Spring Break
The Daily OrangeWR Jones not sold on SU yet
By John Sutton
Posted: 9/25/08, 12:13 AM EST Section: Sports
Leavander Jones never expected this opportunity to come. Most football players in his high school do not get this chance. Jones is hoping to make the best of it.
He has the chance to play Division I football.
The wide receiver recently gave Syracuse a soft verbal commitment to play football next fall, according to Scout.com. He said that the education he would receive at SU put it above some of the other schools he was looking at. Coming from what his high school coach, Robert Weiss, described as "an inner city school," not many other players in his high school have the chance to play college football at a high level.
"It feels good knowing that I can go to school for free, especially a Division-I college," said Jones, who is from Atlantic City, N.J. "It's something I always wanted to do, and it feels good to know that I finally have the chance to do it."
Still, Jones' chance to play Division I football may be elsewhere. Like many of the other high school football players that Syracuse is recruiting this fall, the job status of head coach Greg Robinson is a concern for Jones. It wasn't the tenuous situation at the helm for the Orange that was keeping him from making a solid verbal commitment, but said that he would look at other schools if Robinson was fired.
"Not knowing who is coming in after him if he is to go, that changes my mind," Jones said. "They would still be at the top of my list, but I would probably start looking elsewhere a little more."
The only other Division I schools that offered Jones a scholarship are Buffalo and Akron. Jones said he watched Akron's 42-28 win over SU three weeks ago, but he didn't elaborate whether or not the upset would play into his ultimate decision.
The job status of Robinson seems to be the bigger tipping point. Robinson's presence off the field was one of the primary factors that peaked Jones' interest in playing for the Orange. Weiss said that Robinson exudes the aura of a winner.
He has the chance to play Division I football.
The wide receiver recently gave Syracuse a soft verbal commitment to play football next fall, according to Scout.com. He said that the education he would receive at SU put it above some of the other schools he was looking at. Coming from what his high school coach, Robert Weiss, described as "an inner city school," not many other players in his high school have the chance to play college football at a high level.
"It feels good knowing that I can go to school for free, especially a Division-I college," said Jones, who is from Atlantic City, N.J. "It's something I always wanted to do, and it feels good to know that I finally have the chance to do it."
Still, Jones' chance to play Division I football may be elsewhere. Like many of the other high school football players that Syracuse is recruiting this fall, the job status of head coach Greg Robinson is a concern for Jones. It wasn't the tenuous situation at the helm for the Orange that was keeping him from making a solid verbal commitment, but said that he would look at other schools if Robinson was fired.
"Not knowing who is coming in after him if he is to go, that changes my mind," Jones said. "They would still be at the top of my list, but I would probably start looking elsewhere a little more."
The only other Division I schools that offered Jones a scholarship are Buffalo and Akron. Jones said he watched Akron's 42-28 win over SU three weeks ago, but he didn't elaborate whether or not the upset would play into his ultimate decision.
The job status of Robinson seems to be the bigger tipping point. Robinson's presence off the field was one of the primary factors that peaked Jones' interest in playing for the Orange. Weiss said that Robinson exudes the aura of a winner.
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Dominic
posted 9/25/08 @ 8:54 AM EST
"He looks like the kind of guy who is a winner, even though he might be struggling right now, I know he is a winner,"
Looks can be deceiving.
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