WHAT ARE THE ODDS?

Unless this is the first article you've read today on Eleven Warriors dot com, you know Ohio State offered a scholarship this morning to Kentucky four-star quarterback commit Jarren Williams amid speculation surrounding pledge Emory Jones. But what are the chances of the Buckeyes flipping Williams from his pledge if Jones decides to open things back up?

Let's first ask Wildcats tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Vince Marrow how confident he is that the program can hold onto its highly touted signal caller.

Marrow felt equally confident he'd be able to wrestle four-star wide receiver L'Christian “Blue” Smith away from Ohio State. But there's no denying the Buckeyes are going to have a fight on their hands if Williams is the contingency route they want to take.

Williams — who hails from Central Gwinnett High in Lawrenceville, Georgia — initially committed to Kentucky in June 2016, but reopened his recruitment April after programs like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU and Tennessee extended an offer. He then re-upped with the Wildcats just a few weeks later. 

“In the end, the relationships and trust that I have built with the coaching staff, players and all the support from the fan base is all too important,” he wrote in a message on Twitter. “I am coming home.”

And that’s exactly why Ohio State isn’t going to be able to just enter the picture late and expect to secure Williams’ pledge with ease. 

Yes, the two programs aren’t even close to being on the same footing right now. And, yes, Urban Meyer has a long history of flipping committed prospects late. But Williams’ relationship with the Kentucky staff —combined with the early signing period and fact that he plans to enroll early — makes it an uphill climb. I’m sure the staff regrets waiting this long to offer, as a result. 

On the bright side, Williams is at the very least willing to listen to what other schools have to offer, as evidenced by his trip to Alabama alongside Jones in September. But unless Ohio State can get him on campus for one of the final two home games, it’s hard to envision a scenario in which he commits, decommits, recommits and then decommits again.

ON THE OTHER HAND...

As of this early this evening, Jones still remains committed to Ohio State, and sources close to both the program and and the player believe he is conflicted following his official visit this past weekend. But with only a month and a half until the early signing period, the Buckeyes can no longer wait for him to make up his mind.

If that's truly the case, and he's not leaning toward flipping his pledge to Alabama — as the writing on the wall would indicate — perhaps the offer to Williams is Ohio State somewhat of an attempt to regain leverage in the situation. After all, the Buckeyes have been held captive Jones' desire to see other schools for much of the fall and held off on making a move for another quarterback until today.

As Urban Meyer put it earlier this week, “Do you want in or not?”

Without the offer to Williams, Ohio State could find itself waiting until the last minute for Jones final decision. With it, the staff can honestly say they're prepared to move on without him.

That may accelerate the process one way or another.

STAYING IN THE PEACH STATE

When Ohio State first offered a scholarship to Grayson five-star linebacker Owen Pappoe, the staff envisioned him following in the footsteps of fellow Georgian Raekwon McMillan, who went on to have a stellar career in Columbus. The early interest was reciprocated from the 6-foot, 207-pounder, as well.

But after several failed attempts to get him on campus, Pappoe — the top-rated outside linebacker and No. 5 prospect overall in the Class of 2019 — has moved on without the Buckeyes. He listed Clemson, Georgia and Nebraska as his Final 3 on Halloween night. 

“It was tough. There are a lot of great schools that offered me, and I have a lot of great relationships with coaches from the schools that did not make the list,” Pappoe told Rivals' Chad Simmons. “I just had to make a decision and cut some great schools from the list. I feel good about the ones on it. All three have had my attention for a long time.”

It's no surprise to see the Bulldogs and Tigers make the cut, but the same certainly cannot be said for the Cornhuskers.

While Pappoe has been to Clemson eight times and Georgia dozens more, his only trip to Nebraska came for their rendition of Friday Night Lights in July. He originially planned to attend Ohio State's win over Penn State, and could have placed the Buckeyes squarely in the thick of his recruitment. But, as you may have guess, that visit never came to fruition.

Pappoe plans to make his decision following the season, at which time I anticipate he chooses the Bulldogs.