re: Class of 2018 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: So Long Old Friend Edition

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Alabama’s continued pursuit of Emory Jones

Ohio State coaches have told Jones repeatedly that they want him to shut down his recruitment and stop taking visits to schools not located in Columbus, Ohio. He has gone against their wishes.

Jones secretly visited Tuscaloosa over the summer for one of Alabama’s summer camps. At first, he denied being on campus to reporters AND Ohio State. He came clean a few days later while at Ohio State’s Friday Night Lights camp. During that visit, the Buckeyes’ staff sat down with their future quarterback and asked him if he was fully committed to playing at OSU, which Jones said he was. But, he’s still maintained his desire on wanting to take visits elsewhere.

“Some of these visits are just for the experience,” Emory said. “Some of my officials will just be for the experience just to go there to say I did. Later in my life, I probably won’t have the chance to go visit different colleges and get the full experience. I didn’t get to visit a lot of places before I committed, and I would like the chance to do so.”

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect was in attendance for Alabama’s season opener against Florida State and plans to return to Tuscaloosa this fall for an official visit. Outside of Ohio State, Alabama is the only school Jones is for sure going to officially visit.

Jones said he’s in contact with Alabama nearly every day and has liked what he’s seen out of the offense.

“I have seen some progress in their passing game,” Jones said. “Jalen Hurts has definitely progressed as a passer. Last time I went there [this summer], I worked out with him and threw with him. I could tell that he progressed. He knows the offense and is more comfortable in the offense this year. That’s definitely good.”

It’s important to note that the most important person in this recruitment other than Emory himself, his mother, said she has only had minimal contact with Alabama.

She has been with Emory on one of his visits to Tuscaloosa. The first time they went, which was last year, he didn’t have an offer from the Crimson Tide. The Joneses left without talking to Nick Saban. Trina Jones estimates she talked to Lane Kiffin for maybe 5 minutes. That was it.

She has talked to Saban since her son was offered by Alabama earlier this year, but she has felt a stronger connection with Ohio State since Day 1.

“He answered all my questions,” Trina Jones said. “It was my first conversation I had with him, so he basically just gave me the rundown of his program for the first time in the middle part of this year. I felt like he answered all my questions, but I haven’t done a campus visit— not a full, complete visit.”

If Alabama wants any shot at flipping Jones, the team’s connection with Trina will need to improve. That’s the most important person in Emory’s life.

“My mom is definitely my best friend,” Emory said. “I talk to her throughout the day. After my games, she’s always the one that picks me up. Sometimes, she’ll coach me on things that I need to work on. She always gives me tips. My relationship with her is very close. When I’m at home with her, we just sit down and talk about life and the future.

“I think about [providing for her] almost every night before I go to sleep. I see how hard she works every single day to provide for me. She leaves the house early in the morning and comes back at 8 o’clock to provide for me, so I can do the things I want to do. I feel like when I get the opportunity to bless her, she’s going to get everything she’s ever wanted.”

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