'15 JuCo DT David "DJ" Jones

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#752
East Mississippi Community College defensive tackle D.J. Jones is one of the most coveted junior college prospects in the country, and Alabama and Auburn are squarely in the mix for his services.

Jones recently released his top 10, in order. Tennessee is No. 1, followed by Alabama at No. 2. Auburn is at No. 5. The 6-foot-2, 310-pound Jones is rated as the No. 4 junior college prospect on the 247Sports composite rankings, and ranked as the top defensive tackle.

The Vols' coaching staff built a relationship with Jones when he was still in high school in Piedmont, S.C.

"As far as them being No. 1, everybody else is recruiting me the same, but the relationship I've had with them all along is what puts them at No. 1," Jones said. "They came in December, and stuck with me ever since."

Jones took a trip to Tuscaloosa recently for the Crimson Tide's camp. He's being heavily recruited by Bo Davis. Former EMCC teammates Jarran Reed and D.J. Pettway are now at Alabama.


"Coach Davis, I speak with him twice a week," Jones said. "We talk, he's a great coach. I've got some teammates at Alabama. Alabama really speaks for itself. That would be a great place to play."

Jones said Alabama is looking at him to play the nose guard spot on a "dominant 3-4 front."

"I can see myself in that," Jones said. "(Reed and Pettway) want what's best for me, but at the end of the day, they want me at Bama."

Jones took a trip to Auburn earlier this spring. Early playing time is a point of emphasis there.

"Coach (Rodney) Garner, he's a great coach," Jones said. "His resume speaks for itself. I've got some past teammates who went there. When I come in 2015, the defensive tackle spot is wide open."

Jones will graduate in December. He said he hopes to cut his list of 10 down to three or five by early or mid-season. He already knows four official visits he will take.

"I'm actually thinking about taking a few in the summer," Jones said. "I've got a few scheduled - not the exact dates, but I know I'm going. I'm going to Southern Cal, Auburn, Tennessee and Florida State. That leaves one left."

Alabama is certainly in the mix for that, and high on Jones' list, but "they're close enough where I can go over there any time."

al.com
 
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#753
#753
"Tennessee is still my leader. Alabama is probably in second. But yes, I visited Tennessee before Auburn. It was my first chance to see Tennessee. It is a great place with great facilities. Coach (Butch) Jones was basically my personal tour guide. He took me around everywhere. I basically spent the entire time with him. I met the whole staff. And like I said you ought to see some of the things they are building at Tennessee. It is amazing. Out of all of the schools I have seen so far their facilities are the best but I know facilities do not win games."

The Vols' coaches have made the biggest impact of all.

"They have been there from the start with me. I have a great relationship with those guys. Tennessee and Oklahoma State were with me coming out of high school."
Scout.com - College and High School Football, Basketball, Recruiting, NFL, and MLB Front Page
 
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#754
#754
sigchig said:
He may harp on and on and on about the numbers, but there's a reason. He doesn't live in googleyeyed imaginationland like all the posters that he is constantly tempering expectations for. It's just as annoying to me all the people that ignore reality with the numbers because at the end of the day, facts are facts. I think he's only trying to keep everyone grounded in reality, and that takes an immense amount of time and effort around these parts. Basically, he wouldn't post it a million times if people just get it the first time. :hi:
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I understand where Leb is coming from and appreciate his contributions regarding the recruiting numbers. However, I've now heard both Butch and the Director of Player Personnel Bob Welton say more than once, without hesitation and with apparent certainty, that UT will sign a full class in '15, only to be offset by situations such as giving scholarships to Gilliam and Swafford. No offense to Leb or anyone else, but I'm gonna go with those guys statements over anybody on VN.
 
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#755
#755
KBVol said:
I understand where Leb is coming from and appreciate his contributions regarding the recruiting numbers. However, I've now heard both Butch and the Director of Player Personnel Bob Welton say more than once, without hesitation and with apparent certainty, that UT will sign a full class in '15, only to be offset by situations such as giving scholarships to Gilliam and Swafford. No offense to Leb or anyone else, but I'm gonna go with those guys statements over anybody on VN.
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If CBJ has said a full class of 24/25 in 2015, I would like to read that quote. In all seriousness, there are a few kids I'd like to include in my class projections. Last I saw actually quoted per CBJ was "18-22".
 
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#756
kamoshika said:
"Tennessee is still my leader. Alabama is probably in second. But yes, I visited Tennessee before Auburn. It was my first chance to see Tennessee. It is a great place with great facilities. Coach (Butch) Jones was basically my personal tour guide. He took me around everywhere. I basically spent the entire time with him. I met the whole staff. And like I said you ought to see some of the things they are building at Tennessee. It is amazing. Out of all of the schools I have seen so far their facilities are the best but I know facilities do not win games."

The Vols' coaches have made the biggest impact of all.

"They have been there from the start with me. I have a great relationship with those guys. Tennessee and Oklahoma State were with me coming out of high school."
Scout.com - College and High School Football, Basketball, Recruiting, NFL, and MLB Front Page
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And yet....Oklahoma State is not really under consideration. Gotta love our chances with this kid. If we snag him, Butch gets 100% credit.
 
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LebanonVolunteer said:
If CBJ has said a full class of 24/25 in 2015, I would like to read that quote. In all seriousness, there are a few kids I'd like to include in my class projections. Last I saw actually quoted per CBJ was "18-22".
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http://www.volnation.com/forum/tennessee-vols-football/219858-butch-jones-1010xl-radio-florida.html

I am at work so I can't listen to this at the moment. Supposedly he says we will sign a full class in this interview. Again, I have not listened to it though so I am not sure.
 
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#759
cawVOL07 said:
http://www.volnation.com/forum/tennessee-vols-football/219858-butch-jones-1010xl-radio-florida.html

I am at work so I can't listen to this at the moment. Supposedly he says we will sign a full class in this interview. Again, I have not listened to it though so I am not sure.
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He does say they will "basically sign a full class" this year. Now there are questions that have to be answered in the context of that. If you only have room for say 20 kids to get to 85(It's 16 right now), a class of 20 would be a "full class" as that is all the spots you have. :question:

I would have loved if he had actually put a number out there.
 
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LebanonVolunteer said:
Hard to say as it's just a guess unless CBJ already has the 6-7 kids who will be leaving all lined up.
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It is all just a guess for now. I don't really see a need to worry about it though. CBJ always seems to have a plan. A lot of people were worried about last years recruiting and it seems to have worked out fine.

Thanks for the quote. Was the interview worth listening to? :salute:
 
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#767
#767
cawVOL07 said:
It is all just a guess for now. I don't really see a need to worry about it though. CBJ always seems to have a plan. A lot of people were worried about last years recruiting and it seems to have worked out fine.

Thanks for the quote. Was the interview worth listening to? :salute:
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CBJ always does a good interview. Always worth a listen.
 
#769
#769
LebanonVolunteer said:
CBJ always does a good interview. Always worth a listen.
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I don't much enjoying listening to him on the radio these days. Has nothing to do with my opinion on himself or his coaching, recruiting, or anything like that. I love the guy. But his radio/TV interviews are so purposefully loaded with generic coachspeak that I feel like I've already heard everything he's going to say. I completely understand what he's doing and why he does it, all I'm saying is it doesn't make for a very entertaining interview, compared to Spurrier, Miles, etc. He rarely, if ever, lets loose with any cool nuggets of information unless probed by the interviewer (like that Marlin Lane would have taken wildcat snaps if Dobbs had gotten hurt against Alabama).

I guess it's a good problem to have, maybe?
 
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#770
NashVOL93 said:
I don't much enjoying listening to him on the radio these days. Has nothing to do with my opinion on himself or his coaching, recruiting, or anything like that. I love the guy. But his radio/TV interviews are so purposefully loaded with generic coachspeak that I feel like I've already heard everything he's going to say. I completely understand what he's doing and why he does it, all I'm saying is it doesn't make for a very entertaining interview, compared to Spurrier, Miles, etc. He rarely, if ever, lets loose with any cool nuggets of information unless probed by the interviewer (like that Marlin Lane would have taken wildcat snaps if Dobbs had gotten hurt against Alabama).

I guess it's a good problem to have, maybe?
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Ya, I've lost all tolerance for coach speak. Part of it is abysmal interview ability of most media people though. You rarely get a coach speak interview when Dan Patrick is asking the questions.
 
#771
#771
LebanonVolunteer said:
If CBJ has said a full class of 24/25 in 2015, I would like to read that quote. In all seriousness, there are a few kids I'd like to include in my class projections. Last I saw actually quoted per CBJ was "18-22".
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He evidently said it during his interview on Florida radio this morning. It's a thread in the football forum.

And at the risk of being repetitive, I've heard Bob Welton on radio say the same thing, that we'll sign a full class in '15. Admittedly, this was prior to us giving Swafford and Gilliam scholarships that count vs the 25 number.
 
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KBVol said:
He evidently said it during his interview on Florida radio this morning. It's a thread in the football forum.

And at the risk of being repetitive, I've heard Bob Welton on radio say the same thing, that we'll sign a full class in '15. Admittedly, this was prior to us giving Swafford and Gilliam scholarships that count vs the 25 number.
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Yeah, it's been touched on here a little bit. The issue would be the phrase"basically a full class"(the phrase he used in the interview) vs an actual number. It stands to reason that IF there were only say 19 spots in the 2015 class with SRs leaving, any back counts possible, and current attrition then "a full class" could very well be 19 that gets the roster scholarship number to 85. Not the 25 people associate with the maximum amount allowed by the SEC. Just a thought.

I think the phrase a lot of folks would like to hear is CBJ intends to OVER SIGN because as of today, the 16 spots available just are not what people want to hear. :p 8-9 kids move on/scholarships are not renewed, 24/25 could be in play.
 
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#773
#773
I think the thing that makes Butch different is that for him it isn't just coach speak. One of the early interviews or articles said that once you got to know Butch you realize for him it isn't just a line. It is something he believes in, and he has to keep saying it to get other people to believe it too, see Leb's mantra and how it is finally starting to make it through.
 
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