The Hurry Up: Quarterback Commit Earns Rivals Five-Star Challenge Invitation While Decision Looms For Georgia Defensive End

By Andrew Lind on April 23, 2017 at 7:15 pm
Emory Jones
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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.

WON'T BE DETERRED

Though he missed out on an invitation to Nike Football's The Opening Finals during the Atlanta Regional last month, Ohio State four-star dual-threat quarterback commit Emory Jones was arguably the most impressive signal caller at Rivals' Three Stripe Camp Series on Sunday afternoon.

He was one of nine invited to Rivals' Five-Star Challenge at a to-be-determined location this summer, where he'll meet up with fellow commit Jaiden Woodbey, who earned his invitation in Los Angeles two weekends ago.

Naturally, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Jones had to answer questions prior to the event about his commitment to the Buckeyes. Pressured to name a second-place team, he said Florida.

“I've been in contact with them a lot. Coach [Doug] Nuss[meier], he came down and saw me throw this past Thursday,” Jones told Rivals' Chad Simmons. “I just love what they do on offense. I just feel like they have great coaches who can develop me.”

Jones has already made his intentions to take a visit to Gainesville this summer or fall known, so his fondness for the Gators shouldn't come as a complete surprise. But don't get too worked up just yet, he's still completely solid with the Buckeyes.

“It would take a lot for me to change my mind about Ohio State,” Jones said. “It would probably take like a coaching change or something like that.”

PEACHES RIPE FOR THE PICKING

Stockbridge, Georgia, four-star defensive end Brenton Cox also attended the event on Sunday, earning the title of most valuable defensive lineman. It was his trip to Athens for G-Day on Saturday that is weighing heavy on everyone's mind, however.

Rivals only allows reporters from its respective outlets to attend event — so next month's Columbus camp is off limits for us, unfortunately — but it's safe to assume he undoubtedly avoided questions about his looming decision while there, too.

So let's recap instead.

Cox has been to Georgia more than any other school, which is why the Bulldogs have long been considered the favorite in his recruitment. His family hasn't been shy about their allegiance to Georgia and their disdain for cold weather, either, but Cox decided to accelerate his announcement timeline following his trip to Columbus for the Spring Game last weekend.

Put those things together and it seems like Cox stopped by Georgia this weekend to thank the staff for their interest and let them know of his intentions to pick Ohio State. We'll find out sooner rather than later, but if Cox does choose the Buckeyes, he'll become the seventh Top 10 prospect in the Peach State to go elsewhere.

That's alarming for head coach Kirby Smart, who may see his state raided like Texas was in this year's recruiting cycle when Ohio State landed three of the top six players. Maybe the Buckeyes have a better shot at prospects like five-star offensive guard Jamaree Salyer than some initially thought.

WILL THERE BE ROOM?

Another Peach State prospect destined to leave the state is McDonough, Georgia, Eagle's Landing Christian Academy three-star cornerback Tre' Douglas. He included Ohio State in his Top 7 on Saturday evening alongside Clemson, Florida State, LSU, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.

“Just the love that coach [Urban] Meyer and coach [Kerry] Coombs show,” Douglas told Eleven Warriors. “We talk on a daily basis.”

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Douglas is considered the 31st-best cornerback and the No. 314 prospect overall in the Class of 2018, having recorded 34 tackles and three interceptions to help the Chargers to their second-straight Class A Private state championship last season.

Douglas, who was on campus earlier this month, plans to make a decision on his future sometime this spring. I personally think he's too good of a prospect to pass up, but the issue may be a matter of timing, as the staff is still in pursuit of higher-rated cornerbacks like five-star Anthony Cook and four-star Houston Griffith.

It'll certainly be interesting to see how things unfold over the next few months and if he pushes his timeline back to gain some clarity on where he may fit into the class.

SOUTHERN SWING

Bringing more Georgia flavor to this evening's edition of The Hurry Up, Ohio State offered a scholarship on Friday night to Warner Robbins Houston County four-star offensive guard Trey Hill.

The 6-foot-4, 346-pound Hill is considreed the second-best offensive guard — behind only the aforementioned Salyer — and No. 31 prospect overall in the Class of 2018. He holds nearly 30 offers from programs such as Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and USC.

The Crimson Tide offered him a scholarship just 45 minutes before the Buckeyes, so Friday was a rather eventful day in the Hill household. He has not been to Columbus, but the staff will definitely try to get him on campus this fall.

BOUND TO HAPPEN

The same could be said of IMG Academy four-star wide receiver Joshua Moore, who excluded Ohio State from his Top 7 on Saturday afternoon. He instead listed Alabama, Florida State, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M.

The 6-foot-1, 156-pound Moore regularly talks with Meyer and wide receivers coach Zach Smith, but he plans to make his college decision on June 18, his late brother's birthday. The writing was on the wall, though, when he decided to visit Lincoln for the Cornhuskers' Spring Game rather than attend the Buckeyes' annual scrimmage.

Ohio State remains in the hunt for four-stars wide receiver Kamryn Babb, Brennan Eagles and Al'vonte Woodard, so Moore's decision isn't the end of the world when it comes to on-field talent. But he has been one of my favorite prospects to cover in this class, and I still look forward to seeing where he lands nonetheless.

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