Tag: Ryan Jones

Florida basketball hosting 4-star big man on first day of fall practice

Just a week out from making his college decision, local four-star power forward Ryan Jones stopped by the University of Florida once again.

Florida basketball is starting up for the fall, and the Gators hosted a major recruiting target on the first day of practices.

The Rock School (Gainesville) power forward [autotag]Ryan Jones[/autotag], a four-star recruit ranked in the top 70 of all 2024 prep hoopers, stopped by the University of Florida on Monday, according to Gators Online’s Keith Niebuhr

Jones plans on making his college decision in under a week on Oct. 2. It’s hard not to read into a last-minute visit to UF, but it is just a short drive from where he lives. He told Niebuhr that he saw a clear difference in the team from prior visits.

“I went on some unofficial visits there last year and I see a difference in their energy from the year before with what they’re bringing in this year,” Jones said.

An official visitor two weeks ago, Jones remains high on the Gators in the final days ahead of his commitment. He’s set on joining a program with a coaching staff that he can trust to have few to no issues with. Whether that’s Florida or not remains to be seen.

Jones is a consensus four-star recruit, ranked highest ESPN at No. 63 overall in the class of 2024. The On3 industry ranking, which uses a weighted average of all four major recruiting services, puts him at No. 66 overall and No. 9 among power forwards in the class.

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9 Giants who aren’t going to make the 53-man roster

The New York Giants must trim their roster to 53 men by 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and these nine players simply aren’t going to make the cut.

The New York Giants will wrap up the preseason this Saturday night against the New York Jets and then trim their roster down to the required 53 players on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET.

There are many obvious locks to make the 53-man roster and there are a fair share who are certain to be sent on their way. It’s the limited men in the middle who face uncertain and uneasy futures.

Those of us at Giants Wire have already broken down many of the guarantees to make the cut, but now we’re going to look at those who aren’t.

Here are nine Giants who will almost certainly receive their walking papers on Tuesday.

Florida cracks top 8 for 4-star power forward target

Four-star power forward Ryan Jones Jr. narrowed down his college options on Monday and the Florida Gators were included in his top eight.

The Florida Gators and The Rock School power forward [autotag]Ryan Jones[/autotag] have been connected for months now, so it’s not too surprising to see UF left standing among the eight teams remaining in Jones’ recruitment.

Jones narrowed his options down to Florida, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech and Xavier. He has six official visits scheduled for the fall, including a Sept. 15 trip to UF. Lousiville and Oklahoma State are the two programs that don’t have something lined up with him, but that could change soon.

The new coaching staff at Florida has had a big impact on Jones, according to On3.

“Ever since the old coach left and the new coaching staff arrived and I came on campus, every time I visited I became comfortable every time,” he said. “Just the way they bring me in like I was a part of the team really impacted my view on them.”

The way Florida head coach Todd Golden uses his forwards is another contributing factor to Jones’ interest in the Gators.

Jones is a consensus four-star recruit, ranked highest by ESPN at No. 57 overall in the class of 2024. The on3 industry ranking, which uses a weighted composite, puts him at No. 65 nationally and No. 8 among power forwards in the class. He’s also the 12th-best recruit from the state of Florida.

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Florida basketball staying close with nearby 4-star power forward

One of the top basketball recruits in the class of 2024, power forward Ryan Jones, plays locally and is getting closer with Florida’s coaching staff.

The Rock School (Gainesville, Florida) power forward [autotag]Ryan Jones[/autotag] made another stop by the Swamp earlier this month and left impressed by Todd Golden’s coaching staff, according to Gators Online.

“Every time I go, I feel more comfortable since the new coaching staff came there,” Jones said. “It was just all-around great. They treated me like I’m already on the team. Great coaches.”

Associate coach Carlin Hartman has been Jones’ lead recruiter at UF. His son plays at The Rock School as well, which forms a second natural connection to the program — the first being proximity. The goal is to commit by the early signing period in November, and Jones is prepared to move into the official visit phase of his recruitment.

Florida is set to host him on Sept. 16, but LSU will get him a week after that. Earlier trips to Xavier on Aug. 3 and Virginia Tech on Sept. 2 are also on the schedule. Jones isn’t closing the door on adding more schools to the list, but those are the four he’s looking at the closest right now.

Jones is a good student (3.9 GPA) looking to further his education and find a mentor while going to school for basketball. Florida is one of the best public universities in the country, and Hartman is standing out as a coaching connection early.

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2023 NFL draft: Giants undrafted rookie free agent tracker

The rush to sign undrafted rookie free agents is underway! Here’s a live 2023 tracker for the New York Giants.

The 2023 NFL draft has officially come to a close and the frenzy to sign undrafted rookie free agents (UDFA) is underway.

For general manager Joe Schoen and the New York Giants, they’ll look to add several players prior to the start of rookie mini-camp which will take place from May 5-6 in East Rutherford.

“I think you tie in free agency and you tie in the draft and I’m excited to go upstairs and see where we are on some undrafted free agents,” general manager Joe Schoen said after the draft.

