Cayleb Jones: 8 Reasons the 5-Star Receiver Picked Texas
Texas is always among the very first programs to begin its recruitingย efforts in a given year, almost always even scoring a few pledges for the following year's class before the current year is even finished.
The Longhornsย haveย revolutionized the way recruiting is handled in college football and they already have 15 commitments for their 2012 class.
One of the headliners of the class will be Cayleb Jones, perhaps the best receiver in Texas and one of the elite offensive-flank players in the country.
Jones had an array of offers from all of the top programs in the nation, yet he decided Texas was where his future was at.
Here are eight likely reasons he chose to be a Longhorn.
8. Malcolm Brown
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Brown signed with Texas during their 2011ย recruitingย class and is a legend around the Lone Star State.
He is viewed as the next Rocky Williams and Cedric Benson inย Austin, and many high schoolย players in the state want to play with him.
A 6'0", 220-pound man-child running back, Brown is expected to get carries as a true freshman and is the future of the Longhorns' running attack.
Jones likely knows that playing with a running back who surely will command an extra defender in theย boxย in the future, will open up the passing game in which he can reap the rewards.
7. Gilbert, McCoy, Ash and Brewer at QB
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As a receiver prospect, oneย ofย theย main elements you look for in a school is who they haveโcurrently and potentiallyโat QB. You have to. Your position depends on a good QB that can get you the football.
Jones could have seen that Texas will have four solid passers on its roster during his tenure inย Austin.
Garrett Gilbert was the starter last season, Case McCoy lit up the spring game, David Ash signed in 2011 and has looked impressive in workouts, and Connor Brewer is one of the top QB prospects for the 2012 class.
Jones can't go wrong with any of the four, and the QB spot inย Austinย will be in good hands for years to come.
6. Roy Williams' Shadow
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Jones is from Texas and surely has heard the myths of Roy Williams' legendary play as a prep star on the Texas high school football scene.
Williams, 'til this very day, is seen as a legend and folk heroย aroundย the state and he is currently with the Dallas Cowboys.
He went to Texas, becoming oneย ofย the best receivers in the country there and likely the top receiver in school history.
Jones has a bit of high-ranking status himself in the Texas prep scene,ย andย following the footsteps of a legend is always appealing.
5. Bryan Harsin
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Harsin is the new offensiveย sheriffย in Austin and comes to town with a formidable reputation.
He has guided the potent Boise State offenses we've seen in the recentย yearsย and he is looked at as a rising star in the coaching profession.
Harsin gets hisย playmakersย the football, and Jones likely knows this.
A new multiple-formationย attackย is being installed by Harsin at Texas, where Harsin moves his playersย aroundย the field to get the best matchups.
Thisย hadย to appeal heavily to Jones.
4. Facilities
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The halls, locker rooms andย meetingย rooms at Texas are someย ofย theย best in the country, bar none.
Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium rocks in the fall on Saturday afternoons, and the support the Longhornsย receiveย is among the best in all of sports.
Jones has visited theย campusย in Austin at various times, and each time he sawย somethingย new that impressed him.
Whether it was an awesomeย weight room, the state-of-the-art football section of theย athleticย facilities, locker rooms, or just the sceneryย aroundย theย campus, the atmosphere at Texas could have easily sold Jones. ย
3. It's In-State
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Often, you see players really look at distance playing a factor in their decision making on a school.
Jones had offers from the likes of Oklahoma,ย Floridaย State, Auburn and many, many more, but chose to stay in state and play for Texas.
Another aspect of this in Texasย is playing for the flagship school and program in the state and evenโperhapsโthe Big 12 Conference.
Young boys who play Pee-Wee and Pop Warner ball grow up dreaming of playingย at Texas, as it is a state honor to be a Longhorn.
Jones was once one of those young boys.
2. Mack Brown
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Brown has been oneย ofย the most rock solid and stableย coachesย in the country since coming to Texas in the late 1990s.
His best skill is his ability to work and deal with people in anyย situationย andย make themย comfortable. He's a peopleย personย in every sense of the word, and this does wonders in recruiting.
A running joke is that Brownย couldย run for Governor of Texas, and he'd likely win.
Brown isย oneย of the bestย recruitingย headย coaches of all-time, and Jones likely was sold by Brown on Texas as hundreds of others before him have been.ย
1. Chance to Win and Compete for Championships
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I know, I know.ย Texasย went 5-7 last year. But I mean, really, do you think Texas misses a bowl game again? Thought so.
The Longhorns are among the elite programs in the country and routinely compete for Big 12 Conference titlesย and nationalย championships.
They are frequent BCS bowl visitors, usually finding themselves ranked in the top 10 all year.
Jones, like any other player in history, plays to win games and championships.
Why not go to a program that has been routinely dominant, is a flagship school, has a cool head coach, is close to home, has staunch support, has four potential starting QBs, has a former recent legend at your position, has greatย facilitiesย and has a stud young running back?
You'd do the same thingย ifย you were in Jones' shoes.
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