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.
LIFELONG DREAM REALIZED
Surrounded by family, friends, coaches and teammates in Westerville South’s gymnasium, Ohio State five-star running back commit Jaelen Gill received his honorary U.S. Army All-American Bowl jersey on Wednesday afternoon.
The ceremony was part of American Family Insurance Selection Tour, which travels all over the country from late September to mid-December to announce all 100 athletes and 125 marching band members selected to participate in the game.
Honored to welcome 5 Ohio State commit @jaelengill21 to the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. #ArmyBowl #GoBucks #OneStrong pic.twitter.com/gYHvYF5pQh
— #ArmyBowl (@ArmyAllAmerican) November 8, 2017
“It means a lot,” Gill told Eleven Warriors. “This is a game I've been trying to get into since I started playing football. I've been watching it on TV all these years, and it's just an honor to be selected to the game and to be in this position.”
The 6-foot-1, 182-pound Gill is one of seven future Buckeyes who will play in the Army Bowl, which will take place on Jan. 6, 2018, in San Antonio.
He'll be joined by five-star defensive tackle Taron Vincent, five-star tight end Jeremy Ruckert, four-star offensive guard Max Wray and four-star linebacker Dallas Gant on the East squad, while four-star safeties Josh Proctor and Jaiden Woodbey will represent the West.
This won’t be Gill’s first trip to the Lone Star State, either, as he played in the Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl in seventh grade.
“I'm excited. It was fun being there,” Gill said. “It's where I met a lot of the recruits that are big time now. I built relationships and maintained them throughout the years. I'm excited to be back there with my family and friends. It's just a great experience.”
Furthermore, the Army Bowl has special meaning for Gill, whose family has a long history of military service. His great grandfather served in the Army during World War II, as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars, and his grandfather was a Marine.
BACK TO FULL STRENGTH
A little over six weeks after he had surgery to repair a peroneal tendon subluxation — a condition in which the tendon snaps out of place — in his left ankle, Ohio State three-star running back Master Teague III has shed his walking boot and, as you can see, resumed full workout activities.
For @33_blackman The boot is "officially-officially" off!! pic.twitter.com/HFlXm029ak
— Dr. Corey M Teague (@DrCoreyMTeague) November 7, 2017
The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Teague suffered the injury in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Blackman’s rain-soaked win over Coffee County in early September. He initially attempted to play through the pain, but he and his family decided to have the surgery a few weeks later, however.
Teague — who rushed for 711 yards and 10 touchdowns in a little over four games this year — had his cast removed one month ago and began rehabbing the ankle. He appeared to be walking without issue during his unofficial visit to Columbus for Ohio State’s Oct. 28 game against Penn State.
The Blaze, meanwhile, have advanced to the second round of the state playoffs despite Teague’s absence. There's always been a chance he could return if the team advances far enough and he feels as if he can contribute.
“He still hates that he can't play, but he continues to be there for his teammates,” Teague’s father, Corey, told Eleven Warriors. “He loves to see them do well and hates to see them not do well or well enough.”
Teague will sign with Ohio State during the December Signing Period and enroll in classes in January. And even if he never suits up for Blackman again, the good news is that he’ll be fully healthy to participate in spring practices.
ANOTHER LAYER OF INTRIGUE
For as much as we’ve discussed Ohio State four-star quarterback commit Emory Jones and the uncertainty surrounding his pledge over the last few weeks, he’s not actually said much himself.
In fact, sources within the Buckeyes’ program have told Eleven Warriors they believe the talented signal caller is torn between the relationships he’s built in Columbus and proximity of Alabama. That’s why the staff recently offered a scholarship to Kentucky four-star quarterback commit Jarren Williams, a contingency plan in case Jones flips to the Crimson Tide — as is widely expected in the coming weeks.
That narrative might be thrown out the window this weekend, however, as Land of 10’s Jeremy Birmingham reported Jones might return to Columbus this weekend.
“[Emory] said that he’s trying to come back to [Ohio State] this weekend,” Source No. 1 shared.
As Birmingham also pointed out, Jones and Heard County plays South Atlanta in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday night. For him to make it to Columbus for a noon kick the next day will take two things: great planning and a true desire to spend time on campus.
Logistics will make it difficult, but Ohio State’s chances of holding on to Jones increase dramatically if he makes the trip.
