Where in the Magnolia state was Chris Jones this weekend?
This is the question fans of Mississippi State University and University of Mississippi were asking as they count the days before the Houston, Miss., product is expected to sign a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday morning.
Jones, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive lineman, has gone from a three-star prospect early last fall to a five-star prospect rated as a high as No. 2 in the country according to 247Sports.com. He reportedly was spotted Saturday at MSU and at Ole Miss according to reports on Twitter, Facebook, and social media.
MSU was the only school to offer him a scholarship until after his senior year, which he followed up with strong showings at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic and the Under Armour All-American Game.
Jones had 160 tackles, 46 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks as a senior at Class 4A Houston High School.
“It’s between those two now,” Jones said to 247Sports.com. “I’m a Mississippi guy. I’m going to keep it in Mississippi. I’d like to showcase my talents in Mississippi.”
Jones was spotted at Humphrey Coliseum for the MSU men’s basketball team’s 69-68 loss against LSU. Fans in the home student section recognized Jones’ appearance by chanting “We want Chris Jones” on three occasions.
Jones gave a verbal commitment to MSU on June 11, but fans began to question that commitment after Jones took official visits last month to MSU and Ole Miss. “You can’t make everybody happy. You can’t please everybody,” Jones said. “You have to do what’s good for yourself. (If) fans are going to be mad, fans are going to be mad. You just can’t let it get to you.”
While 247Sports.com reported Jones was seen at the Little Dooey’s barbecue restaurant near MSU after the men’s basketball game, ESPN.com recruiting correspondent Kipp Adams reported on his Twitter account that Jones was in Oxford late Saturday night.
It is approximately a two-hour drive from the schools. Jones texted The Jackson Clarion-Ledger he wasn’t in Oxford on Saturday.
Wednesday is the first day high school football players can sign with colleges. Jones is expected to announce where he’ll play college football Wednesday morning at Houston High.
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