Interview with Arkansas Class of 2016 WR Commit Jordan Jones

Written by Ryan Wright

Among many the top priorities for the Arkansas Razorbacks under head coach Bret Bielema since he came to town for the 2013 season is reloading the amount of talent at the wide receiver position. The Hogs have not had a true dynamic playmaker on the outside since the 2012 season when Cobi Hamilton hauled in 90 passes for 1,335 yards with five touchdowns. The importance of bringing in top-shelf talent at the wide out position cannot be understated, enter Class of 2016 recruit Jordan Jones.

Jones is everything a college or NFL coach wants in a wide receiver. He’s tall, listed at 6’2”, has great weight for his size at 180 pounds, and is fast on fast running in the 4.4 range. The Smackover High School talent is not limited to straight away speed displaying his shiftiness lining up from time to time in the backfield at quarterback in a Wildcat formation and on defense playing cornerback or safety.

College coaches first took notice of Jones during his sophomore season when he pulled in 25 passes for 687 yards with 10 scores. A year later he improved his pace, while also playing quarterback, finishing with 31 receptions covering 779 yards with nine touchdowns. Offers came in from Alabama, Ole Miss, Tulsa, and recently Louisiana-Monroe but on June 19, 2014 Jones decided to stay in-state verbally committing to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

When Jones matriculates onto the Fayetteville campus the weight of the passing attack world will not be placed firmly on his shoulders. The 2014 recruiting class has a chance to emerge during the 2015 college football season with a lot of expectations placed on former Northwestern High School (Miami) star JoJo Robinson and Kendrick Edwards (Miami Norland) if he does not redshirt this season. The 2015 recruiting class has a lot of talent as well with junior college transfer Dominique Reed (Coffeyville), La’Micahel Pettway (Nashville, AR), and Deon Steward (Hardy, AR) ready to make their mark on the collegiate game.

Joining Jones in the 2016 recruiting class at wide receiver is Robinson High School’s (Little Rock, AR) T.J. Hammonds, an all-purpose back and slot receiver, and Kofi Boateng (Arlington, TX), each a tremendous talent in their own right.

Before Jones heads off to Arkansas he still has his senior year in Smackover with the Buckaroos to play. In 2014 Smackover finished 13-2 making it to the Arkansas State Championship game before falling to Charleston in a 33-26 heartbreaker. Expectations are high again for the Buckaroos to advance deep in the playoffs with a shot at bringing home a state championship title.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with the Arkansas talent receiving an update on recruiting, Alabama visited recently, his insight on how the Buckaroos look heading into the 2015 season, and I received an update on what Jordan worked on in the offseason in preparation for his senior year.

Interview
Jordan, Smackover had an exceptional season going 13-2 making it all the way to the state championship game. The Buckaroos were runner-ups in state, which had to be difficult to be so close to a championship. What were some of the learning lessons taken away from the season?

“We had a great season. We had some great seniors. We had a great senior quarterback who was a great team leader. We learned how to win and how to stay focused every week.”

You were all over the field playing wide receiver and some quarterback. How was that playing quarterback?

“Yes sir, I played some quarterback last year in the Wildcat offense. I think I threw a couple of touchdown passes last year.”

Playing multiple positions can be tough, especially playing them well. How did you go about your preparation week after week for each game?

“My preparation was the same each week. I’ve always played multiple positions. Nothing has really changed in the game of football for me.”

Will we see you at multiple positions again this year?

“Yes sir. I’ll play safety, a little bit at quarterback, and I’ll play corner in some packages depending on our coverage and who is out there.”

What I’m hearing you say is, on a third down and long play if there is a good wide receiver out there we might see you lined up on that player ready to shut him down.

(Laughs) “Yes sir.”

At the end of last year did you earn any individual honors?

“I was first-team All-Conference and first-team All-State at wide receiver.”

How does Smackover look for the 2015 season?

“We look good. We have some young guys that need some reps but other than that we look good. We just have to stay focused. Everyone is coming for us game after game. We just have to stay focused and play hard each week.”

What did you work on in the offseason to try to ensure you’ll have a great senior season on the football field?

“I got a trainer who helped me work on some things. We worked on my explosiveness. It wasn’t so much strength training but he was getting me ready for another good season.”

What were some of the exercises your trainer put you through in the offseason?

“We ran up hills. I did a lot of squats and box jumps and things like that.”

What are your strengths on the field as a wide receiver?

“I think my speed makes me a good receiver but also being able to adjust to the ball in the air. Being 6-foot 2-inches, I’m long and lean and I can fit into tight spaces. I can run by people and climb over smaller defenders.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“Our goal is to win state or it’s a wasted season.”

