The sixth commit of Nebraska’s 2012 recruiting class, New Orleans Jesuit High School linebacker Deion Jones, is a surprising mystery pledge, barely making a blip on the radar of most recruiting websites.
But there’s no secret as to why the 6-foot-2, 200-pounder said yes to the Huskers this week, Jesuit coach Wayde Keiser said late Tuesday night.
“It’s Bo Pelini,” Keiser said. “He’s got a reputation down here. He knows Louisiana high school football. And Louisiana high school football knows him.”
NU has made a concerted effort to recruit the state ever since Pelini — LSU’s former defensive coordinator — took over in Lincoln. And one of Pelini’s 2008 Louisiana recruits, junior safety P.J. Smith, played a role, Keiser said, in convincing Jones to commit before ever making an official visit. Nebraska secondary coach and former LSU cornerback Corey Raymond also sold Jones on the school.
The other key reason: The Huskers’ 2012 class is small, and the available scholarships for linebackers are few. Narrow down your choices to three or four schools, Keiser told Jones, then make your decision.
“He’s not going to be one of those guys shuffling around hats on signing day,” Keiser said.
Jones picked NU over offers from Houston, Kansas State, Kansas and Minnesota. Jones had offers from 18 schools overall, including Arizona, Illinois, Kentucky and Pittsburgh. Home-state LSU did not offer, Keiser said, partly because Jones — still 16 years old — didn’t attend the Tigers’ summer camp. Alabama was interested, but Jones ultimately didn’t fit the size profile head coach Nick Saban looks for in an interior 3-4 linebacker.
But many 4-3 teams are interested in a hybrid linebacker/safety who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.
Though Jones weighs just 200 pounds now, Keiser said he projects to 220 pounds once he graduates and stops playing basketball. Jones finished with more than 100 tackles last year, Keiser said, and blocked three kicks for 10-3 Jesuit, which lost in the 5A state quarterfinals.
Jones’ biggest strength, Keiser said, is his ability to track a play and chase down running backs.
“He’s so athletic and so fast that even when he makes a mistake, he gets to the ball,” Keiser said.
Nebraska is likely searching for one more linebacker for the 2012 class.
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