'08 CA DE Datone Jones (UCLA Verbal)

[GoshenGipper]

Profile updated and pictures added.

 

[johnnd05]

Per IUB, his coach says he'll be taking official visits to ND and Oregon.

 

[GoshenGipper]

Per IUB, his coach says he'll be taking official visits to ND and Oregon.

Apparently that still holds true, and he has added a few more to the list. In addition to sill comming to ND and Oregon for visits, Datone also plans on making trips to Nebrska and Colorado while still "commited" to UCLA.

Datone was also visited by Brian Polian last week.

 

[GoIrish41]

wow. this is a bit surprising. I really thought we were done on defense.

 

[johnnd05]

The Bruins are also having to fight hard to hang on to four-star, Rivals250 defensive end Datone Jones. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder is having a monster season at Compton, Calif., and his 56 tackles, 20 tackles for losses and seven sacks have kept the recruiters calling.

Jones said he does plan to take some visits before he makes the final call, despite saying he's a solid pledge to the Bruins.

"I'm going to visit Oregon, Notre Dame, and I'll probably also visit Nebraska and Colorado," Jones said.

Notre Dame assistant coach Brian Polian was at Compton on Tuesday to watch Jones practice, and other schools have definitely stepped up their pursuit this season.

(link)

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Does anybody thing that this has anything to do with the fact that UCLA is the most surprising team in football, winning games they shouldnt and losing games they shouldnt (except ND of course). Or possibly that Dorrell might be gone as coach next year?

 

[GoshenGipper]

I doubt it. Most of the guys that they have that are "committed" have been looking around all year, even before the seaon started. That's why you'll often year people say "for now" when talking about the ranking of the recruiting class that UCLA is bringing in.

 

[GoshenGipper]

There is still a lot of mutual interest here on both sides. Enough so that Datone has rushed up his retake for the ACT.

 

[SoCalDomer]

Is that due to possible coaching changes at UCLA? Or was his commitment always a tentative one?

 

[piyachi]

'Scuse my lack of understanding but where does he fit in? I know he is a DE, but is he more the outside speed rusher? I get the impression that Cwynar and Hafis are playing the opposite role of the big DE, but just wanted some clarification. If that is right is he competing with EJ?

 

[GoshenGipper]

'Scuse my lack of understanding but where does he fit in? I know he is a DE, but is he more the outside speed rusher? I get the impression that Cwynar and Hafis are playing the opposite role of the big DE, but just wanted some clarification. If that is right is he competing with EJ?

Yeah, he would project at the same position as EJ. Typical stong side DEs would project as the small DE/DT in a 3-4 and then they'd shift to the stong side if the brought a OLB to moved into a 4-3.

 

[Irishknight1023]

gotta get that Compton blood here

<object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nkPb4s0-QcI&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nkPb4s0-QcI&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>

 

[SoCalDomer]

Were they wearing BK's? (British Knight shoes for you young'ns) sweet.

 

[Akron Irish]

IK - Did you really go NWA on us?!

 

[GoshenGipper]

Is that due to possible coaching changes at UCLA? Or was his commitment always a tentative one?

Both

 

[goldenlid]

With the HC getting the boot what do you think are chances are of getting this guy?

 

[GoshenGipper]

They might have gone up a little, but he was never really a solid commitment there anyway. The big hang up with Datone might end up being test scores, or/and his visit to ND if he ever makes it up for one.

 

[GoshenGipper]

In addition to Notre Dame Datone is also considering Colorado, Oregon, USC and Arizona State as possible alternatives to UCLA. He also said that Corwin Brown stopped by his school on Monday, and that Charlie Weis and Brian Polian were there last week. They're still trying to set up an official visit to Datone's house.

Datone also recently got his SAT score back and it is high enough to qualify him for ND, and the coaches have told him that he can set up an official visit for anytime that he'd like, but he said that it'd probably have to be after the New Year because he's going to be so busy the rest of this month with school work, and that if he were to get a break that he already promised the coaches at Colorado that he'd visit there this weekend if he were free to do so.

