The Elite 11 Finals have begun, meaning the nation's top 20 quarterbacks are flocking to Los Angeles, California to compete in a multi-day event as they try to establish themselves as one of final eleven premier quarterbacks.
Florida State is being represented at the event by longtime quarterback pledge Tramell Jones Jr.. Playing his high school at Jacksonville (Fla.) Mandarin, he'll be looking to prove that he's one of the nation's top arms over the next few days.
Despite Jones being committed to the Seminoles for so long (over a year at this point), he has not shut down his recruitment to other schools. More specifically, he continues to flirt with one of FSU's in-state rivals in the Florida Gators.
He was back in Gainesville once again this past week to take in one of UF's player-run workouts.
"It was good," Jones told 247Sports' Tom Loy at Elite 11 check-in about his recent visit to Florida. "Just got to watch the camaraderie between the team [at] OTA's, player-ran workouts. Just see how they run practice -- see how they go through things during the summer."
UF is working towards Jones setting up a fall official visit with them. Their message to Jones is that if he joins the program and he's the best arm in the room, they'll play him -- even if that's earlier on in his career.
"Yeah trying to get me on campus for an official [visit]. Haven't set up an official, haven't really talked about an official. Message is to come in to compete. I know they want to win some games this year just because they need to win games. But the message is to come in and compete. Best case scenario I develop behind DJ Lagway or I come in and compete and [they] play the best person -- because they're an SEC program, that's what they do," he said. "They're going to play the best guy to be on the field. And then coach Napier just talking about their overall program. So it was a good talk."
According to the 247Sports Composite four-star signal caller, an official visit with the Gators hasn't been set up yet.
"I feel like if I was going to take an official in the fall, then I would probably know by now. But I haven't really set anything up or really talked about it yet. Just haven't set it yet," Jones said about a possible UF OV.
Did Jones inform FSU of his plans to be at UF last Thursday prior to him making the visit?
"I did tell Florida State," he said. "So what happened was my dad, as being a father, he wants to make sure I'm making the right decision just for my future. So he was like 'I think you should just go because it's not an official visit, it's just an unofficial. You're only going to go up there for one day.' My dad was like, 'I think you should go. I think this is the best decision for you.' So I told Florida State and they were just saying 'was I locked in?' I was like 'yes I'm locked in.' And they were like '[You've] got to respect dad's wishes. Got to go where he wants you to go.' They weren't pretty upset. They knew where I stand with it and they knew what my feelings were."
Loy asked Jones about whether he thought he'd ride things out with his commitment and stick with the 'Noles. Jones' response was centered on how strong his relationship is with the coaching staff in Tallahassee.
"I love my relationship with coach [Tony] Tokarz and coach [Mike] Norvell. I've had this relationship probably since my freshman year since they started talking to me, since they started seeing me. Everything is about relationships and that's the best relationship I have with any kind of coach at the collegiate level. So that's where my head is right now," Jones said.
Jones is expected to fly out from Elite 11 later this week to begin his official visit to FSU this upcoming weekend. He'll be joined by nearly 20 other prospects on campus at FSU beginning on Friday.
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247Sports' Tom Loy interviewed Tramell Jones in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
