Jones is No. 1 for Arkansas 2016 class
Smackover (Ark.) wide receiver Jordan Jones had a certain look in his eye when he stepped inside the Walker Pavilion for Arkansas' elite prospect camp Thursday morning.
What he came for was an offer from the instate Hogs. After running a blazing 4.34 forty-yard dash and dominating defenders in 1-on-1s throughout the afternoon session, Jones got what he came for.
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And it didn't take him long to commit to the Razorbacks.
"(Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema) just told me to stay on top of my grades, and he told me he wanted to give me a scholarship," said Jones, a 6-2, 180-pound receiver who already held an offer from Tulsa. "It was pretty cool getting an offer from the hometown team.
"They're No. 1 all the way. Being a hometown guy, they're No. 1 in my heart. I just went with my heart and they're the No. 1 team. I committed."
Jones, who had 687 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Buckaroos last fall, said he thinks the world of Bielema.
"I like Coach B. It's more than football with him," said Jones, who is a cousin of former Razorback basketball player Jonathan Modica. "He sat me down and told me he wants me and to stay on top of my grades."
The long and lean receiver knows several programs will likely make a run at him now that he's made a name for himself, but he feels solid in his pledge to Arkansas.
"It's a yes for good," he said. "I think we made the right decision, the right choice. Being a hometown guy, it's just what I wanted to do. Now I can say I'm going to the Razorbacks."
Jones knew he'd have a solid showing in front of Arkansas' staff, but even he was surprised by how well things went on Thursday.
"I didn't expect to come out this good, but I figured I'd do some of the stuff I had been doing," Jones said. "I didn't expect to run to run as fast as I did or do some of the things I did, but I just give honor to God. Without him I wouldn't be here right now."
Jones is the first commitment for the Razorbacks in the Class of 2016.