Do you have any personal goals you want to achieve? Is there a stat line with a certain amount of receptions and yards?

“Yes sir. I want to have 1,000 yards this year. I don’t think anyone that has played at our school at receiver has had a 1,000 yard season. I want to be the first.”

Since you’ve committed to Arkansas are schools still showing interest in you?

“Yes sir. I talked to Alabama receivers coach (Billy Napier) and an Ole Miss coach. About two months ago I received and offer from ULM (Louisiana-Monroe).”

You spoke with Coach Napier?

“Yes sir. Coach Napier came down as well as Coach (Nick) Saban (head coach).”

How did the meeting with Alabama go?

“It went good but because of the rules we could not talk too much. I got to meet them. It was a good time.”

With the other schools showing interest in you does that change anything with Arkansas for you?

“No sir. It’s still Arkansas right now.”

Do you plan on taking all five of your official visits this season?

“No sir. I’m just taking my trip to Arkansas.”

What drew you to Arkansas? What was it about Arkansas that influenced you to commit to the Hogs?

“Coach B (Bret Bielema – head coach), he’s a great man. He sat me in his office and it was more than football. It was about my grades and what was going on with me. Also Coach (Michael) Smith, the receivers coach, we clicked and we have a great relationship. He’s a big part of that too.”

This is topical, especially you being a receiver, but what are your thoughts on the Hogs having the No. 5 (Town) and No. 6 (Ty Storey) rated pro-style quarterbacks on campus with the announced transfer for Ricky Town (USC) to Arkansas? What are your thoughts on Ricky Town? Have you had a chance to see any tape on him?

“I watched his highlights and I watched him on the Elite 11 last year. I knew a little bit about him. It was a surprise when it came to my phone that he had transferred. I talked to Coach (Barry) Lunney (tight ends coach) and asked him what was going on. He told me he was transferring in, and stuff like that.”

Are you looking forward to working with him?

“I am looking forward to working with him. He’s a great quarterback and throws a pretty ball.”

Have you had a chance to look at Cole Kelley’s (Class of 2016 QB commit) highlight reel yet and if so are you excited about getting on campus with him?

“Yes sir, I’ve looked at his tapes. Coach B and I watched his tape together. He has a strong arm, he is able to throw from a lot of different arm slots, and he’s a big guy.”

Are you helping recruit any players to join you at Arkansas?

“Right now I’m talking to the defensive end from Hope (Arkansas), McTelvin Agim. The two of us talk on a regular basis. I’m trying to get him to lean more towards Arkansas.”

Back more to your game, when the different college coaches are talking to you what type of feedback have you received from these colleges about your game? What are they telling you they like?

“They tell me they like my speed, my height, how I’m able to get open, and how well I catch the ball. Normally they just talk about my speed and height.”

Did you go to any one-day college camps over the summer?

“No sir. I just went to some exposure camps. I went to two Nike camps and an Under Armour camp.”

How did the exposure camps go for you?

“They went good. I got a rating of 80, I think, at the Nike camps.”

Did you do any one-on-ones at the exposure camps?

“Yes sir. We did one-on-ones.”

How was that going up against some of the best talent in the region and in the nation?

“It was good. It’s always good to see where you are playing against top competition. It was fun.”

How well did you do? How did your game fit against some of the top talent that was there?

“I felt that I did very well. I think my skills just as good as anyone else.”

I like that. Do you play any other sports for Smackover?

“I play basketball too.”

Which position?

“Point guard and sometimes I go to the post. It just depends on who we are playing.”

What was your average in points, rebounds, and assists in basketball?

“In points I averaged 16, rebounds I think I averaged seven or eight, and assists maybe around three or four.”

How did the season end up for the Buckaroos on the court?

“It was okay, I think it could have been better. We lost in the first game of the regional tournament so we did not make state but we had a great year.”

What do you want to major in when you go to college?

“I want to major in broadcasting and journalism.”

Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?

“The person that has had the biggest impact on my football career so far – probably, I could not single it out, just everybody in my family in general. We’re all sports junkies. They all pitch in and help.

“Another big thing is my belief in God. Without him nothing that I do would be possible. He’s blessed me with so many things.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“My favorite part about playing football, I think it’s the team aspect and getting to hang with my friends. Obviously I like scoring touchdowns and catching balls, stuff like that. Hearing the crowd cheer for you is an amazing feeling.”

I’m sure you’ll get a lot of that once you’re in a Razorback uniform playing on Saturdays in Fayetteville. Good luck with your senior year Jordan.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Jordan Jones; Jordan on the field at Razorback Stadium.
Photo credit: scout.com; Jordan Jones at an Arkansas camp.
Photo credit: wholehogsports.com; No. 10 Jordan Jones.