Hard-nosed '19 LB Mikel Jones calls Clemson visit "one of the best so far"
Mikel Jones is a name recruitniks may not be familiar with at this point, but that will change soon. The 2019 linebacker already holds offers from Clemson, Georgia, South Carolina, West Virginia, Iowa State, Syracuse, and Temple. He's also the cousin of Frank Gore and plays for Mater Academy down in South Florida so it's only a matter of time before the Canes' and other Florida schools come calling.
The 6-foot-2, 218-pound linebacker is a smart kid, with a good motor, active hands, quick twitch movement, a good athletic base, and the yearnin' to put the hurtin' on ball carriers. He's also a slick special teams player who has a knack for blocking punts. As productive as he's been in the early stages of his high-school playing days, he still isn't satisfied with where he's at as a player and works year round to improve.
"I'm good at using my hands on the blitz and playing sideline to sideline and right now I'm working on improving my speed. I know how to cover, but I want to get faster so I can so I can get even better against faster players," said Jones.
When he's not working with his teammates at Matter Academy he's training with Trench Setters run by Chuck Brown down in Miami.
"Coach Chuck started Trench Setters my 9th grade year with only a few people but it became well known by the Spring of that year when all the players he coached started getting offers and national exposure. He helped me a lot coming into high school because I played defensive end and he taught me everything from how to use my hands to how to read the offensive line," lamented Jones.
Jones' biggest offers are from UGA and Clemson and the rising Junior just recently visited Clemson and gave that trip high praise.
"The Clemson visit was definitely one of the best visits I've taken so far. Actually, it was the first one I have been on with my family. My mom, grandparents, sister, aunt, and two of my coaches went with me and they all loved it," said Jones.
When asked what stood out about the visit, the Mater Academy standout was very frank.
"The Clemson coaches are recruiting me as a linebacker because that's who they blitz the most and they know I'm a good pass rusher. The campus and the new facilities topped off the trip, they're really nice and we spent a lot of time in there. If I go to Clemson that's where I would spend most of my time so that was very important to me,"allowed Jones. "
The Sophomore from South Florida didn't name a leader at this early point in his recruitment, but it appears Clemson and Georgia are leading the race, followed by South Carolina.