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Timber Creek High School defensive back Naijee Jones made his commitment to Rutgers University official today, signing his National Letter of Intent.
Rutgers Nation welcome Naijee Jones @Jee_Jones24! #RUK17IGHTED pic.twitter.com/lIiBt5cnWk
— Rutgers Football (@RFootball) February 1, 2017
Jones was the first player added to the class of 2017, committing back on November 23rd, 2015. The versatile defensive back chose Rutgers early in the process while being recruiting by schools such as Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Temple.
Naijee Jones is a 3-star recruit who has been classified as a cornerback, a safety, and an athlete on different recruiting platforms. Scout is the highest on Jones, ranking him as the 8th best safety in the entire East region.
Regardless of what position you call Naijee Jones right now, he is going to make a big impact in the secondary. While his size (6’1”, 185lbs) and run-stuffing ability suggest the projection of a safety, his coverage ability and instincts are what shows promise towards Jones becoming a lanky, physical boundary corner.
Although Jones did not spend much time on offense while playing for Timber Creek, he possesses quality ball skills when the ball is in the air. In the day and age of tall and fast receivers, Jones can match up well with anyone.
Freshman Impact Index: We’ve mentioned Jones’ size and versatility before, but it is worth repeating one more time when discussing how Jones can find the field in 2017. The one part of his game that could keep him off the field initially is his speed. It’s not a glaring hole in his skill set, but there is certainly room to improve. Regardless, Naijee Jones is one of my early favorites to be the first defensive recruit from this class to make his college debut.
Take a look at Naijee’s season highlights here:
Welcome to the Banks, Naijee!
Keep it locked in to On the Banks all day for more National Signing Day coverage.