Kentucky Wildcats Football Recruiting: Kentucky gets Jordan Jones
By Kyle
Nov 9, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Stoops reacts to a call during the game against the Missouri Tigers at Commonwealth Stadium. Missouri defeated Kentucky 47-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
As mentioned earlier today, linebacker Jordan Jones has officially committed to the 2015 Kentucky football signing class. Jones is an exciting prospect, and it would be wise not to let his lack of a ranking fool you, but I’ll get to him in a minute. More importantly, Jones picked the Wildcats over offers from Indiana (are they offering everyone in the country?), Michigan State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and West Virginia.
Not a bad list at all.
While Kentucky needed to add a couple of quality linebackers in this class, Jones is much more than that. Teams like Nebraska, Michigan State, and West Virginia do not lie in talent rich areas and have made a history out of pillaging Ohio and gobbling up much of the top talent. If this was two years ago, Jones is probably a Spartan or a Husker. Sure, both Mark Stoops and Vince Marrow being Cardinal Mooney alums probably doesn’t hurt, but lets not forget that Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops and Nebraska’s Bo Pelini are both ALSO former Cardinal Mooney players as well. And at much higher (traditionally speaking) profile programs on top of it all. For Kentucky to sweep into Ohio and grab the level of talent that it has in the current and past two recruiting classes is, well, historically unheard of. Jones is yet another example of this staff refusing to back down from the big boys of college football and staking their claim to the fertile state of Ohio.
Back to Kentucky’s newest addition.
While Jordan Jones comes in a little lighter than one might like for a SEC linebacker at 203 pounds, his listed height of 6’2 leaves plenty of room to add bulk as he gets older. Remember, Jones hasn’t even begun his senior year of high school yet. The biggest indicator of his abilities is probably his offer list right now, which is listed above. Jones has the type of sideline-to-sideline speed that defensive coordinators crave and offensive coordinators dread. He is probably an ideal fit on the weak-side of the 4-3 defense, but his frame could easily allow him to grow into a middle or strong-side linebacker in time. What makes Jones so impressive is that he has excellent coverage skills for a linebacker. With the increased use of spread offenses and four-wide sets, Jones is more than capable of manning up a tight end or running back if needed, which is extremely valuable in today’s era of offensive schemes. This shift has made linebackers that excel in nickel and dime packages (four or five defensive backs) more valuable as the do not need to be substituted for the defense to change looks. With the nickel package seeing extensive periods of time on the field, a player like Jones can be a real difference maker despite his lack of traditional size for a linebacker. Pass coverage ability often trumps run-stopping these days, so Jones should find himself in a position to compete for playing time early in his career at Kentucky. Take into account that the ONLY scholarship linebacker currently on the roster that isn’t a junior or senior is Dorian Hendrix, and Jones could really get an opportunity fast.
Jones will join Demetrius and Chris Davis, Braylon Heard, Marcus McWilson, and Tymere Dubose (’14 class) as Youngstown, OH natives on the Kentucky roster.