MORE: Florida's 2018 commitment list
While it wasn’t a total surprise,
Emory Jones’ decision to break a longstanding commitment to Ohio State in favor of signing with Florida is one of this recruiting cycle’s major storylines. Speculation surrounded Jones and the Gators ever since he visited Gainesville on Dec. 15. Wednesday’s flip was the culmination of that speculation. Below, Rivals.com takes a look at what the Gators gain and what the Buckeyes lose with Jones’ decision.
THE SITUATION
The No. 27 overall prospect in the class, Jones had been committed to Ohio State since the summer of 2016 and flirted with a number of schools throughout. There was a “secret visit” to Georgia and last-minute trips to both Florida and Florida State. For a long stretch of time Alabama seemed like the biggest threat to change the Rivals100 quarterback’s mind. It’s when Florida landed former Mississippi State head coach and noted quarterback developer Dan Mullen that things started to look promising for the Gators. Mullen did a great job immediately reconnecting with Jones and got him to Gainesville in a hurry. Once the official visit was in the books, the writing on the wall began to show.
In the week leading into the early signing period, Ohio State got the feeling their prized quarterback would be signing elsewhere and, on Wednesday, the prophecy fulfilled itself in the form of the day’s most notable commitment flip.
HOW IT HELPS FLORIDA
Simply put, Florida gets to add the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback in the 2018 class to its roster. The Gators also get a massive recruiting win against a team that outperformed it by miles on the field this season. The Gators have long been in search of a reliable option and quarterback and there’s plenty of reason to believe Jones may be the answer to those woes.
Landing Jones is important because of what he brings to the offense, but it also makes a statement about the type of recruiter Mullen could be going forward. There’s no better way to make a statement than to flip a top-flight quarterback from a perennial power.
HOW IT HURTS OHIO STATE
Ohio State’s 2018 class is going to fine. Jones isn’t the only quarterback in the fold, and the Buckeyes could always look to flip another prospect between now and traditional Singing Day in February. That said, nobody wants to lose a Rivals100-type player and have no shot of getting him back. On a macro level, Jones last-minute flip isn’t a class-crippling blow. Viewed in a vacuum, however, it’s a mild disaster. Holding on to the commitment of a quarterback for more than a year, only to see it escape your grasp at the last minute is frustrating to say the least.
