Interview: 4-Star 2019 RB Austin Jones Talks Stanford Commitment

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

From the stands, Class of 2019 running back Austin Jones (5-10, 198) makes it look easy on the field. After three seasons of obliterating opposing California competition, he worked his way into four-star status acquiring attention from seemingly every Division-I school in the nation with an offer sheet of 28 programs. On Friday, June 29, 2018, Jones narrowed his Top 5 schools of Oregon, UCLA, Cal, Utah, and Stanford down to one committing to the Cardinal.

In a one-on-one RNG stylized interview, I sat down with Jones shortly after his commitment to get the inside scoop on how the perfect fit in Palo Alto came to be for one of the nation’s best backs.

Austin Jones Profile

High School: Bishop O’Dowd – Oakland, California

2015 stats: 254 carries, 1,370 yards, and 12 touchdowns

2016 stats: 322 carries, 1,967 yards, 27 touchdowns and 22 receptions for 234 yards with two scores

2017 stats: 145 carries, 1,560 yards, and 23 touchdowns and 15 receptions for 368 yards with four scores

Offers (28): Oregon, UCLA, Stanford, Utah, Cal, Notre Dame, Missouri, Princeton, Oregon State, Colorado, Texas State, San Jose State, Arizona State, Northwestern, Penn State, Boise State, Hawaii, Nebraska, Washington State, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida, and Washington

*Click link for June 13, 2018, RNG interview with Austin Jones

Interview

Austin, you had a Top 5 of Oregon, UCLA, Cal, Utah, and Stanford. What was your process narrowing down to those schools?

“I did it based off communication, how much I felt like they liked me. I could see the love the coaches were showing me when I visited those schools.”

Now that your Top 5 is set, what were the different factors that you used to eliminate other schools landing on Stanford?

“Again, I did it based off communication, education – the little keys with my major, and the coaches. I factored in my visits too.”

How did the relationship with Stanford grow over your recruiting process?

“I built the bond with them through visits and getting to see them in person. They always asked how I was doing, not just my position and head coach, but every single coach on the staff talked to me. I could tell that all the coaches actually wanted me there.”

When did you start thinking Stanford is the school for you?

“After my second or third visit I started thinking that way. Every time I went there, it felt like home. Coach (Ron) Gould (running backs) and Coach (David) Shaw (head coach) were great communicating with me. Stanford felt like the place for me. With the education I will get at Stanford and they play great football, you cannot go wrong.”

When did you verbally commit to Stanford and which coach got the great news first?

“I committed to Coach Shaw this morning.”

What was Coach Shaw’s reaction?

“He was like ‘oh wow.’ He jumped up and said he did not see it coming.”

How did you commit, was it over FaceTime?

“It is kind of like FaceTime but it is called The Beam. It is like a video call but it is a robot that rolls around. My face is on the screen and I can see Coach Shaw and everyone in the office.”

That’s new and high-tech. Back to your commitment. Before you notified Coach Shaw of your decision, what was going through your mind ahead of your verbal commitment?

“I was really nervous. I was thinking he is going to be my head coach. We were talking and I told him that I am ready to commit. His reaction, I knew Stanford was the right place for me.”

Obviously, you are a top-tier running back, how do they plan to utilize your skills within their scheme?

“They need a running back that has versatility. They are going to use me running, blocking, and in the passing game.”

Are you going to start recruiting players to join you in Palo Alto?

“Oh. definitely. I have already started. I have a couple of kids ready to commit, and I am going to flip one. If you see any recent Stanford commits, that is me.”

Austin, always great catching up with you. I appreciate your time and congrats, again, on your commitment.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Austin Jones (2017)