Jones arrived at his decision around midnight Tuesday, selecting the Big East school and its heightening status as a Division I power over State College and the Big Ten.
|
|
"It was a hard decision," said Jones, while sporting a Virginia Tech jersey. "I went back and forth between the two schools. There was a lot of pressure, but right now the decision is Virginia Tech."
Tennessee, Notre Dame and Michigan also played roles in the recruiting process before finding themselves crossed off Jones' list.
That Jones is headed to Virginia Tech -- for football and track -- can be connected to a pair of factors.
First, Hokie coach Frank Beamer visited Jones at his Chester home Tuesday night, one week after Paterno made his stop at Jones' home. The final say among head coaches, then, went to the head Hokie.
Then there was the weight-training issue. Also an elite sprinter, Jones subscribes to the Olympic-style training regimen used by Virginia Tech. The Penn State program, meanwhile, differs drastically. And while Paterno told Jones he would "compromise" on the training issue, he didn't guarantee Jones would have the luxury of solely using his program.
"I felt the most comfortable with the coaches, the atmosphere and the environment (at Virginia Tech)," Jones said. "(Virginia Tech) made me feel more at home.
"(The weight training) wasn't the biggest issue, but it played a part. Virginia Tech trains the way my dad does. I've looked at the charts and they show their athletes progress."
Jones' father, also the strength and conditioning coach at O'Hara, supported his son's decision.
"If he's happy, I'm happy," the elder Jones said. "Either way, he couldn't go wrong."
When Jones signs his national letter of intent early next month (Feb. 7 is the first day of the signing period), he will do so with a resume that has been matched by no other running back in Delco history.
Regarded as the top scholastic prospect in the nation by many recruiting services, Jones finished his career with a four-touchdown performance against St. Joseph's Prep last month in the Catholic League Red Division championship, won by O'Hara, 35-10.
His 5,790 rushing yards and 83 touchdowns are numbers known only by Jones in Delco football lore. His senior season included 1,263 rushing yards and 21 scores.
"When we saw him in eighth grade, we knew he was going to be outstanding," said O'Hara coach George Stratts. "He's a kid with natural talent. What has he meant to our program? What has he meant to Delaware County? What has he meant to the Catholic League? Well, you look at him and he's the leading rusher and scorer in Delaware County history. That says a lot."
A week ago, it appeared Penn State had Jones locked up. Paterno's visit was supposed to evoke a verbal from the 6-2, 205-pounder. After all, Paterno rarely makes home visits unless he's confident he'll receive a commitment. But when Paterno left Jones' house without the verbal, Virginia Tech was again a player in the recruiting process, even with the departure of all-everything quarterback Michael Vick for the NFL Draft.
"I felt pressure (when Paterno visited)," Jones said. "But I wasn't ready to commit."
Beamer, it seems, closed the deal with his Tuesday visit. Penn State assistant coaches Fran Ganter and Kenny Jackson followed Beamer's visit with a trip of their own Tuesday, but could not sell Penn State on the three-time All-Delco.
"They were kind of disappointed," Jones said of the Penn State assistants.
When Jones heads to Virginia Tech this summer for the start of his collegiate career, he's expected to find some playing time. Starting is unlikely, what with Lee Suggs returning off a 1,000-yard campaign. But there will be no redshirting, at least that's what Virginia Tech has indicated.
"I don't see myself starting unless someone gets hurt," Jones said. "I want to be realistic. I'll work my hardest to get better. The game's going to be a lot faster. I'll see what happens when I get there."
To contact John Lohn, e-mail jlohn@delcotimes.com
