, THROUGH AND THROUGH
As expected, Hillsborough, North Carolina, Orange four-star linebacker Payton Wilson committed to North Carolina during a ceremony at his high school on Monday afternoon.
I'm 100% committed to UNC! #GDTBATHS/O @CFB___Edits for the video pic.twitter.com/ga6kPbAYg8
— Payton Wilson (@payton_wilson21) May 1, 2017
The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Wilson is considered the second-best outside linebacker and No. 84 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He recently narrowed down his more than two dozen offers to Clemson, North Carolina, Ohio State and Virginia Tech, but the in-state Tar Heels had long been considered the favorite.
"It’s felt like home for the whole recruiting process and I just feel like it’s the place I can go and get some playing time," Wilson told those in attendance and watching online. "The future is bright for North Carolina and my recruiting class. I’m ready to go to North Carolina and see what we can do."
Ohio State offered Wilson in early February and was playing catch-up in his recruitment ever since. There was the thought he might delay his college announcement following a trip to Columbus in April, but even that was a long-shot.
As I mentioned in last night's edition of The Hurry Up, verbal commitments don't always means a prospect shuts down his recruitment and there's a chance Wilson takes visits this fall. If Ohio State strikes out with prospects like Dallas Gant and Christopher Oats, Wilson could certainly be a candidate to be flipped later on in the process.
It's just a matter, then, of how much linebackers coach Bill Davis keeps in contact moving forward.
MOORE BAD NEWS
Sold on the fact that he can both play football and run track at Oklahoma State, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Union four-star wide receiver C.J. Moore committed to the Cowboys on Monday morning.
His decision comes just over a month he included Ohio State in his Top 6.
I AM A COWBOY!!!#GoPokes!!! pic.twitter.com/GW2lf8bwZ4
— CJ Moore (@daddydimes35) May 1, 2017
The 6-foot-5, 175-pound Moore is considered the 22nd-best wideout and No. 116 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He made his first trip to Columbus for Junior Day in late January, but was always going to be tough to pull away from the local teams.
Moore gushed about the program's family atmosphere the last time we talked, so there's a possibility he takes an official visit to Ohio State this fall. But with Babb and Eagles higher on their board and several in-state options like Xenia's Meechi Harris dying to get an offer from the Buckeyes, I don't anticipate a flip in the future.
IT'S STILL EARLY
The most notable commitment came on Sunday night, as Cleveland St. Ignatius three-star offensive tackle Darian Kinnard pledged his services to Kentucky. He becomes the third Ohioan to pick the Wildcats in as many months.
Going to love what we will do together!!!!
— Darian Kinnard (@DarianJoe) May 1, 2017
#BBN #Kentucky @vincemarrow Excited for the future!! pic.twitter.com/qOw9uUoPEt
The 6-foot-7, 336-pound Kinnard is considered the 31st-best offensive tackle and No. 411 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He doesn't have an offer from Ohio State, but is certainly a name to keep in mind in the coming months as the staff would like to bring on three offensive tackles in the current recruiting cycle.
Offensive line coach Greg Studrawa and running backs coah Tony Alford stopped by his high school just over a week ago. Of course the Buckeyes already hold a commitment from Tennessee four-star offensive tackle Max Wray and remain in the hunt for five-star Jackson Carman, but Kinnard could still fill the third tackle spot if offered.
