'12 NY DT Jarron Jones (Notre Dame Signed LOI)

[DomerInHappyValley]

It's a long time with a short season til we get to Feb. 1 anything can and will happen.

 

[NDty9]

I really want to see a fellow alumni to play football at ND... Im gonna have to make a trip to AQ and see if I can talk some sense into him,

 

[Ironman8]

ESPN on Jarron's commitment:

ESPNU 150 Watch List DT Jarron Jones of New York committed to Penn State on Tuesday, but he said that his pledge is a "soft verbal" and that he still plans to take his five official visits. (Oddly, Jones also told Bobby Deren of BlueWhiteIllustrated.com that he "already had my decision made up," which makes us wonder why it's a soft verbal.)

Jones also ranked his top five schools: Penn State is No. 1, followed by Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Notre Dame. No. 6 North Carolina potentially could sneak in to earn an official, especially since Jones is not much more than an hour from Syracuse and could take multiple unofficials there if needed.

Another question mark is what position Jones will ultimately play. ESPN's Craig Haubert said, "(Jones') best upside may be on offense. We are not so sure in the long run whether his skill set, with some work, couldn't be better utilized at offensive tackle, and we wouldn't be surprised if he leaves Happy Valley on the other side of the line scrimmage. What position he plays only time will tell, but his versatility is an asset, and simply this is a good pickup for Penn State.

 

[IrishLax]

If we steal another 5* DL from Penn State I will laugh sooooo hard. I have an odd feeling if we have a dominant season that just might happen too.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Really would love to get this kid from Penn State. I guess time will tell and we will see how things unfold.

 

[woolybug25]

If we steal another 5* DL from Penn State I will laugh sooooo hard. I have an odd feeling if we have a dominant season that just might happen too.

If that article that Ironman posted holds true, it would would be another 5* DL that we had change positions as well!

 

[IrishLax]

If that article that Ironman posted holds true, it would would be another 5* DL that we had change positions as well!

Indeed, and in all seriousness it seems like he would be an awesome fit for the NG spot with his size. I hope Louis has a huge year as a RS frosh and Jarron sees what kind of opportunity he would have.

 

[NDman3]

What's the difference between a soft verbal and a solid verbal, I mean Tee Shepard is going to take official visits but he's not a soft verbal.

 

[NDPhilly]

Looks like he wants to stay relatively close to home with that top 5

 

[IrishMoore1]

What's the difference between a soft verbal and a solid verbal, I mean Tee Shepard is going to take official visits but he's not a soft verbal.

Tee Shepard is a soft verbal! He's taking official visits. Don't be so naive about recruiting. If a guys says he's committed, yet is taking official visits to other schools, he's not committed.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Something different is happening with PSU recruiting. Last year PSU went far into the cycle with almost no one, to the point where panic was sounding. Today they already have six verbals [more than OSU's five]. Four of these are defense [DT,DT,DE,LB]. They are currently dominating the area from NJ up through New England at this early stage. I do not believe that any of the top 50 powers has a verbal from that area yet but them, and they have three. Bothers me a bit since we used to rule the area.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Something different is happening with PSU recruiting. Last year PSU went far into the cycle with almost no one, to the point where panic was sounding. Today they already have six verbals [more than OSU's five]. Four of these are defense [DT,DT,DE,LB]. They are currently dominating the area from NJ up through New England at this early stage. I do not believe that any of the top 50 powers has a verbal from that area yet but them, and they have three. Bothers me a bit since we used to rule the area.

Isn't that they are offering immediate playing time? Seems like that is the big sell for them because they have no depth especially on defense.

 

[TerryTate]

Will visit next month

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Will visit next month

I like this!

 

[BeauBenken]

Will visit next month

Time to steal another defensive stud out of NY from those pesky Nittany Lions

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I like it. Go Irish!

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Excellent! It's a long way to signing day and for him to visit us means we are still in it. Hope he has a great visit and reconsiders his commitmentto PSU.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Time to steal another defensive stud out of NY from those pesky Nittany Lions

Does this mean he is in PSU's registry? He has a PSU email address? lol





















really just kidding.

