The recruiting process has barely begun for Jamarco Jones, but the sophomore offensive lineman from Chicago is already receiving interest from some of the biggest programs in the Midwest.
“I’ve got questionnaires and stuff like that from Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, Notre Dame and Illinois,” the 6-foot-5, 290-pounder from Chicago’s De La Salle Institute.
He’ll get the chance to check out one of those programs this weekend, when he makes the trip down to South Bend for Notre Dame’s Blue-Gold Game on Saturday.
“I’m pretty excited,” he said. “This is my first time going down to Notre Dame. I just want to get a feel for the campus and the team and see how it is.”
Jones won’t be going alone.
“Another player who goes to my school, Shelby Spence, is going down there and I’m going to go with them,” he said.
The contact from the Irish at this point is similar to the other schools, but Jones hopes to start building a relationship with the coaches this weekend if possible.
“I’ve gotten questionnaires and some information about their campus, but you can’t really get much as a sophomore,” he said.
He does know some of the basics of Notre Dame’s program.
“I know they’re a very good academic school,” he said. “That’s one of the important things about college and they’re also good in sports.”
Jones has already checked out one of the nearby schools.
“I’ve been to Illinois a few times,” he said. “It was pretty nice. I went to a few of their games last year. It was a nice environment.”
He also knows what he’s looking for in a college.
“Academics is most important because football doesn’t last forever,” he said. “Just a place I’d be comfortable staying all four years.”
Even with an impressive frame for such a young player, Jones believes it’s his attitude that serves him best on the field.
“I’m a very passionate player,” he said. “I take pride in everything that I do and that shows by my play.”
