Power Ranking Ex-Texas WR Cayleb Jones' Best Transfer Options

Cayleb Jones announced his decision to transfer from Texas on Wednesday, and despite some outstanding legal issues, he immediately becomes one of the most sought-after free agents in college football. 

Jones earned ignominy when he was arrested and charged with felony assault in March. He allegedly punched a UT tennis player that was dating his ex-girlfriend, and though the charges were reduced to a misdemeanor, the incident still earned him a one-game suspension to start the season.

Instead, he opted to transfer, and Texas granted him his unconditional release, according to ESPN.com.

That means he can join any program he desires—and there are sure to be plenty of suitors.

5. FCS Route

Playing for a national powerhouse is every kid's dream, but not everybody can handle it. Your life becomes a slide fit for a microscope—your actions magnified 20-fold.

The grandness of playing at Texas was too much for Jones to bear, so a decidedly smaller program might be a smart destination. Especially if it allows him to play immediately, which the FCS route would.

Non-FBS players have gone on to NFL success in the past, laying a precedent for Jones' career to follow. Guys like Donald Driver (Alcorn State), Marques Colston (Hofstra), Victor Cruz (pictured, Massachusetts) and Miles Austin (Monmouth) all came up through the Championship Subdivision. 

It's not the sexiest option on Jones' list, but an FCS school could be a safe, smart, rehabilitative option.

4. East Carolina

One of two non-power-conference teams Jones considered in high school (besides Notre Dame), East Carolina could be another respite from the pressures he endured at Texas.

The Pirates would give Jones a chance to hit "restart" in relative anonymity. And unlike the FCS/JUCO route, there wouldn't be quite as many questions about the quality of competition. Especially if they continue making bowl games.

Ruffin McNeill coached his team to a 7-1 Conference USA record last season, and top receiver Justin Hardy (pictured) finished with 88 catches, 1,105 yards and 11 touchdowns. If Jones put up that kind of production, even at East Carolina, NFL scouts would take notice. 

3. Arkansas

Arkansas is the only school on this list who didn't offer Jones a scholarship in high school. But a very important new member of its coaching staff, Randy Shannon, did.

Shannon (pictured) was the head coach at Miami from 2007 to 2010, and made an aggressive pitch for Jones to join the Hurricanes. Prior to that, in the late '90s, Shannon was a linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins.

One of his players was a man named Robert Jones, who just so happens to be Cayleb's father.

Robert will want a man he trusts, a man like Shannon, to act as a second father figure to his son. Cayleb proved he needs support like that after being let loose in Austin.

He would be a huge get for Bret Bielema and company in Fayetteville.  

2. Auburn

Jones, an Austin native, was always a relatively safe bet to play at Texas out of high school. However, if one school made a serious scare to push the Longhorns, it was probably Auburn.

Jones' cousin, Emory Blake (pictured), was a former star receiver for the Tigers and signed a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Rams this spring. He led Auburn with eight touchdown catches during its BCS National Championship year in 2010.

Having seen that transpire firsthand, and after (ostensibly) hearing Blake's reviews of Gus Malzahn's offense, Jones might be smitten with what Auburn has to offer.

1. Baylor

What wide receiver wouldn't want to play for Art Briles?

Baylor has produced All-American pass-catchers in back-to-back years—Kendall Wright in 2011 and Terrance Williams (pictured) in 2012. Wright was selected with the No. 20 pick by the Tennessee Titans in the 2012 NFL draft, while Williams went in the third round to Dallas this past April.

Jones is built like the latter, and though he doesn't quite have Williams' speed, he does have enough to get downfield. Briles gets the most out of his players, especially in the passing game, and that's precisely what Jones appears to need.