ESPN: Ridge Jones commits to New Mexico

by **dcpony** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:22 am

Rod Jones' son.

ESPN
By Damon Sayles
Under-the-radar receiver Ridge Jones (DeSoto, Texas) has verbally committed to play for New Mexico.

Jones, the son of former SMU and NFL cornerback Rod Jones, chose New Mexico over offers from Louisiana-Monroe and Wyoming. Houston, UTEP, North Texas and Colorado State also offered the 5-foot-11, 165-pound speedster, who said he has been clocked in the 40-yard dash at 4.32 seconds.

Jones, like his father, is a standout on the track as well as on the football field. Ridge Jones was a sprinter and relay participant on DeSotoâ€™s track team that finished fifth at the Texas Class 5A state championships last year. His father was an All-American who won two national titles in the 1,600-meter relay in the 1980s.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncfrecr ... fid%3d1748

by **SMUer** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 9:32 am

We've kinda turned up our noses at a couple of famous alumni sons...Adam James, Ridge Jones, others? If you are going to have project guys in you classes, wouldn't these be it? Of course, they have to be decent but...why not fill out stadium with 1980s SMU greats.

by **sbsmith** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 10:58 am

Speed looks legit, wonder why June had no interest.

by **diamond_tom** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:48 pm

"Speed looks legit, wonder why June had no interest."

DeSoto

by **SMUer** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 1:57 pm

June adores UNM transfers. Just give it time.

by **Mustangs_Maroons** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:40 pm

Surprised we didn't make an offer once JP came on board if he indeed have an offer from Houston.

by **RGV Pony** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 2:57 pm

SMUer wrote:June adores UNM transfers. Just give it time.

Jjmcd was from nmsu not unm

by **SMUer** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 3:18 pm

Yikes. Good catch. The Aggies not the Lobos. We have no hope then.

by **SMU Football Blog** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:03 pm

SMUer wrote:We've kinda turned up our noses at a couple of famous alumni sons...Adam James, Ridge Jones, others? If you are going to have project guys in you classes, wouldn't these be it? Of course, they have to be decent but...why not fill out stadium with 1980s SMU greats.

different regimes, but same concept. Coach makes a decision that a kid can't contribute, no reason to recruit him even if he a former player's son. Only leads to trouble. That being said, son of alumni deserve to be treated with extra courtesy and respect, and from what I recall, that is what was really wrong with the Adam James (lack of) recruitment. Bennett not only had no interest, but largely dismissed the kid from all accounts. We don't know how these coaches treated this kid.

by **EastStang** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 4:30 pm

He's only 5'11". Perhaps Jones was aiming for taller guys with the same speed. You don't like to make an offer to a legacy that you have to pull. I'd bet he got a walk-on invite from JJ.

by **mrydel** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:19 pm

How do we know he did not turn us down early?

by **Rebel10** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:39 pm

mrydel wrote:How do we know he did not turn us down early?

Because somehow I think Rod Jones would rather have his son get a degree from SMU rather than New Mexico if the choice were given in playing football.

by **SMU_Alumni11** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 6:57 pm

SMUer wrote:June adores UNM transfers. Just give it time.

Oh boy, how about we part ways from unm, they gave us a mcdoody

by **Stallion** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:16 pm

we don't know for sure-but for clarification I don't believe SMU is listed in his profile.

by **mrydel** » Tue Jan 31, 2012 7:46 pm

A lot of former players were pushed away from the program for many years. Some may not have warm fuzzies for SMU. Anyway, I am merely speculating. It is possible that he was contacted very early and said he did not want to follow in his father's footsteps. I am not saying that is the case but my speculations could be just as viable as are others. We just do not know.