The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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PREP PROFILES The Michigan coaching staff has a need for speed in the 2016 class — at times, valuing pure athleti- cism over polished play, but in some instances they can get both. One player who fits those criteria is Long B e a c h ( C a l i f . ) Poly athlete Jack Jones. The 5-10, 163-pounder is capable of play- i n g d e f e n s i v e back or wide re- ceiver, and wher- ever he lines up, he performs at full speed. " J o n e s a c t u - ally plays both ways, but looks best on the defensive side of the ball," said Rivals.com Midwest recruiting analyst Josh Helmholdt. "A slight prospect, Jones plays longer than his height would indicate thanks to long arms. He also has an outstanding break on the football and great field awareness that allows him to be in passing lanes all day long." While Michigan has traditionally struggled to reel in players from Long Beach Poly — the USC pipeline program has sent only 2007 five-star cornerback Donovan Warren to Ann Arbor — Jones is definitely willing to give the Maize and Blue a chance. Rivals' No. 6 athlete in the land will take an official visit to campus to see what The Big House has to offer. "The only official visit I know for sure is Michigan," Jones said. "Re- ally, it's the [Jim] Harbaugh thing. I know if I go up there, I'll get great coaching no doubt and I'd be pre- pared for the NFL. That's what I'm looking for, and I want to go up there and see what it's like." M i c h i g a n ' s veteran coaching staff (in addition t o H a r b a u g h ' s time spent with t h e S a n F r a n - cisco 49ers, both defensive backs c o a c h e s , G r e g Jackson and Mike Zordich, are for- mer coaches in The League, as well as receivers coach Jedd Fisch) is a big selling point for Jones. Regardless of where he lines up at the next level, the U-M staff has experience coaching it at the highest level. Exactly what position it is that he plays in college is still undecided. "Whatever side they need me on that's what I'll play," he explained. "Some schools see me as a defensive back and some schools say receiver. It just really depends on the school. Personally, I feel like I can dominate both sides of the ball. Wherever they want me to work that's where I'm going to work." Jones plans to wait out a commit- ment until National Signing Day Feb. 3. If his trip to campus goes well, Michigan may just be that choice. — Tim Sullivan Elite California Athlete Will Officially Visit ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Polytechnic High School Long Beach, Calif. Class: 2016 Position: Athlete Ht.: 5-10 • Wt.: 163 Rivals.com Rankings: No. 15 player in California, No. 6 athlete nationally and No. 91 prospect in the country Jack Jones