When he was aksed about what he likes the most about ND he mentioned that he just loves Notre Dame and that he's a fan. He also said that he watches them play every weekend if possible. Then in addition to that he mentioned ND's grads rates. He said that he wnats to graduate wherever he goes so that ND's 98% graduation rate for it's players was a big plus.

Datone plans on announcing on Fox Sports Net on NSD.

 

[johnnd05]

Sounds to me like the kid is gonna be IRISH!

 

[Katzenboyer]

This guy has a TON going for him that I love.

1.) The fact that he's a smaller DE makes him a perfect fit for a 3-4 OLB, and gets us more athleticism on the field down the road.

2.) He's from Southern California. You can never make enough inroads there, not only to hurt USC's efforts (even though they do pretty damn well every year) but because right now, it's producing some of the best college talent in the country.

3.) He sounds like a good guy -- call me weird, but I love that he said he couldn't visit before New Year's because he had work and already promised Colorado a visit. That shows to me maturity and integrity, something you can't have enough of in a program.

It's looking like the staff will keep a spot open for KLM, the guy from Michigan, and Datone, and whoever commits first gets the spot. I'm hoping it's Datone -- I just like everything I'm hearing about him.

 

[daytonirish]

He would be a great addition to an already incredible class. The one thing that keeps going through my mind is that with the coaching staff having such a great yr. recruiting agian. That the people who are worried about the coaching staff should ask themselves how is it that these young men are buying into the program, but yet so many so called fans are having touble.

 

[Irishtat]

He would be a great addition to an already incredible class. The one thing that keeps going through my mind is that with the coaching staff having such a great yr. recruiting agian. That the people who are worried about the coaching staff should ask themselves how is it that these young men are buying into the program, but yet so many so called fans are having touble.

Great point. The cupboard will not be bare any more.

GO IRISH

 

[ChicagoIrishfan]

He is still commited to UCLA and he just wants to see what is going to happen wth there coaching staff. So do not get your hopes up because the idea I am getting is that he is watching to see if any other coaches on the UCLA staff are leaving not who is being hired. He didn't commit to UCLA because of Dorrell.

 

[daytonirish]

Most new coaches usally bring in their own staffs. And as reported in L.A. times article the asst. coaches are under contract until June. And the A.D. expects them to continue recruiting and holding the class together. Don't really know how hard these guys are going to work at that seeing how their jobs are in jeopardy right now.

 

[NDChatt]

This guy has a TON going for him that I love.

1.) The fact that he's a smaller DE makes him a perfect fit for a 3-4 OLB, and gets us more athleticism on the field down the road.

2.) He's from Southern California. You can never make enough inroads there, not only to hurt USC's efforts (even though they do pretty damn well every year) but because right now, it's producing some of the best college talent in the country.

3.) He sounds like a good guy -- call me weird, but I love that he said he couldn't visit before New Year's because he had work and already promised Colorado a visit. That shows to me maturity and integrity, something you can't have enough of in a program.

It's looking like the staff will keep a spot open for KLM, the guy from Michigan, and Datone, and whoever commits first gets the spot. I'm hoping it's Datone -- I just like everything I'm hearing about him.

I agree 100%.

 

[jonesman]

Guys,
Just be aware that there comes a point where you add too many bodies to defense and someone already commited could very well say, "this is too crowded and I am gonna look elsewhere." Tell me who you would like to lose that we already have on board. I say NOONE!!

 

[daytonirish]

I don't want to lose any of the current commits either. But we also have to remember that Charlie has stated that one of the things they are doing this yr. with thecommits is keeping them informed about the season, the team, and everything that is going on. I will keep the faith in Charlie, Corwin, and the rest of the staff that they know what they are doing.

 

[piyachi]

Jones is visiting ND on the weekend of the 26th per Scout.

 

[notredomer23]

we might, just might pull him in.

 

[GoshenGipper]

Jones is visiting ND on the weekend of the 26th per Scout.

I just thought I would clarify that the visit will be Jan. 26th, not Dec. 26th.

At this point I wouldn't be suprised at all to see ND land Jones or Lewis-Moore.