Meet the 2012 Kentucky Wildcat Football Freshmen: T.J. Jones

 

 

 

T.J. Jones

Offensive Tackle

6’5″ 276

Myrtle Beach High School, Myrtle Beach, SC

The 6’5″ 276 pound left tackle gave his pledge to the Wildcats staff Monday night choosing the SEC school over an offer from East Carolina. Jones recived a two-star grade from ESPN and Rivals, while 247 Sports and Scout.com gave him a three-star rating.

With his height and length, he certainly has the measurables to fit in nicely as an offensive tackle in the physically demanding SEC, and Kentucky’s lack of depth at the position makes him slightly more likely to see the field this year. With a solid summer in the weight romm and in training camp, he could very well find himself on the field this fall in a backup role, though it would be ideal to redshirt him and let him develop before throwing into the proverbial fire that is the SEC.

Myrtle BeachHigh School coach Mickey Wilson was very high on Jones, noting how he came on strong and was a pivotal player during Myrtle Beach’s state championship run. His biggest highlight came in the 2010 South Carolina 3A State Championship, in which Jones’ work in blocking current South Carolina Gamecock Jadaveon Clowney was key to Myrtle Beach beating South Pointe in the title game. Clowney is an All-SEC talent, and is already projected to be a firs-rounder in the NFL Draft whenever he declares, so this only reinforces the belief that Jones could see the field this year.