Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Dame once he is on a full-time col- lege weight program, as opposed to playing two sports. He didn't begin to bloom as a high school football player until the latter part of his junior year. There are still plenty of skills to hone in the gradually emerging prospect. "He wasn't allowed to play FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE DT JARRON JONES football until he was in the ninth grade, and in the ninth grade he played junior varsity for us and as a sophomore he didn't even start for us on the varsity," Battaglia said. "He's just starting to catch up to his body now because he grew so much between eighth grade and 11th grade." According to Jones, he was far ered the No. 2 overall prospect in New York by 247Sports, ESPNU, Rivals.com and Scout.com — behind dual quarterback Chad Kelly (Clemson) — but was listed as the top player in the Empire State by Su- perPrep … As an offensive tackle, is ranked No. 10 nationally by 247Sports, No. 11 by ESPNU, No. 28 by Scout.com and No. 43 by SuperPrep … Also rated by Rivals.com as the No. 14 defensive tackle in the country … Rated as the nation's No. 20 overall player by MaxPreps.com and Tom Lemming, and is ranked No. 102 by ESPNU, No. 107 by 247Sports and No. 199 by Rivals.com. Statistics: Recorded 139 tackles and 15 sacks the past two seasons … Credited with 71 tackles (54 cracked the starting lineup as a junior … Football team was 33-3 in his three seasons, highlighted by 13-0 Class A state title in 2010 … Also played on 20-2 varsity basketball squad in 2010-11, and averaged a double-double in scoring and rebounding during this year's 12-2 start … Lists creative writing as his favorite subject and is aspiring to become a writer. Rankings: 247Sports, ESPNU, Rivals.com and Scout.com all rank him as a four-star recruit … Consid- 6-6 • 298 • Aquinas Institute • Rochester, N.Y. Notable: Born on March 11, 1994 … Began playing varsity football during his sophomore year and from a natural on the gridiron at the start of his high school career, but he already has traveled many miles on the gridiron and beyond through the guidance of Battaglia and his staff, plus the entire Aqui- nas community. "When I came in high school I wasn't really used to playing real kids like that or a scheme like that," he said of his football tuto- rial. "When you play in Pop War- ner, it basically is just give it to the fastest kid and let him run for a touchdown. "But here they really helped me solo), five sacks, nine passes broken up and two blocked field goals as a senior … On the state champs his junior year, he had 68 stops (32 solo), 14 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, four passes broken up, one inter- ception and four forced fumbles (one recovered). Honors: Two-time first-team defensive lineman on New York State Sportswriters Association Class A all-state team … Named a first-team defensive lineman on All-Greater Rochester team for 2011 by Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. All-Star Games & Camps: Played for East team in U.S. Army All-American Bowl Jan. 7 in San Antonio … Recorded one sack in the 24-12 defeat. Brian Kelly's Comments: "We love the way he handled himself when he came on campus. He's got a great family — and he's already done this before. Aquinas Institute, their curriculum and what they do in the high school prepares him to come to Notre Dame. … We recruited him as a defensive player, he's going to get the opportunity to play defense and then we will see what happens from there." Aquinas Institute Head Coach Chris Battaglia's Comments: "Unlike a lot of these kids that people understand the concept of football and how it can apply to life. I use those same values in life, in the class- room and everyday experience." Jones played full-time on defense the past two years, totaling 139 tack- les and 15 sacks, but he was slowed much of his senior year, and in the all- star game, with an ankle injury, some tendonitis and a dislocated finger. On offense, Jones saw only part- time duty at tackle and tight end, but Battaglia notes "he's a perfect size for a left tackle." When asked if he believes that Jones would be a better offensive tackle in college than a defensive prospect, Battaglia couldn't fully commit to an answer. "That's so tough to say," Battaglia agree that his future may be at offensive tackle. When out in space, he can effectively block down on linebackers. Has an explosive first step and the leg drive to consistently drive defenders off the ball." Recruitment: Originally a "soft" verbal commitment to Penn State on April 12, 2011, he re-opened just tout, his best days are ahead of him. Playing two sports here instead of one, he lifts [weights], but he doesn't lift to the degree that he'll lift down there. He's just going to get bigger, but he looks pretty good even now for a kid that is 300 pounds." Tom Lemming of Prep Football Report: "He played only defense last season, but most college coaches his recruitment after an unofficial July 1 visit to Notre Dame … Also received interest from Boston Col- lege, Connecticut, Florida State and North Carolina, but was set on Notre Dame after his unofficial visit to South Bend … Gave his pledge to the Irish for good Aug. 29 … Made his official visit to Notre Dame Jan. 20 … For the second year in a row, Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco secured the No. 1 defensive prospect in New York state (he did it the previous year with outside linebacker Ishaq Williams, also pulling him away from Penn State. Favorite Part of Notre Dame Visit: "The coaches reminded me of mine at Aquinas. They were young and energetic, not old and soft-spoken. They also were down to earth and could relate to you. I also got along well with the players, especially staying in touch with Ishaq Williams and Stephon Tuitt. Ishaq told me how much he enjoyed the challenge and each day becoming a better person." Why He Chose Notre Dame: "Notre Dame is pretty much like my high school with the Christian com- munity, smaller atmosphere, and smaller class sizes, which I like. I know I'm going to miss the kids at my school when I graduate, but it helps to know I'm going to be with similar people at Notre Dame." Scouting Report: Runs well for his size and is disciplined in reading his keys … Tends to stand up tall on his first step and will need to work on coming out of his stance with more bend in his knee instead of his waist. 2012 Projection: Slated to play the five-technique along Notre Dame's defensive line … The gradu- ation of Ethan Johnson might allow for some playing time his rookie season behind current freshman Aaron Lynch, but a redshirt wouldn't be a surprise if linemen such as freshman Chase Hounshell and sophomore Kona Schwenke develop more this spring. replied. "He has the potential to be a very good left tackle because he has fantastic feet, but he'd have to do a lot of work. He didn't even start for us there. He played offense only when we needed him." As for Jones' drop in stock during the month of January, Battaglia has his own rating system. www.BLUEANDGOLD.com cruited him, so I don't really care what 'star' he is," he said. "To me if you can do that, you're one of the top high school players in the country. I'm sure every kid in the U.S. Army game was highly re- cruited, so that's where I'd put him — among everyone else there. "Every school in the country re- I don't know, but there isn't a high school in the country that he couldn't have walked into and not started. "Judging by all the schools that "Whether he's No. 10 or No. 120, recruited him, a lot of people knew how good he can be or will be." ✦ MARCH 2012 31