ORLANDO- There has only been one practice so far in full pads, which some may think is a disadvantage for the linebacker position but linebacker Levi Jones (6-3 215, Austin, TX. Westlake) has made the most of his first two days.
Jones has shown his athleticism is in coverage as well as in 9-on-7 drills.
Off the field, the linebacker is dealing with recruiting and the Florida Gators are one of the teams after him and Jones says the process has between the two parties.
“My recruiting process has been very smooth and good throughout the process,” Jones said of his talks with Florida. “Over time they’ve contacted me more and we’ve really started talking more lately. It’s been a steady pace all along.”
Linebackers coach Randy Shannon is the point guy in Jones’ recruitment but the linebacker says everyone including the Gator Nation is recruiting him.
“I think everyone has really been recruiting from there not just the coaches,” he said of Florida’s recruitment of him. “Even the fan base which is awesome likes to tweet me and what not. It’s pretty cool and it has caught my attention. My parents went to the Florida/East Carolina game to see my brother play and they were talking about how the Florida fan base is always so loud.”
Right now Jones says the only visit he has set is one to Gainesville and that visit was set up just recently.
“After Coach Shannon came to see me in-home, I decided that Florida was going to be my first for sure visit,” Jones said. “We had a long and good talk and I just felt like, yeah I want to go check this place out soon.”
During that in-home visit, one of the things that stood out to Jones from Shannon was the early playing time.
“Coach Shannon has told me several times that he’s not afraid to play freshman,” he said. “I noticed that he has two guys playing now that young guy so yeah I believe him when he says that.”
Heading into next month’s visit Jones wants to see everything Florida has to offer and he’s just looking for a special feeling out of a school.
“I don’t think there’s anything they really have to do during the trip in particular,” Jones said of his official visit to Florida. “It’s just if everything falls into place or if everything goes pretty good or if that feeling comes. I’m just looking to see if Florida is the place to be.”
INSIDERS TAKE: Jones has displayed his speed at the linebacker position the first two days of practice in Orlando. Jones is a very physical guy that has all the tools to play linebacker at the next level.