 

[InKellyITrust]

PSU is a mess. I'm not necessarily saying that we'll get this guy, but I don't like Penn State's changes of bringing in big time recruits right now. My cousin, who plays DE at PSU, was at my house last night for Easter and there are a lot of problems going on there right now. For instance, Paterno left their Blue-White game before it was over when recruits were at the game. He was saying that Paterno is really losing it.

 

[johnnykillz]

Does this mean he is in PSU's registry? He has a PSU email address? lol really just kidding.

Props.

lol.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

PSU is a mess. I'm not necessarily saying that we'll get this guy, but I don't like Penn State's changes of bringing in big time recruits right now. My cousin, who plays DE at PSU, was at my house last night for Easter and there are a lot of problems going on there right now. For instance, Paterno left their Blue-White game before it was over when recruits were at the game. He was saying that Paterno is really losing it.

I love it. Thanks for making my day.

 

[GBdomer]

I believe you guys. But where is it saying Jarron Jones is visiting?

 

[Ironman8]

I believe you guys. But where is it saying Jarron Jones is visiting?

He has told a couple of premium sites - I believe Blue and Gold, Rivals and ISD.

 

[GBdomer]

Just wondering i checked rivals and couldn't find any info on it

 

[TerryTate]

247sports

 

[jason_h537]

Nothing is official yet from what i have read but Jones has talked about Notre Dame being on his shortlist for visits. The Irish are in good standing here

 

[Irish2015]

good as soon as penn state has their mid year implosion we should be in good shape

 

[Ironman8]

From 24/7:

Five-star Jarron Jones of the Aquinas Institute certainly passes the eyeball test. One look at the 6-foot-7, 305-pounder and it’s obvious he has the physical build to play high-level college football. Combine what you see in person with the athleticism he displays on film and it adds up to a five-star prospect.

Five-star Jarron Jones could play defensive tackle, offensive tackle or even defensive end in college. The only question for the Penn State verbal is what position he will play long-term. Just like USC commit Arik Armstead, the nation’s top overall prospect, there are options. Jones is an outstanding defensive tackle on the high school level and has the athleticism to be a huge end in a 3-4 alignment. But, physically, he has the build of a future NFL offensive tackle.



“I think he really wants to be a defensive lineman,” Aquinas Institute head coach Chris Battaglia said. “In a 3-4, he’s the perfect five-technique. In a 4-3, he wants to play three-technique. I think it’s up to the coaches when he gets in college what to do with him because he’s the prototypical left tackle. But he loves defense, but once somebody gets him, he’s going to do exactly what the coaches want him to do.”


Battaglia has been largely responsible for developing Jones into the prospect he is today. He coached Jones’ two older brothers, who went on to become scholarship players at Division II Gannon (Pa.) University.

“I’ve known (Jones) since he was a little kid because I coached his brothers,” Battaglia said. “When he was a freshman, he played junior varsity. We didn’t move him up to varsity even though he was probably ready to play varsity. As a sophomore, he was on the varsity, but we went 10-1 that year, so he came off the bench. He played some and should have played more, no doubt about it, but we wanted to work on his work ethic and his practice habits. Last year, he just exploded. He came out and had the right attitude. He worked really hard and he was pretty unblockable around here.”



Part of that could be attributed to Jones‘ work in the weight room. 



“He’s done a great job this year in the weight room,” Battaglia said. “He’s really improved. He plays basketball, so he’s in basketball, but he’s done a great job this year improving his lifting skills.”



Though committed to Penn State (he mentioned during our conversation how much he liked State College, Pa.), Jones has been classified as a soft verbal and has been up front about wanting to take other visits. On Monday, he said that North Carolina, Michigan and Notre Dame are the three other schools that will get visits.

 

[IrishLax]

We're looking at him as a NT not a 5-technique, right?

 

[Ironman8]

We're looking at him as a NT not a 5-technique, right?

No, I think the interest is for 5 technique, but as we know they move around people on the line when neccesary.