2009 Recruiting: Teric Jones Comment Count

Brian

Previously: S Vlad Emilien, S Thomas Gordon, CB Justin Turner, CB Adrian Witty, LB Isaiah Bell, LB Mike Jones, LB Brandin Hawthorne, DT Will Campbell, DE Anthony LaLota, DE Craig Roh, OL Michael Schofield, OL Taylor Lewan, OL Quinton Washington, WR Cameron Gordon, WR Je'Ron Stokes, and WR Jeremy Gallon.

Detroit, Michigan - 5'8" 186
teric-jones Scout 3*, #44 RB
Rivals 3*, #37 RB
ESPN 78, #48 RB
Others --
Other Suitors Iowa, Minnesota
YMRMFSPA DeAndra Cobb?
Previously On
MGoBlog
Hello: Teric Jones
Notes Cass Tech (Cissoko, Campbell, Gordon)

Teric Jones, the third member of Michigan's 2009 class to graduate from Cass Tech, went from Indiana recruit Cortez Smith's backup to the sort of player who would net and accept an early Michigan offer over the course of a single combine in January of his junior year. Jones went down to San Antonio to participate in the Army All-American junior combine, where he was "one of the biggest stars" after knocking out a smokin' hot 4.37 40. Even if that trips your FAKE sensors, that was the fastest time at the event, and that's no mean feat. (Maybe it should trip those sensors, as that time is often reported as a 4.47; either way he was the fastest guy there.) Jim Stefani has more detail:

Very impressive at the 2008 U.S. Army Combine, running the fastest forty at the event (4.37), putting up 20 bench reps and looking great in drills, scurrying past LBs and showing soft hands catching the ball. An All-Combine performer.

Rivals' impression:

Although small in stature, running back Teric Jones came up big everywhere else. His 4.47 40-yard dash time was the fastest heard about all day and he put those numbers to practice in the one-on-one drills, catching several long passes down the sidelines after leaving defenders behind.

"I wanted to let everyone know that I am one of the top backs in the nation," Jones said. "I wanted to show my speed and agility and show that I am a big playmaker."

USC was calling($), Michigan was offering, the track was still smoking, and after he committed there was sure to be a rankings surge…

…that totally failed to materialize. Jones ended the year a middling three star everywhere. Oh well. It's not like he hid, either, showing up at the Penn State Nike camp and racking up over 1,600 yards as a senior. Here are many of those yards in a nine-minute highlight reel (youtube killed the audio due to copyright stuff):

Despite this, the recruiting sites took a long look and said "meh."

ESPN did have some kind words, though:

Jones is a major sleeper in this class if he can land in an offense that utilizes his good speed and elusiveness in space. … Can attack a defense in a number of ways as a runner. Perimeter speed to take it the distance on the outside, suddenness and body-tilt to slice through the small creases in-line and deceptive strength breaking tackles. Has a natural smoothness and fluidity to him as a runner and shows good body control. A true weapon and homerun threat in space with his great burst and acceleration. Loses little speed when coming out of his cuts and squares up quickly assisting his power as a runner.

ESPN's main problem was a McGuffian lack of yards after contact "despite a strong frame". Despite that he's a "great one-cut-and-go slasher" that shows "spurts of great top-end speed"; they say he's a huge mismatch in a wide-open spread offense.

Hey! We've got one of those!

The "open field terror" stuff was echoed by Next Generation Sports when it scouted Cass Tech smoking Cody:

GAME MVP- Teric Jones, Cass Tech Jones finished with 161 yards and two TDs and constantly picked up chunks of 20 yards. He is just sick in the open field with great cut back ability and field vision.

NGS also took in Cass Tech's season-ending loss to Southeastern, during which Jones was "solid" (20 carries, 97 yards, TD) but "held in check."

In fact, Michigan might be shooting Jones into lots of space as a slot receiver. Rodriguez said Jones was a slot receiver who "may also get reps at running back" at the signing day press conference, and Jones did have some nice receiving numbers as a junior: 24 catches for 306 yards.

Etc.: More highlights from Trieu, and an interview; interview from the PSU camp.

Why DeAndra Cobb? You may remember Cobb from such touchdowns as "What are you doing, Ernest Shazor?" and "Goddammit, Shazor!" during the Michigan State game that would turn into Braylonfest. He was a lightly-recruited JUCO jet engine who was mostly a kick return threat, so this comparison isn't particularly tight. I'm having a hard time coming up with a Michigan player main asset was his ability to make one cut and hit warp 9 without resorting to Tyrone Wheatley, which is obviously not the right comparison.

Guru Reliability: High. Combine, camp, healthy senior year on a team with Will Campbell. And they're all in agreement.
General Excitement Level: Moderate. This was trending towards low just because everyone's so eh about him, but Lord he's fast and that ESPN scouting report makes it sound like he's a guy better suited for the spread 'n' shred than the general population.
Projection: Whether he's a tailback or a slot receiver he's destined for a redshirt to add weight and not waste time.

Comments

mgoblue911

May 27th, 2009 at 12:52 PM ^

The Detroit PSL should be ashamed of the conditions of some of those fields that they routinely play on. Really??? You cannot even keep the grass cut? Jones probably did run a 4.37 forty. Given all the conditioning he had by running in the 8" long stuff on the highlight reel, he got on some athletic turf... felt the bounce... and said "Jesus I'm fast"... then hit warp speed.

Then again, when I was at CT in 78-79, we practiced on a dirt field next to the school and had no home field for games. 8" grass is better than no grass, I guess.

marco dane

May 27th, 2009 at 1:34 PM ^

CT and the *great* Harlan Huckaby(sp?)playing Mackenzie @ Mackenzie in his senior year. Mackenzie was highly ranked within Detroit. Iirc,CT was the top ranked team in the D along with the being the top ranked Class A team in Michigan. When Harlan & CT left...they took Mackenzie manhood with them...Harlan was one bad cat.

mgoblue911

June 7th, 2009 at 11:36 AM ^

In addition to Huckleby, and the aforementioned Roosevelt Smtih (a junior), they had Tom Seabron and Curtis Greer. Despite that, they did not win the PSL championship, and therefore, back in those days, did not make it to the playoffs. Who could beat a team like that? Detroit Redford, led by another familiar name... Ralph Clayton, future M slotback extrordinaire.

pzar11

May 27th, 2009 at 1:28 PM ^

Michigan should grab this guy just because he caught a punt. Too many drops last year. The Notre Dame game almost made me vomit.

tomhagan

May 27th, 2009 at 2:31 PM ^

Teric's frame and running style remind me of Ladanian Tomlinson....

or a Michigan reference of sorts: Tim Biakabatuka type

WolvinLA

May 27th, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^

Maybe I'm misinformed, but I doubt Stokes plays in the slot, especially if Gallon qualifies. Faegin and Shaw will be playing in the slot as well.

I think the starters on the outside will be Mathews and Hemingway, with Stonum and Stokes as their backups. Am I missing anyone? Maybe James Rogers, but I think Stokes could pass him.

Noahdb

May 27th, 2009 at 5:08 PM ^

For college anyway, it doesn't really matter how tall you are. You can teach great hands and great speed. Keep him outside and he'll have great value.