Catching up with Ernest Jones IV; weekend visitors
November 17, 2017
Ernest Jones IV doesn’t want to take an official visit to South Carolina with his future roommates and the Gamecocks’ other 2018 early enrollees.
The Georgia high school state championships, which are set for Dec. 8 and 9, are the same weekend in Atlanta.
But first things first, Jones’ Ware County Gators have Stockbridge in the second round of the 5A playoffs on Friday.
“It’s going to be a good game. I’m already ready to get in Stockbridge, so I can get on that head, but it’s going to be a really good game,” Jones said. “It’s going to be a battle of defenses.”
Muschamp and the Gamecocks coaches have nothing to worry about with Jones, because his commitment is as firm as it’s been since May 5, when Jones announced on linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler’s birthday.
Jones, the 247Sports composite’s No. 55 outside linebacker in the Class of 2018, will report for duty in January.
“It hurts knowing that I’m about to be done with high school football. I’ve enjoyed every bit of high school football,” Jones said. “Am I ready for it to end? I’m not, but you have to move on. I know it’s going to be for the best and I’m just ready for what the rest of my life has in store, with football.”
On Wednesday, Jones (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) said he just learned that he’ll room with 4-star quarterback Dakereon Joyner, 3-star safety R.J. Roderick and 3-star wide receiver Darius Rush.
The 2017 take
Jones visited South Carolina earlier this season for the Kentucky game and he’ll be back in two weeks for Clemson. He’s kept a close eye on the Gamecocks all season.
“I’m very impressed. I’m not saying that I thought they were going to do bad this year, but they are really, really playing well,” Jones said. “I’m enjoying every game that I get to watch, there or on TV — I’m glued to the TV. I don’t move, because I love watching the defense, how the linebackers move and just how they play together as a collective group.”
On Skai Moore
“He’s a ferocious defensive player. I like it. He’s able to go out, cover in space, make open-field tackles. I’m just enjoying it. He’s a good player. He’s as good as I thought he was going to be.”
On T.J. Brunson
“T.J. is really good. I saw him during spring practice and I figured he was going to be pretty good for the Gamecocks this year. He’s just a sophomore and he’s got a lot of learning to do, but he’s going to get better.”
The coaches’ message
“They’ve just told me to be ready, because I’ll come in and probably get some playing time, get my feet wet, and I’ll have to be ready, especially to play special teams. If I work hard enough, I can probably get some reps with the defense. They just told me to be ready. I have to be ready. I’ve got to go ahead and mature and grow into this linebacker that I know I can be, but I’ve just got to mature up and get there.”
South Carolina recruiting visitors
Along with Jones, several prospects will be in next weekend for the Clemson game. A handful are confirmed for the Wofford game, too.
Four 2020 prospects from McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Ga., three of whom have an offer from the Gamecocks, are set to visit for the Wofford game. The offered players below will be joined by defensive tackle Tyriek Jones.
November 17, 2017
Ernest Jones IV doesn’t want to take an official visit to South Carolina with his future roommates and the Gamecocks’ other 2018 early enrollees.
The Georgia high school state championships, which are set for Dec. 8 and 9, are the same weekend in Atlanta.
But first things first, Jones’ Ware County Gators have Stockbridge in the second round of the 5A playoffs on Friday.
“It’s going to be a good game. I’m already ready to get in Stockbridge, so I can get on that head, but it’s going to be a really good game,” Jones said. “It’s going to be a battle of defenses.”
Muschamp and the Gamecocks coaches have nothing to worry about with Jones, because his commitment is as firm as it’s been since May 5, when Jones announced on linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler’s birthday.
Jones, the 247Sports composite’s No. 55 outside linebacker in the Class of 2018, will report for duty in January.
“It hurts knowing that I’m about to be done with high school football. I’ve enjoyed every bit of high school football,” Jones said. “Am I ready for it to end? I’m not, but you have to move on. I know it’s going to be for the best and I’m just ready for what the rest of my life has in store, with football.”
On Wednesday, Jones (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) said he just learned that he’ll room with 4-star quarterback Dakereon Joyner, 3-star safety R.J. Roderick and 3-star wide receiver Darius Rush.
The 2017 take
Jones visited South Carolina earlier this season for the Kentucky game and he’ll be back in two weeks for Clemson. He’s kept a close eye on the Gamecocks all season.
“I’m very impressed. I’m not saying that I thought they were going to do bad this year, but they are really, really playing well,” Jones said. “I’m enjoying every game that I get to watch, there or on TV — I’m glued to the TV. I don’t move, because I love watching the defense, how the linebackers move and just how they play together as a collective group.”
On Skai Moore
“He’s a ferocious defensive player. I like it. He’s able to go out, cover in space, make open-field tackles. I’m just enjoying it. He’s a good player. He’s as good as I thought he was going to be.”
On T.J. Brunson
“T.J. is really good. I saw him during spring practice and I figured he was going to be pretty good for the Gamecocks this year. He’s just a sophomore and he’s got a lot of learning to do, but he’s going to get better.”
The coaches’ message
“They’ve just told me to be ready, because I’ll come in and probably get some playing time, get my feet wet, and I’ll have to be ready, especially to play special teams. If I work hard enough, I can probably get some reps with the defense. They just told me to be ready. I have to be ready. I’ve got to go ahead and mature and grow into this linebacker that I know I can be, but I’ve just got to mature up and get there.”
South Carolina recruiting visitors
Along with Jones, several prospects will be in next weekend for the Clemson game. A handful are confirmed for the Wofford game, too.
Four 2020 prospects from McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Ga., three of whom have an offer from the Gamecocks, are set to visit for the Wofford game. The offered players below will be joined by defensive tackle Tyriek Jones.
- RB Jordon Simmons
- DT Jamil Burroughs
- WR Javon Baker
- 2019 OT Kamren McCray (Moncks Corner, S.C.)
- 2019 OT Jaylen Nichols (Charlotte, N.C.)
- 2019 RB Mikey Dukes (Charleston, S.C.)
- 2019 DB Tyron Hopper (Roswell, Ga.)
- 2018 DE Dorian Gerald (Florence, S.C.)