It’s important to note that UDFA signings are not announced by the NFL, so some initial reports may be incorrect, changed or, unfortunately, outright faked. Until the Giants/NFL themselves announce the signings, these should all be considered rumors and subject to change.

As signings and rookie mini-camp invites are reported, we’ll update this article. So keep refreshing.

Rumored signings:

  • Michigan CB Gemon Green (link)
  • Toledo LB Dyontae Johnson (link)
  • Ole Miss LB Troy Brown (link)
  • Illinois QB Tommy DeVito (link)
  • West Virginia WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton (link)
  • Pittsburgh DE Habakkuk Baldonado (link)
  • Charlotte LS Cam Lyons (link)
  • Washington S Alex Cook (link)

Rumored mini-camp tryouts:

  • Iowa State LB O’Rien Vance (link)
  • Baylor OL Khalil Keith (link)
  • North Dakota WR Garett Maag (link)
  • Central Michigan WR Carlos Carriere (link)
  • UCF TE Kemore Gamble (link)
  • ECU TE Ryan Jones (link)
  • Stony Brook DE Eric Black (link)
  • Wisconsin DB Justin Clark (link)
  • Texas WR Tarique Milton (link)
  • Northern Arizona S Morgan Vest (link)
  • Augustana S Eli Weber (link)
  • Holy Cross RB Peter Oliver (link)
  • N.C. State DB Cyrus Fagan (link)
  • UTSA OL Ahofitu Maka (link)
  • Temple DL Xach Gill (link)
  • Memphis CB Sylvonta Oliver (link)
  • Hawaii TE Caleb Phillips (link)
  • Maryland DL Ami Finau (link)
  • Riverside City College OL Cobe Bryant (link)
  • Northern Illinois DE Izayah Green (link)
  • Air Force QB Haaziq Daniels (link)
  • Clemson QB Hunter Johnson (link)
  • Union College RB Ike Irabor (link)
  • Canadian DL Lwal Uguak (link)
  • Colorado LB Quinn Perry (link)

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Giants interested in East Carolina TE Ryan Jones

The New York Giants reportedly have an interest in East Carolina tight end Ryan Jones.

The New York Giants are in the market for playmakers on offense and even if one thinks they are set at tight end for the moment, they may not be done looking.

The 2023 NFL draft is loaded with tight end prospects. And even after the Giants traded for Darren Waller and signed Tommy Sweeney this offseason to join a group that consists of Daniel Bellinger, Lawrence Cager and Chris Myarick, they could add another if the right player comes along.

Enter Ryan Jones, a 6-foot-3, 247-pound prospect who transferred from Oklahoma to East Carolina. He’s on several teams’ radars, including the Giants.

Jones could fit in the Giants’ tight end room very easily. He’s a young man who is appreciative of the opportunity to play in the NFL and is team-oriented and unselfish.

When asked what he wanted to achieve as a football player, Jones came up with the answer scouts wanted to hear.

Help win a franchise a lot of football games and eventually a Super Bowl, while being a figure in the community and dominate on the football field.

Jones also favors a wide-open style of offense, and the Giants would like to get more dynamic in the passing game.

“Big fan of the spread offense I like how it allows TE to play in space and be matched up with linebackers, nickels or safeties,” he said.

Jones did not compete at the NFL Combine this year but did participate in the school’s pro day late last month.

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Running wild: Oklahoma keeps up their recruiting momentum landing 4-star running back Daylan Smothers

After releasing his top four featuring Oklahoma, Alabama, NC State, and Florida State, four-star RB Daylan Smothers picks OU.

The Sooners have broken into a full-out sprint on the recruiting trail in the month of July after getting their legs under them in June. Their recruiting exploits have taken them to the Pacific Northwest through the midwest and to the northeast.

These aren’t places a team like Oklahoma typically ventures into to find talent.

Another part of the country that is relatively untapped for Oklahoma is the state of North Carolina. The Oklahoma Sooners have had a bit more of a presence here in the last few years, with former Sooners like [autotag]Austin Kendall[/autotag], [autotag]Ryan Jones[/autotag], and most recently, [autotag]Jeremiah Hall[/autotag] all hailing from the N.C. Adding to that list is another Sooner, as the North Carolina High School Player of the Year by the Charlotte Observer and News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) [autotag]Daylan Smothers[/autotag] committed to Oklahoma on Thursday afternoon.

Smothers, a do-it-all four-star running back hoping to play his final year of high school ball at West Charlotte High School, received an offer from Oklahoma in March when he shined the brightest at the Rivals camp held in Charlotte, NC. Standing front and center was the trio of DeMarco Murray, Brent Venables, and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. They extended the offer and then proceeded to put the full court press on Smothers, who was considering Alabama, Florida State, and in-state school N.C. State. Smothers is the 15th commitment for the Sooners.

 

Projections came in fast and furious in favor of Oklahoma for the running back when he dropped his top four a few weeks ago, and that was the precursor to letting the recruiting world know who was the overwhelming favorite with a commitment imminent.

