The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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According to Jones, head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan staff have already determined at which position he'll start his college career. "Coach Harbaugh told me I'd start off at right tackle, and that I'd fight for a spot as soon as I get there," he said. "He said they had a fifth-year senior graduating [Juwann Bushell-Beatty], and also named [rising-fifth-year se- nior] Jon Runyan and [rising-redshirt freshman] Jalen Mayfield as the two other tackles on the roster. "I expect to compete for a starting spot as a freshman either way, or at least to be in the rotation." "Offensive line is one of the toughest positions to play for a freshman, so I never like to put that expectation on someone," Simmons chimed in. "He did, however, play for a top high school program in Grayson, so I do think he'll be ready to com- pete as a freshman at Michigan. "Jones will need to add some weight first, even though we thought he was too heavy two years ago. He lost a ton of that weight, but could probably add a portion of it back. If he does that, he'll have the ability to see the field early." U-M listed Jones at 6-4, 302 on Na- tional Signing Day, and the Georgia native actually had a comical state- ment concerning his weight and the climate he'll be playing in. "I'm not fat or anything, but I'm definitely big," he said with a laugh. "When it gets past 62 degrees, I start sweating — if I'm simply sitting there, I don't want to be sweating. "I like the cold up at Michigan, be- cause I'd rather feel that than any- thing else. One of the things that peo- ple down here would warn me about was how cold it was up there, but I'd tell them I don't like the heat and the sweat that comes with it." In addition to the lower tempera- tures, Jones also revealed the two other main factors that attracted him to Ann Arbor. "It just felt like home while I was there," he said at the Under Armor All-American Game. "In the SEC, it's all about business, but in the Big Ten, it's about family and building a bond. "Michigan also has one of the best business schools in America, so it was a no-brainer from that side of things. My mom focused on the education aspect when we went up there for a visit, and she was sold on the business school instantly." While graduating and getting a de- gree are two of the most important goals for the young lineman during his days at Michigan, he admitted he has his eyes set on a few other potential accomplishments as well. "I want to be named first-team All- Big Ten and start three or four years at U-M," Jones concluded. "I also want to be at least a mid-to-high second-round pick in the NFL Draft." ❑ DID YOU KNOW? • Helped lead Grayson to a 14-1 record and 7A state champi- onship as a sophomore. • Started more than 25 games during his prep career and had more than 125 domination blocks. • Credited with 69 pancake blocks during his senior season. • Claims solid weightlifting numbers with a 275-pound bench press and 430-pound squat. • Rivals ranked him the No. 9 overall player during the week of practice for the Under Armour All-American Game. • Was a four-year honor roll student. • He considers himself a "heavy sweater," so he is very excited about playing football and living in Michigan for the next few years. THEY SAID IT • Rivals.com national director of recruiting Mike Farrell: "This goes to the player who raised his stock the most dur- ing the week [of practice at the Under Armour All-American Game], and to me it was offensive tackle Trente Jones, who is a Michigan signee. I liked him a lot and think in a couple of years he can be a very good tackle in the Big Ten. "He showed how raw he was in the game at times, but his upside is unquestioned." • Rivals.com Southeast recruiting analyst Chad Simmons: "I loved how he reshaped his body and lost some bad weight heading into his senior year. He's a very strong kid, a mauler, and he's a great swing lineman. "I think he could play tackle, but he's probably better suited for inside at guard. He can really drive defenders back and does a great job at opening big holes for running backs." • Former Michigan All-Big Ten offensive lineman Doug Skene: "One thing that jumps out right away is that he defi- nitely likes to finish his blocks. The core of what this kid does is pretty good. He comes off of the ball pretty hard, and he's got really strong hands. He really likes to lock onto guys with his hands, and if he locks on to someone he's not letting go. "I say this with a certain level of caution because his high- light film shows him finishing blocks all over the place, which is great, but that's why they're highlights. That's a good indi- cator of aggression, which great offensive linemen have to have, but it's also against high school kids who usually aren't as big as him." • Opposing head coach Terrance Banks of Newton (Ga.) High: "He's long, and he's very mobile for a big guy. He also has a great motor, and that's really important for a lineman. That's an intangible thing that really makes him a good player. For him, that's the thing that sticks out the most. "He's talented, but he's got that drive. He's not the kind of kid that you're stuck with what you get. He could end up being a tremendous player." MARCH 2019 THE WOLVERINE 47 Jones was ranked among the nation's top 202 overall recruits by all three recruiting services after an excellent senior campaign. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM