Mississippi running back Jaylen Walton (6) breaks out of the grasp of Tennessee defensive back LaDarrell McNeil (33) for a 7-yard touchdown run in their game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014.OXFORD, Miss. - For the next six weeks or so, Jack Jones will be focused on finishing strong with his current team.
The offensive lineman and Tennessee commitment from Murfreesboro doesn't plan to let that hinder some of his recruiting efforts for his future one.
While Jones and his Oakland High School team are 7-1 and hoping for a deep run in the TSSAA Class 6A playoffs after Friday night's win against La Vergne, he's also a staple at Tennessee's home games this season and trying to stay in the ear of some other in-state players the Volunteers are targeting for their 2015 class.
"At this point, you've been recruited for a year and a half now -- a lot of these guys -- by Tennessee," Jones said this past week. "You know where you want to be, and you know if you want to be a Vol or not. I'm not one of those guys that likes to sit there and say, 'Hey, come on, man, you're going to be amazing.' If you want to come, you want to come.
"I want to play with dudes that are fired up to come be a Vol and are hyped and want to run out of that 'T.' They don't care -- they know that's where they want to go. They're not going to sit around and pick a hat and do all this crap. It is what it is sometimes, but I think you know, and when you know you just need to make that decision."
For the 6-foot-5, 285-pound Jones, that came way back in May of 2013, when he committed to Tennessee. As a four-star prospect ranked inside the top 100 nationally by Rivals.com, Jones is one of the more touted pledges in the Vols' 2015 class, which currently stands at 26 commitments and ranks third in the country according to 247Sports.com.
Jones said he's continuing to peer-recruit three players in particular: Nashville Hillsboro defensive end Kyle Phillips and two Ole Miss commits, Giles County cornerback Ugo Amadi and Memphis University School offensive tackle Drew Richmond.
"I really hope some of our in-state dudes will join us," Jones said.
With the Vols staying in Memphis on Friday night ahead of Saturday night's game at No. 3 Ole Miss, head coach Butch Jones and linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen were able to attend Richmond's game.
Jack Jones is one of four offensive line commitments in Tennessee's class, joining Coalfield's Zach Stewart, Fairburn (Ga.) Creekside's Venzell Boulware and Roanoke (Va.) Northside's Chance Hall. Maryville's Dylan Jackson is classified as a defensive end, but he could get a shot on the offensive line.
Where Jones, who plans to enroll in January, will end up on Tennessee's offensive line remains to be seen, as he could play guard or tackle.
"I just want to get up there and contribute to wherever I can," he said. "I don't know what that is now. We'll have to see after I've been in the weight room and get a lot stronger."
As you'd expect, Jones is keeping an eye on Tennessee's current offensive line, which is starting two freshmen and allowed 23 sacks through six games entering Saturday night's contest, and he's able to relate to some of their struggles.
"Me and my dad were just talking about this: When you're an 18-year-old true freshman going up against 22-year-olds or a 23-year-old that's an All-SEC defensive end -- I have much respect for [them]," Jones said.
"I've gotten really tight with Coleman Thomas. I feel like some people try to criticize him a lot, but you've got to put yourself in his shoes. He's got one of the hardest jobs in America right now, being a true freshman starting against one of the hardest schedules. You're playing freaks of nature every game.
"I really like the offensive line, I like Coach [Don] Mahoney and I know they work hard. Give it a year or two, and we'll be really solid."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com