Jones’ commitment no surprise to big QB group

John Stephen Jones has committed to play for Arkansas and nobody should really be surprised.

Considering he will be a third generation Razorback, has a Hog on his keychain and has always been a fan, it may be the least drama-filled player that is expected to sign Wednesday.

“The biggest factor was that the (Arkansas) coaches were awesome,” Jones told Dudley Dawson of WholeHogSports.com after making the announcement via Twitter.. “I’ve always been a big Razorback fan, but was able to get up there and spend some time with them and that was really the deciding factor for me.

“They are both incredible coaches and I got some time to spend with them this weekend and really get to know them and their families.”

At Dallas Highland Park, Jones threw for 4,911 yards with 61 touchdowns and just four interceptions his senior season, leading the Scots to their second straight Texas High School Championship in the Class 5A Division I.

He committed to Arkansas coach Chad Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock on Sunday afternoon after an official visit to Fayetteville this weekend.

“The biggest factor was that the (Arkansas) coaches were awesome,” Jones said. “I’ve always been a big Razorback fan, but was able to get up there and spend some time with them and that was really the deciding factor for me.

“They are both incredible coaches and I got some time to spend with them this weekend and really get to know them and their families.”

He also had offers from Texas Tech, SMU, Kansas and some others, but they came later after seeing his performance through his senior season.

Jones passed for nearly 8,000 yards and 90 touchdowns the past two seasons while leading Highland Park to back-to-back championships.

As if that wasn’t enough, he capped it off completing 37-of-58 passes and throwing for 564 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for another in the state championship game at the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium.

He led the Scots from 10 points down with three minutes left and threw a 16-yard touchdown pass with 34 seconds left for a 54-49 win. Jones was the first quarterback to throw for over 500 yards in a Texas high school title game.

He was named the offensive MVP of the state championship game, the Dallas Morning News SportsDay Area offensive player of the year and the Class 5A player of the year.

He is the 15th player who has either signed or committed to the Hogs ahead of national signing day Wednesday.

He will join a crowded quarterback room of potentially eight players and is the second quarterback in this signing class (Greenwood’s Connor Noland signed in the December early signing period).

He was greeted warmly by the only quarterback for the Hogs with any significant playing time this year, Cole Kelley.

For the one or two people that don’t already know, he is the grandson of former Hog and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. His father played for the Hogs under Ken Hatfield and is the chief executive officer of the Cowboys.

“My dad wanted what was best for me, but he is obviously a big Hog fan and is very happy I picked Arkansas,” Jones told Dawson at WholeHogSports.com.

RAZORBACK FOOTBALL

Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19GeorgiaL, 45-17
Sat, Sep 26TulsaW 34-6
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&ML, 34-7
Sat, Oct 10TennesseeL, 24-17
Sat, Oct 17@ VanderbiltW 31-21
Sat, Oct 31vs Missouri6:45 PM
SEC Network
Sat, Nov 7@ AuburnTBA
Sat, Nov 14South CarolinaTBA
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasTBA
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUTBA

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Shiloh Christian (16)7-01871
2.Bentonville6-11634
3.Conway (3)6-11562
4.Joe T. Robinson7-01045
5.North Little Rock6-1937
6.Bentonville West6-1883
7.Sheridan7-0709
8.Springdale Har-Ber5-2508
9.Greenwood5-24410
10Searcy6-1426
Others receiving votes: Bryant 22, Mountain Home 7, Sylvan Hills 7, Stuttgart 6, LR Christian 4, Pulaski Academy 3, Jacksonville 3, Fayetteville 2, Benton 2, Van Buren 1, Nashville 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Shiloh Christian (16)7-0921
2.Conway (3)6-1642
3.Bentonville6-1624
4.North Little Rock6-1265
5.Bentonville West6-1193
Others receiving votes: Springdale Har-Ber 15, Bryant 7.
CLASS 6A
1.Sheridan (16)7-0902
2.Searcy6-1711
3.Mountain Home (3)6-1415
4.Sylvan Hills5-2353
5.Benton4-3314
Others receiving votes: Van Buren 12, Lake Hamilton 5.
CLASS 5A
1.Joe T. Robinson (17)7-0931
2.Greenwood (2)5-2762
3.Jacksonville6-1544
4.Farmington6-1243
Little Rock Parkview4-3245
Others receiving votes: LR Mills 7, HS Lakeside 5, Greenbrier 1, Camden Fairview 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (16)7-0921
2.Nashville (3)7-0792
3.Ozark7-0384
4.Elkins6-1335
5.Southside Batesville6-110—
Others receiving votes: Gravette 7, Fountain Lake 3, Forrest City 2, Lonoke 1, Booneville 1, Arkadelphia 1.

CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (13)6-1851
3.Mansfield (2)6-2542
2.Smackover6-1413
4.Walnut Ridge (3)6-1274
5.Rivercrest6-1245
Atkins6-124—
Others receiving votes: Fordyce (1) 14, Newport 9, Prescott 5, Glen Rose 2.
CLASS 2A
1.Mount Ida (10)8-0831
2.Baptist Prep (9)7-0822
3.Marked Tree6-1383
4.Earle6-1334
5.Gurdon5-2295
Others receiving votes: Dierks 11, Magnet Cove 4, Bearden 2, Des Arc 2, Hazen 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Corning (6)6-0261
2.Cedar Ridge (4)6-0242
3.Magazine (2)6-0173
Others receiving votes: Izard County 5.