Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING inside linebacker nationally by Rivals … Tabbed as the No. 2 player on the Orlando Sentinel's Central Florida Super60. Statistics/Honors: Racked up 115 tackles and seven sacks during his junior season … Earned As- sociated Press 7A All-State honors … Was the only junior to earn a spot on the Orlando Sentinel All- Central Florida squad, receiving second-team hon- ors … Was named to the Butkus Award preseason watch list. Recruitment: Still open with his recruitment, but Michigan, Stanford and Notre Dame have emerged as his leaders … Michigan has long been considered the favorite, but a Sept. 25 visit to Notre Dame gave the Irish an opportunity to make a move … Plans to make a decision in January, but that could change. BGI's Take: Jones might be the most underrated linebacker in the country. His combination of skill, power and instincts are outstanding, but his lack of ideal size knocks down his ranking. However, he is an outstanding prospect, whose game is a perfect fit for either the Mike or Will linebacker positions in the Irish defense. He has excellent tackle-to-tackle speed and quick- ness. He stays light on his feet and can instantly ac- celerate to the ball carrier. He is an explosive short- area athlete that drives through ball carriers at the point of contact. Jones is a highly instinctive player that reads blocks well and sniffs out the screen game. His quickness and instincts help him stick tight to running backs and tight ends in coverage, but his lack of length can be taken advantage of at times. CALEB KELLY Fresno, Calif. (Clovis West) Measurables: Checked in at 6-2½ and 222 pounds at The Opening regional in Oakland, Calif. … Ran a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash and a 4.3 in the pro shuttle at that event … Vertically jumped 33.7 inches and had a 41- foot power ball toss at The Opening in Beaverton, Ore. Rankings: Ranked as a five-star recruit and the Rivals rates Fresno (Calif.) Clovis West standout Caleb Kelly as a five-star prospect, the No. 2 player in the Golden State, and the No. 5 outside linebacker and No. 17 overall recruit in the nation. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS