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'16 CA OLB Akil Jones (Signed to COLORADO)

Buffnik

Real name isn't Nik
Club Member
Junta Member
Rivals
Scout
ESPN
247sports

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Valley Christian HS (San Jose, CA)

Twitter: https://twitter.com/akjones27

Ht: 5'11"
Wt: 220
40: 4.50

Rivals rating: 3*-5.5rr; unranked OLB
Scout rating: 3*; #100 OLB
ESPN rating: 2*-68 grade; #126 OLB
247s rating: 3*-83 grade; #100 OLB

Reported Offers: COLORADO, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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Followed by Toyoma, Leavitt and MacIntyre
 
Rivals article: Scouting Akil Jones (good read from 6/9)

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Strengths: Pursuit. That might be the best way to describe what Jones does well. He pursues, from every angle, no matter where he lines up, no matter where the ball is. On the very first play of his highlight reel Jones flies upfield on the edge, pursuing the quarterback. He seems to run out of the play, then he flies downfield from seemingly out of nowhere to track the ball carrier down.

He is relentless and couples a non-stop, never give up motor with impressive instincts and speed.

Jones' speed as an outside linebacker is one of his greatest assets. It's something those in his camp have marketed on the recruiting scene and it's a real thing. It allows him to fly around in space, to get to the ball quickly.
 
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Coming in tonight.

You pumped? I'm pumped! Love this player. Pursues and closes like he was shot out of a cannon.
 
Highlights showed good quickness and aggression. Also noted some plays that required discipline, holding position and maintaining the edge before attacking the ball.
 
I believe he will be. He is ignoring teams like Texas because he's gushing about CU.

When I watch a highlight film like this kids, it just pops out at me. What the hell are Texas and Oregon State, as well as any other P5 school, don't see on why they aren't offering schollies? You'd think this kid would have offers from Utah, Oregon State, Washington State, Arizona, etc.
 
He's listed as bigger than Jo Jo, if it's his legit size. Looks like we need his commitment even more, we need backers.
 
They are similar size, so who knows what scouts see in Domann more than Jones. I think if Jones racks up a few more P5 offers, he'll be viewed as just as big of a recruiting win (assuming we are able to get his signature) as Domann would have been.
 
Big enough to play ILB. That's likely his position. We're not talking about an OLB/S tweener here.

But he also has the speed and ability to play in space that would let him be a true dominant OLB.

As with Roberts I'm perfectly happy to bring in a kid who has the talent to fit into multiple places. Let him get here and then working with the coaches figure out what spot is best for him and the team.
 
But he also has the speed and ability to play in space that would let him be a true dominant OLB.

As with Roberts I'm perfectly happy to bring in a kid who has the talent to fit into multiple places. Let him get here and then working with the coaches figure out what spot is best for him and the team.

For sure, but I'm pretty sure he's being recruited for the inside.

Football has changed. ILBs aren't gap pluggers. They have to chase sideline-to-sideline and they have to play in space, often in man coverage against an over-sized WR we call a TE these days or an all-purpose RB. They also have to be able to spy a running QB and be able to chase down a Mariota or Hundley or Solomon in the Pac-12.

In the 3-4, it's our OLBs who are more likely to be less capable in space since those are our primary pass rushers for their most important skill set.
 
For sure, but I'm pretty sure he's being recruited for the inside.

Football has changed. ILBs aren't gap pluggers. They have to chase sideline-to-sideline and they have to play in space, often in man coverage against an over-sized WR we call a TE these days or an all-purpose RB. They also have to be able to spy a running QB and be able to chase down a Mariota or Hundley or Solomon in the Pac-12.

In the 3-4, it's our OLBs who are more likely to be less capable in space since those are our primary pass rushers for their most important skill set.

Regarding the gap-plugged comment, the ilb's in a 3/4 are typically bigger since they tend to have to take on a guard or tackle more frequently than a traditional 4/3 inside backer. I'm not sure he'd last long if he could only get to 225lbs or thereabouts.

But I do agree that the ilb position does need someone who can really jet.
 
For sure, but I'm pretty sure he's being recruited for the inside.

Football has changed. ILBs aren't gap pluggers. They have to chase sideline-to-sideline and they have to play in space, often in man coverage against an over-sized WR we call a TE these days or an all-purpose RB. They also have to be able to spy a running QB and be able to chase down a Mariota or Hundley or Solomon in the Pac-12.

In the 3-4, it's our OLBs who are more likely to be less capable in space since those are our primary pass rushers for their most important skill set.

Regarding the gap-plugged comment, the ilb's in a 3/4 are typically bigger since they tend to have to take on a guard or tackle more frequently than a traditional 4/3 inside backer. I'm not sure he'd last long if he could only get to 225lbs or thereabouts.

But I do agree that the ilb position does need someone who can really jet.

Nik also hits on another point in terms of the game changing. The definition of an OLB and an ILB has been blurred a great deal. It used to be that ILBs were your run stoppers and OLB covered the edges and pass defended, now they all have to be able to do all of that.

Further just because a guy is listed as being inside or outside differing defensive sets may find him lined up in either place, ILB's lined up outside the DE at times and OLBs lined up inside the box depending on the lean of the defense and how they respond to the offensive set.
 
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