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.
OHIO STATE WILL LAND ONE PLEDGE TONIGHT
Though he didn't anticipate making a decision on his future that night, former five-star defensive end Chase Young got the fireworks started by committing to Ohio State during last year's rendition of Friday Night Lights. Four-star running back Brian Snead followed soon thereafter and has remained solidly in his surprising pledge ever since.
So can we expect a similar storyline this evening? I think so. I mentioned earlier this week how Huntington, West Virginia, Spring Valley five-star offensive tackle Doug Nester was in the midst of a week-long vacation with his family that would culminate for a visit with Friday Night Lights. It'll be his fourth visit to campus this spring, and given his distaste for the recruiting process, I fully expect him to pull the trigger this evening.
Nester, who recently included Ohio State in his Top 5 alongside Alabama, Florida, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, has the size, strength and length needed to play the position at the highest level. And he would make for one heck of a start to the Buckeyes' 2019 recruiting class.
...AND ANOTHER BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND
There are several names that I could list right now, including other 2019 prospects like in-state linebacker Cade Stover, defensive end Zach Harrison and defensive tackle Jowon Briggs. Maybe even 2020 offensive tackle Jake Wray, whose brother Max committed to Ohio State ahead of the Spring Game. But my focus this weekend is on New Jersey four-star defensive end Jayson Oweh, who is on campus for the second time in as many months.
Oweh, who is still relatively new to the game of football after playing only eight games during his junior year, has gotten to know defensive line coach Larry Johnson and defensive coordinator and area recruiter Greg Schiano quite well since the Buckeyes offered in May. He's repeatedly talked about wanting to find a staff that would be patient with him and develop him into a star. Johnson, more so than anyone on the staff, fits that mold 100 percent.
Oweh was on campus with his father for Ohio State's one-day camp last month. He'll return with his mother this evening. Can he convince them Columbus, and not Happy Valley — which they've fallen in love with — is the place for him? Time surely will tell.
EMORY JONES RETURNS TO FORM
It's been nearly a year since four-star quarterback Emory Jones committed to Ohio State, and a lot has happened in the meantime.
Jones suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for several games of his junior season, thus ending Franklin, Georgia, Heard County's bid for a state title in the process. He's seen his rankings drop as a result, though he's fully healed and shown signs this spring and summer of why he was once widely considered the top-rated dual-threat quarterback in the country.
Inconsistency also has plagued Jones in camps this offseason, though, which is why he wasn't invited to Nike Football's The Opening Finals earlier this month. I think it has more to do with the lack of repetition and feeling pressure to do well after not throwing for several months than coming back from the injury itself, but we all know how the smallest things get dissected like that. Especially when fellow Georgian Justin Fields has seemingly come out of nowhere in the last year to now find himself atop most recruiting boards.
Regardless, I expect Jones to put on a show this evening. Unlike last year, when the awkward battle between Tate Martell and Danny Clark took center stage, all eyes will be on him.
It's just a matter of feeling comfortable under the lights at Ohio Stadium. With this being his third visit since April, fans shouldn't be worried about his pledge. And after tonight, there will be a renewed excitement about the future of the quarterback position in Columbus.
SPEAKING OF THE QUARTERBACK POSITION
Ohio State is surely looking to have its quarterback situation for the Class of 2019 figured out sooner rather than later. And with names such as Texas four-star Grant Tisdale and Oregon four-star Michael Johnson Jr. already holding offers, Michigan three-star Dwan Mathis must stake his claim for that spot this evening.
Mathis, you may recall, was among the most impressive quarterbacks to attend the Buckeyes' three one-day camps last month, going toe-to-toe on every throw with the above-mentioned Jones inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. He was committed to Iowa State at that time, but has since reopened his recruitment and landed a notable offer from Michigan State.
Mathis displayed accuracy and an extremely strong arm, and I don't see a reason why it wouldn't be more of the same tonight. He seems to thrive under pressure, and I say that after watching head coach Urban Meyer stand inches away from him while he threw dart after dart.
This is his opportunity to land an offer — which I think he does — and cement himself as the staff's top priority at the position.
Of course, Dan, Tim and I will be on hand to bring you the latest from Ohio Stadium. The event starts at 7 p.m., and we have an open thread dedicated to the evening's festivities.
