Top JUCO DT D.J. Jones talks about his visit
May 12, 2014
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The nation's top junior college defensive tackle has begun making his rounds and that included a stop at South Carolina for an unofficial visit Monday.
Class of 2015 four-star defensive tackle D.J. Jones 6'2" 310lbs (Scooba, Miss./East Mississippi C.C.), who graduated from Wren HS in Piedmont, had been to South Carolina before, but Monday was his first in-depth look at the program.
"It went good. I got a chance to see the whole university, as a whole, for the first time," Jones said. "There were a few things that stood out, but I definitely liked that there was a lot of construction going on around campus. There's a lot of new buildings that they're putting up, making the new weight room and getting new dorms. They didn't even show me the dorms right now, because they said it would be a waste of time. I was impressed with all the new things they've got going."
Jones was able to spend time with his recruiter, South Carolina defensive line coach Deke Adams.
"I already felt like he was a great guy, but I found out today he was a great coach," Jones said. "We sat down and we talked about ball. Like I said, he picked my brain and I picked his. I asked him some questions and he answered them very well. We mainly talked about my techniques, where I'd like to play, my hand placement, how he teaches to read blocks. His answers were what I was looking for."
The two also talked about the position he would play and the chance for early playing time.
"That also impressed me too," Jones said. "We sat down and talked about how I would fit and that would be me playing either a three-technique or a nose. We talked about me playing any position on the defensive line, but me being dominant as a nose or the three."
What did the visit do for the Gamecocks chances?
"I'm feeling better," Jones said. "Not that I had any issue with them in the first place, but it does help them out a little bit."
After visiting Tennessee over the weekend, Jones will visit Clemson Saturday then Auburn and Alabama soon. He says he doesn't have any favorites and will cut his list to 10 during the middle of the summer, to five at the beginning of the season and will make a decision in December.
Alabama, Auburn, Clemson Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina -- among others -- have all offered.
"Right now I'm focused on the depth chart, what they've got, what they're bringing in and what they're losing," Jones said. "I'm also looking at who's coaching me. That's probably No. 1. All of these schools have a great sports management program -- that's what I'm majoring in. So that's a factor but not really right now. Coaches and what they've got coming in, that's what I'm looking at.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpBcW3hUSuI
May 12, 2014
247sports bio
Rivals bio
Scouts bio
The nation's top junior college defensive tackle has begun making his rounds and that included a stop at South Carolina for an unofficial visit Monday.
Class of 2015 four-star defensive tackle D.J. Jones 6'2" 310lbs (Scooba, Miss./East Mississippi C.C.), who graduated from Wren HS in Piedmont, had been to South Carolina before, but Monday was his first in-depth look at the program.
"It went good. I got a chance to see the whole university, as a whole, for the first time," Jones said. "There were a few things that stood out, but I definitely liked that there was a lot of construction going on around campus. There's a lot of new buildings that they're putting up, making the new weight room and getting new dorms. They didn't even show me the dorms right now, because they said it would be a waste of time. I was impressed with all the new things they've got going."
Jones was able to spend time with his recruiter, South Carolina defensive line coach Deke Adams.
"I already felt like he was a great guy, but I found out today he was a great coach," Jones said. "We sat down and we talked about ball. Like I said, he picked my brain and I picked his. I asked him some questions and he answered them very well. We mainly talked about my techniques, where I'd like to play, my hand placement, how he teaches to read blocks. His answers were what I was looking for."
The two also talked about the position he would play and the chance for early playing time.
"That also impressed me too," Jones said. "We sat down and talked about how I would fit and that would be me playing either a three-technique or a nose. We talked about me playing any position on the defensive line, but me being dominant as a nose or the three."
What did the visit do for the Gamecocks chances?
"I'm feeling better," Jones said. "Not that I had any issue with them in the first place, but it does help them out a little bit."
After visiting Tennessee over the weekend, Jones will visit Clemson Saturday then Auburn and Alabama soon. He says he doesn't have any favorites and will cut his list to 10 during the middle of the summer, to five at the beginning of the season and will make a decision in December.
Alabama, Auburn, Clemson Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina -- among others -- have all offered.
"Right now I'm focused on the depth chart, what they've got, what they're bringing in and what they're losing," Jones said. "I'm also looking at who's coaching me. That's probably No. 1. All of these schools have a great sports management program -- that's what I'm majoring in. So that's a factor but not really right now. Coaches and what they've got coming in, that's what I'm looking at.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpBcW3hUSuI
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