Kellen Jones Hauling in the Honors
Just got this tweet from Tom
Michigan commit Kellen Jones was named 1st team all district, 1st team all state, and district defensive player of the year.
Quite the impressive resume. Can't wait to get this kid on campus.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
... in Texas. Yes please.
Congrats to Kellen.
December 8th, 2010 at 1:08 AM ^
Here is a rivals article about the best out of state commits:
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1161419
If I had it my way I would put Kellen on that list. I think he is a huge commit for us. Also, if Dee was a firm in his commitment I bet he would make that list.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
Who am I kidding. Kellen was born to wear Maize and Blue. Congrats.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:47 PM ^
I might cry hearing about a defensive player coming to Michigan with these accolades.
You hear that? Thats hope.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:52 PM ^
Im crying with you man
December 8th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
no, not in my avatar's way ....
Hail, Hail Kellen ...
December 7th, 2010 at 10:48 PM ^
Helluva linebacker.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:48 PM ^
over 12,000 points with still 3 weeks left for 2010. Not a bad year my friend.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:50 PM ^
Certainly one to remember. At this pace, I'll have over 200,000 by the time I retire! Hot damn, life is a beach.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:51 PM ^
Can't wait for him to haul in some TFLs in a 3-4. I'm thinking 5th year Sr Demens and Soph. K. Jones starting in the middle in 2012....
December 7th, 2010 at 10:53 PM ^
This kid's going to be a star. It's a joke that he's still a three star on Rivals. So pumped that we got him and he seems to love everything about Michigan.
December 8th, 2010 at 9:00 AM ^
He's only a 3 star? What's Rivals knock on him?
December 8th, 2010 at 9:43 AM ^
Seems that primarily they think he's a little undersized. Funny, cause it's pretty clear that you don't have to be over six feet tall to be a good linebacker (London Fletcher is SHORT), but I guess that's their main concern.
December 8th, 2010 at 9:45 AM ^
Just remember that stars don't mean shit half of the time. Kellen is going to be a beast and that is fact, whether he is a 3 star or 4 star.
December 7th, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
I heart positive recruiting news. This guy's going to be a good one.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:00 PM ^
kid is going to be a monster.We need more guys like this at LB.Does anybody know if Kellen Jones is thinking about enrolling early?And also when will kellen jones get a fourth star on rivals and espn!!!1ST TEAM IN THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS,COME ON MAN!!!
December 7th, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^
1) No, it doesn't seem like Jones will be enrolling early, unless someone's heard otherwise.
2) I wouldn't count on it happening any time soon. He's still 13 spots behind the last 4* ILB on Rivals, and they'll continue to view his lack of height (6'0), and lack of offer from Texas (Rivals generally frowns on players from Texas w/o Texas offers). He's even further away from a fourth star on ESPN. He might move up a little with such a strong senior season, but unless he hits the all star games hard, it probably won't be by much. And as far as I know, he doesn't even have an invite to any all star games.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:27 PM ^
Rivals generally frowns on players from Texas w/o Texas offers
As well as any recruits with Michigan offers
December 7th, 2010 at 11:56 PM ^
There's two Rivals.com 5 star players from the state of Texas without Texas offers. Both are commited to Oklahoma, Trey Motoyer and Brandon Williams. Their probably rated too high, I mean who passes up offering in-state 5 star talent? Typical Rivals recruiting rankings...
December 8th, 2010 at 8:52 AM ^
They were both somewhat-late bloomers (and just received their fifth star in the past Rivals update). They both had incredibly explosive senior years, and since Texas gets most of their recruiting class done on their junior day, they didn't offer either. Kellen Jones had a good senior year, but his size will keep him from moving up.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:24 PM ^
The only stars I care about are the ones the opposing RBs will see after Kellen tackles them in the backfield.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:04 PM ^
This kid needs to be soaked in snake oil and strung with garlic......just till he gets signed.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:06 PM ^
December 7th, 2010 at 11:10 PM ^
Fabulous news and well deserved! Thanks for the update!
