'16 SC S Thomas Jones (Vanderbilt Baseball Verbal)

[Big23Head]

Safety
Laurens, SC
Laurens Dist 55

MEASURABLES:
Ht: 6'3"
Wt: 190 lbs


RANKINGS:
247: 88 S #24 | SC #8
Rivals: 5.5 S
ESPN: NR
Scout: S #66
247 Comp: .8567 S #44 | SC #11 | Overall #666

OFFERS:
Notre Dame
South Carolina
Duke
Vandy
GT
Louisville
UNC


JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS:
<iframe src='//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/3065324/highlights/193776376' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Big23Head]

From the 2016 Master List thread, he is on campus and spending the night

 

[NDdomer2]

Dist. 55

 

[GrangerIrish24]

his number overall 666?? I don't know how I feel about this...

 

[Irish YJ]

MOAR evil 3 stars!

 

[TheTurningPoint]

STUD

 

[Sherm Sticky]

STUD

What makes you say that?


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[Irish YJ]

He and TP went on a date

 

[Cackalacky]

He seems to have an eye for diagnosing the play. Good size.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Love his range and ability to play coverage and run. He has a great size and can easily add 10 more pounds and play in the 200-205 range. Can play FS or SS. Not afraid of contact at all.

Still a bit raw in terms of techniques and doesnt always take the correct angle. He will need to work on that, but that's easily coachable.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Love his range and ability to play coverage and run. He has a great size and can easily add 10 more pounds and play in the 200-205 range. Can play FS or SS. Not afraid of contact at all.

Still a bit raw in terms of techniques and doesnt always take the correct angle. He will need to work on that, but that's easily coachable.

Honestly I saw nothing in his film that jumped out to me. I did see him take some really poor angles, round about ways, but was able to make the tackle due to his speed.


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[rtrn2glory]

need some rangy guys at safety

 

[OCIrish]

Well.....I'm not one to watch much highlight film, however, he intrigues me with him knack from being around the ball. He does a good job in space, as well as shedding blockers in HS. Something rare for a HS DB to be able to do with much consistency. I don't think I'd turn him down, unless we've got some all world kid ready to give a commitment.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Honestly I saw nothing in his film that jumped out to me. I did see him take some really poor angles, round about ways, but was able to make the tackle due to his speed.


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I know its a highlight tape but heres a couple things.

1. Watch how quickly he gets from Point A to Point B. In other words, he trusts his eyes. There isn't much delay in what he does. In some kids his age, they will stand flat footed, then once they see the play, they get into their backpedal or jump to run support. Jones doesn't sit flat footed, he reacts. Eilar Hardy was one that took a couple secs to diagnose the play and would literally stand there then get after the play.

2. He runs past kids. I know it might not sound or look like much for a Division-I recruit, but thats exactly what you want to see. He is the superior athlete on the field. If he was getting caught from behind or getting beat on angles...that isn't a good thing. Jones takes some bad and puzzling angles to the ball carrier, but his superior speed and athleticism still allow him to make the play, which is all the more impressive when you think about it.

3. Getting out of his backpedal is natural for him. Does he have the cleanest flip or backpedal, no. But, there is little wasted motion, which means he is not allowing a guy to get leverage or angles on him. You know how everyone takes the 40 yard dash seriously? Those tenths of a sec matter when you are talking about this aspect of the game. The longer it takes him to break on the ball from his backpedal or flip his hips to run with the receiver are where the play is made. If he takes .02 of a sec longer to break on the ball, that's the difference in having a chance to make an interception or allowing a catch.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

I would be quite upset if the staff took this kid. We have 2 spots left at DB and I think Vaughn is pretty much in the bag. We still have quite a lot of guys higher up on my board highly interesting or at least visiting us. Damlin, Fuller, we still have the other kid from Tenn just to name a few.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I would be quite upset if the staff took this kid. We have 2 spots left at DB and I think Vaughn is pretty much in the bag. We still have quite a lot of guys higher up on my board highly interesting or at least visiting us. Damlin, Fuller, we still have the other kid from Tenn just to name a few.

Why wouldnt you want Jones?

 

[woolybug25]

I would be quite upset if the staff took this kid. We have 2 spots left at DB and I think Vaughn is pretty much in the bag. We still have quite a lot of guys higher up on my board highly interesting or at least visiting us. Damlin, Fuller, we still have the other kid from Tenn just to name a few.

You should tweet your board to BK to help him avoid any confusion...

 

[BeauBenken]

Love his range and ability to play coverage and run. He has a great size and can easily add 10 more pounds and play in the 200-205 range. Can play FS or SS. Not afraid of contact at all.

Still a bit raw in terms of techniques and doesnt always take the correct angle. He will need to work on that, but that's easily coachable.

