Recruiting roundup: DL target Naquan Jones shifts decision date
Three schools and their fan bases will have to wait an extra three days to find out the decision from defensive lineman Naquan Jones of Evanston, Ill.
And even then, the recruiting of Jones won’t be over because he plans to take official visits in the fall. Still, USC, Michigan State and Florida would love to be the program working from the position of holding the commitment rather than trying to turn him.
Jones had planned to announce on June 5, but Thursday night he said hes now looking at around noon on June 8 at his school to make his decision known. That will be his last day of his junior academic year.
Jones said at this point he can’t say that any of the three schools is out front.
“It’s coming close to that time and I'm in the process of the pros and cons of each school and learning everything about each school to see which would be the best fit for me,” he said.
USC defensive line coach Deke Adams was at the school Tuesday morning and watched Jones watch out. The two have also been in touch over the phone.
“With the new defense they are putting in, he’s saying they’re giving the defensive line more freedom basically to let them play and not just open up a slot for the linebackers,” Jones said. “Let them play and do what they have to do to make plays. And he talked about how they are very interested in me.”
Michigan State also has been by the school. Florida just recently offered and has yet to get in to see him.
Jones said the decision between the three will come down to what most of these decisions come down to: overall comfort.
“Just the place where I can spend the next four to five years and feel comfortable and feel at home. Basically, going into it feeling like this is the place for me, this where I want to spend my life the next four of five years, going to school, playing football, being on my own away from home.”
Jones said he plans to be back on the phone with Adams Friday and will also talk to Steve Spurrier during that conversation.
IN OTHER NEWS
▪ USC had worked hard on junior college OL Branton Autry of Coffeyville Community College (Kansas) but he committed to Florida earlier this week. Autry had said USC would get one of his official visits. It’s not known if he will take other official visits now that he’s committed to the Gators.
▪ OL Cortez Herrin (6-4 334) of Saluda committed Thursday to East Carolina.
▪ Richland Northeast LB and USC target T.J. Brunson will visit Georgia Southern this weekend.
This story was originally published May 29, 2015 at 10:31 AM with the headline "Recruiting roundup: DL target Naquan Jones shifts decision date."