Alabama apparently has some out-of-state schools to beat in the battle for committed 4-star lineman Jayson Jones.
Jones, a 6-foot-6, 340-pound lineman from Calera, committed to Alabama last summer, but said the recent coaching shake-up at Alabama, including the departure of defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, prompted him to re-evaluate his recruitment.
"Coaches come and go. I obviously know that," Jones said. "I just don't have that same feel with Alabama that I had with the last coaching staff. I know I have to get used to them and build a relationship with each and every one of them, but I just don't feel that mojo."
What does that mean?
"I'm still committed to Alabama," Jones said, "but I'm going to be venturing out more, outside of my state and looking at other schools."
Jones mentioned five schools he's considering visiting -- Florida, Oregon, Tennessee, Georgia and Michigan.
Georgia landed Oxford lineman Clay Webb and Hoover receiver George Pickens, two 5-star prospects from Alabama last year. Oregon also signed two Alabama players in the Class of 2019, and Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt has deep ties to Alabama as a high school and college coach.
Jones plans to visit Alabama today for a Junior Day event, giving the new Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Pete Golding and new defensive line coach Brian Baker a prime opportunity impress Jones.
Jones is currently the state’s top-ranked player in the Class of 2020, at No. 38th nationally according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, on the cusp of 5-star status. He is one of 10 players committed to Alabama in the Class of 2020.
Jones is also rehabbing a knee injury and said it’s going well enough that he’s “more than confident” he’ll be 100 percent for the kickoff of his senior season in August.
“They said I’m healing up faster than usual,” he said.