December 7th, 2010 at 11:22 PM ^
Is he in the highest division in TX? Anyone?
December 7th, 2010 at 11:34 PM ^
He's not in a public school, which probably holds him back in the Rivals rankings so much. In the state of Texas, only 1 player in their top 50 attends a private school according to a quick scan I just did.
So the answer to your question is that he's not in the most competitive division in the state, but I believe he is in the highest private school division.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:37 PM ^
Texas has a weird setup where all the private schools compete against each other in TAPPS (Tex. Assoc. of Private and Parochial Schools). His school is very good at that level, but it isn't as competitive as 5A.
December 8th, 2010 at 8:25 AM ^
The Texas set up may become less weird over the next decade or so. I didn't realize Texas was one of very few states to have it set up this way until I went to Michigan. It was strange enough hearing about private schools playing public schools, much less competing with them.
I did some light google searching a few years ago and saw that several states are looking to make a split similarly to Texas (Ohio, Arkansas, Illinois, and Georgia come to memory). I want to say most of those were because privates are over representative in their respective state playoffs.
Private schools in Texas tend to suck at football but do much better at smaller sports like baseball or soccer. With just ~700 students at the larger private schools, there's little chance to pull in the number of athletes you need to compete with public schools, especially when the bigger schools pull in 700 per graduating class.
Strake Jesuit is about as close to a competitive private school when it comes to playing the big Houston area schools. They still lose badly fairly often, but every few years, they could at steal a couple from 5A schools.
When you get up here to the buckle of the Bible Belt (Tyler, how quickly can I move away?), you get some bigger football powers in the private school ranks just because "God fearin' people are sendin' their children to a school of God." The privates can compete with the 3A and some 4A schools in the area, but not the one or two 5As in the area.
December 8th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
You're only a short drive away from the cultural mecca that is Longview, TX.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:25 PM ^
is still a 3 star? Not that it matters even a tiny bit - just weird.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:39 PM ^
I believe he goes to Catholic school, and it's in one of the lesser statewide divisions.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:42 PM ^
He made all-state for TAPPS as a junior as well. If he's getting slighted it is because of the level of his competition, not because folks don't know about him or anything like that.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:56 PM ^
...Houston area and was able to watch him play. The kid is legit, and made some great plays (albeit, against outmatched competition in parochial league).
He is very instinctive, which more than makes up for the lack of an OMG Shirtless ranking - I'd compare him to a David Harris type-project in the making. I don't think he will make an impact right away, but then again our defense is like, really bad (but you don't need to be told that either).
December 8th, 2010 at 12:05 AM ^
That is quite impressive. Get this kid on campus ASAP. I'm really excited for our future.
December 8th, 2010 at 12:09 AM ^
on New Years day?
December 8th, 2010 at 12:58 AM ^
Congrats to him. All his hard work is paying off. This guy is going to be a beast in the Maize and Blue!
December 8th, 2010 at 1:00 AM ^
Anybody heard any further word on his concussion issue(s)? I remember him being either taken out of a game or held back from some due to that type of injury.
December 8th, 2010 at 1:37 AM ^
Make us proud Kellen! I hope he can help this defense.
December 8th, 2010 at 6:44 AM ^
before rivals makes him a four star?
December 8th, 2010 at 9:04 AM ^
I heard a rumor recently that Kellen Jones...
...is awesome.
December 8th, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^
You might think.
/Obes'd
December 8th, 2010 at 9:58 AM ^
The rumor has been confirmed.
December 8th, 2010 at 10:15 AM ^
ready to pounce on our foes...really happy that is maize and blue through and through. He is a welcome addition to our defense.
December 8th, 2010 at 10:37 AM ^
Watching his video, I'm quite excited for this young man to contribute to the Maize and Blue!