His combination of speed, power, and vision made him a coveted prospect by many teams on the east coast, and he’s now a Sooner. He pairs with Kalib Hicks, another four-star running back, to round out the Sooners’ recruiting efforts in the backfield. With Hicks and Smothers, the Sooners get dynamic playmakers with track backgrounds. Both have some legitimate acceleration and top-end speed and will only add to the running back room when they team with guys like Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk upon arriving on campus next year.

With recruiting all but done for 2023, DeMarco Murray can now look forward to 2024 as he seeks to build on this year’s work. Names to watch early on include four-stars Stacy Gage and Tovani Mizell.

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Two ex-Giants added to 2021 Senior Bowl scouting staff

Two former New York Giants scouts, Ryan Jones and Chris Watts, have been added to the 2021 Senior Bowl scouting staff.

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The Reese’s Senior Bowl, which has become one of the top college sporting events in the nation, announced several changes and additions to their scouting staff on Wednesday.

“We are extremely excited about adding this group of proven talent evaluators to our Reese’s Senior Bowl team. It is hard to imagine there is a more experienced group of college scouts in the NFL than this one,” Jim Nagy, Reese’s Senior Bowl Executive Director, said in a statement.

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“Among our top priorities each year is to bring credibility and transparency to the player selection process and adding another well-connected group of scouts helps us accomplish that for our 2022 game. The pandemic restricted our overall scouting process last year, so we look forward to getting back on the road this fall for live game evaluations each week during the college season.”

Among those added to the Senior Bowl scouting staff was former New York Giants scout Ryan Jones.

Jones has 16 years of NFL experience as an area and regional scout for the New York Football Giants, including being a part of two Super Bowl Championships. Before joining the Giants, he served as a graduate assistant coach at Minnesota and went on to coach defensive backs at the University of New Hampshire and College of the Holy Cross. As a player, he was a captain and all-conference selection at New Hampshire and finished his career with 15 interceptions. Jones earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of New Hampshire and holds a master’s in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Jones, who served as the Giants’ Northeast area scout, was with the team for 20 years before being fired in February of 2020.

Meanwhile, Chris Watts, another former Giants scout, was also among those added to the Senior Bowl scouting staff.

Watts spent the past 16 years in the National Football League as a member of the New York Giants scouting staff. His time with the Giants included three years as a college scouting intern, nine years as the club’s BLESTO combine scout, and the final five years as southwest area scout. Before joining the Giants, Watts spent two years as an offensive line graduate assistant at his alma mater, Langston University. He earned four letters in football and one in track at Langston, where he earned both his undergraduate degree in business administration-management in 1998 and master’s in education in 2006. Watts is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Watts, who initially joined the Giants as a training camp intern in 2005 before rising through the ranks, parted ways with the team back in May of this year. He was among the last remaining members of Jerry Reese’s scouting staff.

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Former Oklahoma LB Ryan Jones to transfer to East Carolina

Former Oklahoma linebacker Ryan Jones announced Friday that he will be transferring to East Carolina to continue his collegiate career.

Former Oklahoma linebacker Ryan Jones announced on Twitter Friday that he will be transferring to East Carolina to continue his collegiate career.

Jones played for Oklahoma as a freshman and sophomore, playing a backup role in six games each year. As a freshman in 2018, he tracked down 20 total tackles, 13 of which were unassisted.

With a new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch in 2019, he finished with just nine total tackles, eight of which were solo. He finished his time with Oklahoma with 2.5 tackles for loss and one interception.

His best game in a Sooner came in 2018 against Army, where he finished with five solo tackles, eight in total, and one tackle for loss.

Jones now joins East Carolina, who finished 4-8 in the American Athletic Conference.

Oklahoma will have a competitive linebacker core heading into the 2020 season. David Ugwoegbu, Nik Bonitto, DaShaun White, Caleb Kelly and Brian Asamoah will all be vying for playing time under Grinch.

The Sooners are currently slated to begin their season on September 5 against Missouri State.

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Report: Giants wire long-time scouts Ryan Jones, Donnie Etheridge

The New York Giants fired two long-time scouts, Ryan Jones and Donnie Etheridge, who had spent a combined 39 years with the organization.

The New York Giants were busy on Monday evening, releasing a pair of tight ends, making another addition to their coaching staff and parting ways with two scouts that have been with the organization since the days of Ernie Accorsi.

Neil Stratton of Inside the League was the first to report the firings, which have since been confirmed by several other outlets.

Jones, who served as the team’s Northeast area scout, had been with the organization for 20 years. Meanwhile, Etheridge, who served as the team’s Southwest area scout, joined the organization one year after Jones and has been under their employ for 19 years.

Not only did Jones and Etheridge survive the transition from Accorsi to Jerry Reese, they initially survived the transition from Reese to Dave Gettleman.

Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports that these moves are part of an ongoing revamp to the scouting department, which previously saw Chris Pettit promoted to director of college scouting.

This is an ongoing revamp by Gettleman, who changed the way the Giants rank players on their draft board, altered the way the scouts send in reports, promoted Chris Pettit to director of college scouting and hired specific personnel to help the organization upgrade its analytics department.

The Giants have the No. 4 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and will have their entire staff on hand in Indianapolis for the 2020 NFL Combine.

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