(photo: Kipp adams, 247sports)
santa ana, calif. -- less than a month has passed since top247 quarterback sheriron jones (moreno valley, calif./rancho verde) decommitted from florida. Since then, the semper fidelis all-american says several schools have been in contact.
"i would say i have spoken to tennessee, ucf, texas tech and miami a little bit," jones said. "ole miss a little bit but they kind of stopped talking to me due to the juco commitment. Maryland a little bit too."
one team has really made a push for jones, the no. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the 2015 class.
"tennessee is kind of talking to me the most, but all of them are doing a great job recruiting me right now," jones said. "it is late in the process, so they are trying to make sure they have a quarterback in their class."
since he decommitted from florida, jones has not heard from anyone on the gators staff. As of now, that means they are not under consideration.
"i guess they are out of the picture," jones said. "i love the environment they have there, so if they give me a chance i guess i would look at them again. I am not committed anywhere right now and i was committed there once. Just to see where their direction and scheme are, i don't know, i might listen."
as he has said several times since reopening his recruitment, the vols are in the driver's seat.
"tennessee is my leader," jones. "after that, everyone else is in a pack.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound signal caller loves what the staff in knoxville have done with the program, and the passion held by its fanbase.
"the coaching staff," jones said. "the environment is pretty crazy. When i say people love their tennessee football, i mean they really love it. Coach butch jones is doing a great job, as is coach mike bajakian. Seeing coach jones sign an extension was great to hear, so i do not have to worry about that. He is going to be there all of my years.
"just seeing the field, the facilities and the people around it - they are very clean and neat and actually care about it and that is what i like to be around. Coach butch jones runs a very family-oriented program and they make sure all their student-athletes graduate in three years, so i am really loving that."
there is no set decision date for jones, but he does know of at least one trip he plans to take soon.
"i kind of have plans to take a few officials, but the only one i know of for sure that i will take is tennessee," jones said. "i will take a few visits, make sure i find the right place and that my family loves the place. But i am not sure when i will make my decision."
the vols have a pair of four-star quarterbacks already committed in jauan jennings and quinten dormady, but that has not stopped their pursuit of jones, nor does it faze him.
"i just have to go out there and compete," jones said.