Baylor's Colton Jumper was selected as part of the paper's Dynamite Dozen football players.Dynamite DozenNo. 6 Colton JumperBaylor - linebackerSchools recruiting: Offers from Furman, Wofford, UTC, Samford; interest from MTSU, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Tennessee.Why do you wear 16?"I just kind of grabbed it. I thought I was going to be a quarterback."
He'd like to have the recruiting process behind him with a 2013 destination confirmed, but Colton Jumper is waiting.
While the Baylor School linebacker has offers from NCAA Football Championship Subdivision schools, he isn't sitting on his thumbs as his patience with Bowl Subdivision programs is tested.
Although he was sidelined for a brief period after a knee scope to remove some meniscus, he worked hard in the spring and summer and packed on an additional 20 pounds.
"He added the weight while keeping his speed," Baylor coach Phil Massey said. "That and his athletic ability are the things that make him attractive."
Jumper's best 40-yard dash is an electronically timed 4.51. Some FBS staffs see him as an outside linebacker and others as a safety.
Among his camp or unofficial visit stops were Kentucky, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Middle Tennessee State.
"Some coaches have talked about [him being a safety] because of his speed and range," Massey said. "The thing we're getting now is that a lot of schools are heavily interested but they want to see how he gets off at the start of the season. Two or three recruiters want film after the first two or three games. A lot is going to depend on how well he assumes leadership roles and how well he gets out of the blocks."
Jumper, ranked No. 6 on the Times Free Press Dynamite Dozen, has the football bloodlines. His grandfather started at Georgia Tech and then transferred to Chattanooga, his great uncle was an offensive guard at Tennessee and his uncle played at Vanderbilt.
Yet he waits to decide despite junior season totals that included 79 tackles with 11.5 lost-yardage stops, nine sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception.
"I wish it was over. I thought it would be over a lot earlier. I am going to play somewhere," Jumper said. "I'm confident [an FBS] offer is going to come, but since it hasn't I'm keeping all the doors open."
While he would prefer to get away from home for college, he doesn't rule out staying in town.
"I think most guys are going to want to get out of their hometown, but I really like the coaching staff at UTC," he said.
And when asked if UTC was a program on the rise, Jumper nodded his affirmation.
"I believe they're going to be playing for a national championship before long."