I don't always agree with TP's evaluations, but this is pretty much spot on.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I don't always agree with TP's evaluations, but this is pretty much spot on.

Now that TP has the seal of approval!

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

I wouldn't take Jones right now, in December yeah. We have two spots left, I believe Vaughn is just about all ours, that leaves 1 spot for a DB.. Would you rather have jones or Hamlin, Fuller, or some of the other high ranked guys considering us?

 

[PANDFAN]

I would be quite upset if the staff took this kid. We have 2 spots left at DB and I think Vaughn is pretty much in the bag. We still have quite a lot of guys higher up on my board highly interesting or at least visiting us. Damlin, Fuller, we still have the other kid from Tenn just to name a few.

hamlin--right now osu prob leads, parents were meh on the ND visit; although we are getting another chance, Pitt is a very viable spot along w/ psu--this isn't an easy one

fuller-according to wiltfong, psu seems to be in a great spot w/ him, family loved it there along w/ him...hoping that is the case once he visits but right now both him and hamlin are going to be EXTREMELY tough

yes we lead for Vaughn so there's that

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I wouldn't take Jones right now, in December yeah. We have two spots left, I believe Vaughn is just about all ours, that leaves 1 spot for a DB.. Would you rather have jones or Hamlin, Fuller, or some of the other high ranked guys considering us?

I wouldnt say Notre Dame leads for Vaughn. Notre Dame has more than 2 spots available for defensive back, where are you getting 2 spots from? You really think they would turn down Jones, Hamlin, Fuller and Studstill if they all wanted to come? You can make room.

Rankings are in the eye of the beholder too. What if Notre Dame doesnt have some of your higher ranked players very high on their board? I can tell you that ND's board is very different than Rivals, 247, Scout or ESPN's board.

 

[NDdomer2]

I wouldnt say Notre Dame leads for Vaughn. Notre Dame has more than 2 spots available for defensive back, where are you getting 2 spots from? You really think they would turn down Jones, Hamlin, Fuller and Studstill if they all wanted to come? You can make room.

Rankings are in the eye of the beholder too. What if Notre Dame doesnt have some of your higher ranked players very high on their board? I can tell you that ND's board is very different than Rivals, 247, Scout or ESPN's board.

No way we add 4 more dbs. I can see 3 but 4 is crazy. 7 dbs in one class?

 

[TheTurningPoint]

No way we add 4 more dbs. I can see 3 but 4 is crazy. 7 dbs in one class?

There are a ton of them that can play different spots too.

Perry - S or LB
Love - CB, S, Slot, Offensive Ath
Fuller - WR - S

Notre Dame wont have to make that decision, but if those kids want to come most teams would make room.

 

[NDdomer2]

There are a ton of them that can play different spots too.

Perry - S or LB
Love - CB, S, Slot, Offensive Ath
Fuller - WR - S

Notre Dame wont have to make that decision, but if those kids want to come most teams would make room.

This is kind of what I figured would happen, but 7 still seems crazy, especially with the wr's in this class already. This kid I can see in the S/LB mold like Perry. They are both big kids for going into senior year.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

This is kind of what I figured would happen, but 7 still seems crazy, especially with the wr's in this class already. This kid I can see in the S/LB mold like Perry. They are both big kids for going into senior year.

The difference is Jones has range. Free safety is definitely an option for him, while Perry is a tweener between Strong Safety and SAM.

 

[NDdomer2]

The difference is Jones has range. Free safety is definitely an option for him, while Perry is a tweener between Strong Safety and SAM.

I was quite shocked when Perry said he was told FS. I didn't see that in his film at all.

Is there anything out there about timeline for Thomas J.? We have a lot of quality DB's hanging out there. Hopefully they all aren't February timeline. Would be nice to lock 1 or 2 more down and hold out for the top of staffs board.

 

[Cackalacky]

I was quite shocked when Perry said he was told FS. I didn't see that in his film at all.

Is there anything out there about timeline for Thomas J.? We have a lot of quality DB's hanging out there. Hopefully they all aren't February timeline. Would be nice to lock 1 or 2 more down and hold out for the top of staffs board.

This kid is from Laurens County, SC. A private Catholic School in the Midwest is mighty far away. I am imagining it will be quite the culture shock for him during his visitl. I am interested in how the visit went first before I think he would be an option for ND.

 

[NDdomer2]

This kid is from Laurens County, SC. A private Catholic School in the Midwest is mighty far away. I am imagining it will be quite the culture shock for him during his visitl. I am interested in how the visit went first before I think he would be an option for ND.

Yeah, I wasn't assuming he was ready to join or anything. Just was wondering/seeing if he's stated before his season starts or something.

 

[arrowryan]

Notre Dame is in his top 2 along with Vandy. Plans to announce sometime in September. Notre Dame is the only school getting an OV and that will be the Texas game.
per anna