Jeff Jones, the Washburn High School running back who is the state’s top prospect, officially committed to the Gophers today on national Signing Day but he will have to improve academically before he can fulfill “the sky’s the limit” potential predicted by his prep coach Giovan Jenkins.
Jones has to improve either his GPA or ACT score before the Gophers open their preseason camp next summer to be eligible for playing time. Jenkins told Sports Headliners he is confident Jones will do the necessary work. “He will do that between now and the end of the school year,” Jenkins said.
Jones told Sports Headliners he needs to raise his ACT score to a 19, two points better than his best right now. He is determined to become eligible and has no thoughts about attending junior college.
Jones decided over the weekend to choose the Gophers over Iowa State. The relationship he built during the recruiting process with the Gophers staff including head coach Jerry Kill was a deciding factor in selecting Minnesota. “I don’t want to pick a school where a coach is happy now and he loves the way I play now, but when I get there he’s a totally different person,” Jones said. “I didn’t see that in coach Kill at all.”
As a Minneapolis native, Jones is aware of the post graduation opportunities that attending college in his hometown can provide. He said only “one percent” of football players go on to a career in the NFL.
Why did he wait until this morning to announce his decision in front of an audience including media at Washburn High School? He wanted to add a little theater to the process and “keep Minnesota fans on their toes.”
Jones is the only Rivals.com four-star prospect in the Gophers 2014 recruiting class. He’s also the biggest name among Minnesota prep players that Kill has signed since taking over as Gophers coach in December of 2010.
Jenkins compares his all-state, Mr. Football award winner to a runner Minnesota sports fans know all about. “His running style is similar to Adrian Peterson. He’s big and strong and fast. I think he may have a little bit better vision. He might have a better first step in terms of his explosion.
“His top-end speed might not be quite as good as Adrian Peterson but in terms of just being dominating and people not wanting to stand in his way and tackle him, he reminds me most of Adrian Peterson with his running style.”
Jenkins said Jones loves competition. Even at football camps Jones will identify the better defenders and want to compete against them in drills. And although the Gophers have a returning starter in David Cobb, who rushed for 1,202 yards last season, Jones will push for playing time. “That’s just going to make him come in and work harder,” Jenkins said.
Jenkins believes Jones could also challenge for playing time as a slot receiver. At Washburn, Jones was a valuable pass receiver because of his running ability and exceptional hands. “He can catch the ball with the best of them,” Jenkins said.
Jones could also make big plays for the Gophers returning kickoffs like he did in high school. Will he be used in that role at Minnesota? “I sure hope so because every time he has the ball in his hands he has the possibility of taking it to the house,” Jenkins said.
At Washburn, the 6-foot, 200-pound Jones scored 44 touchdowns his senior season including 34 rushing and eight receiving, according to MaxPreps.com. He averaged 9.13 yards per carry rushing and helped the Millers to a fifth straight Minneapolis City Conference title under Jenkins.
Jones was a last minute invite to the prestigious Under Armour All-America Game in Florida last month but he made a big impression, gaining 72 yards and being named Team Nitro MVP. Jenkins attended the prep all-star game and observers couldn’t believe Jones came to the event as a reserve.
Jenkins said the Washburn coaches have held Jones accountable for his behavior, wanting to make sure he carried himself with the right attitude. “It would be easy for a young man with his athletic ability to be, let’s just say, pretty cocky and that’s not the case with him,” Jenkins said.
The Gophers have been recruiting Jones for a couple of years and offered him a scholarship after his sophomore season. Becoming involved early with Minnesota led to a verbal commitment by Jones about a year ago. Then later Jones opened up the recruiting process, exploring other schools but the Gophers didn’t waver in their commitment to him.
Jones is aware of Kill’s reputation for taking care of his players, looking out for their best interests. Loyalty is important to Jones who could have left Washburn and not finished his football career there. Instead of choosing a state power program, he stayed with Jenkins and Washburn, a program that doesn’t have the roster depth of long ago when the Millers could play with any team in Minnesota.
Jones admired Kenith Pope, the former Iowa State running backs coach no longer with the program. Pope’s departure may have hurt the Cyclones’ chances of getting him.
“Jeff Jones is a relationship kid,” Jenkins said.
The Gophers found that out today.
Worth Noting
The Gophers basketball team can enhance their chances of making the NCAA Tournament next month with a win tonight at Purdue where they have lost six consecutive games. The Gophers, 4-5 in the Big Ten and 15-7 overall, have lost two straight after upset wins at home against Ohio State and Wisconsin last month.
Minnesota has won only one Big Ten road game so far. The most recent road defeat came in Lincoln against a mediocre Nebraska team. “We’re struggling on the road right now so we gotta get a big road win,” said Gophers point guard DeAndre Mathieu.
Mathieu was a hero in the Wisconsin victory, frequently driving the lane to score and finishing the game with 18 points. Since then defenses have paid more attention, often having two defenders ready for him in the lane. Mathieu said the strategy stops him from driving all the way to the basket but he can adjust. “I just gotta get better at finding guys (passing to teammates) and shooting pull-up jump shots.”
The Gophers were able to win the Wisconsin game without leading scorer Andre Hollins after he was injured in the opening minute. However, their drive for the NCAA Tournament likely will be determined by how soon he plays again after missing two games since, losses to Nebraska and Northwestern. Hollins, averaging 15.4 points per game, might play this week—if not tonight then on Saturday at home against Indiana.
Austin Hollins’ dad, Lionel Hollins, coached the NBA’s Grizzlies last season before being replaced by Staples, Minnesota native Dave Joerger. Hollins said his dad, 60, is taking “it easy” but hopes to coach again.
Brainerd High School coach Ron Stolski is proud of Logan McElfresh who will walk-on with the Gophers as a punter. Stolski e-mailed that McElfresh, 6-2, 205, punted, kicked off, played tight end, quarterback and running back for last year’s 12-1 Warriors team.
“Averaged around 38 yards per punt with outstanding hang time,” Stolski wrote. “Highly rated punter by several kicking ‘experts.’ Attended a number of kicking camps in off-season and performed very well. Gophers plan to try him as punter only. Will need to develop consistency. Could be a real find!”
The Minnesota Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame will have seven inductees at a banquet on March 29 at the DoubleTree Hotel in St. Louis Park. Being honored are: Jon Bakken, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown; Dave Fritze, Eagan; Mike Grant, Forest Lake and Eden Prairie; Tom Idstrom, Anoka and Irondale; Dave Nelson, Blaine and Minnetonka; Larry Thompson, Lakeville and Lakeville South; Marc Trestman, St. Louis Park and Chicago Bears. Tickets are $35 each and available at MFCA.com (click on advertisement on this page).
Cretin-Derham Hall alum and former Viking center Matt Birk will be the headline speaker at the MFCA Clinic March 28 at the DoubleTree Hotel. The full clinic will take place March 27-29. The Gophers and Vikings will partner with the MFCA on the clinic.