Editor’s Note: Bradenton-IMG senior offensive lineman Will Jones has written the following first-person story to announce where he’ll play college football.
The 6-foot-6, 280-pound Jones is rated a three-star recruit and the No. 144 offensive tackle in the nation on the 247Sports Composite. Before transferring to IMG in late June, Jones was a Class 2A first-team all-state selection at Stuarts Draft High School in Virginia.
Jones had more than 25 college offers, including Air Force, Arkansas State, Army, Kent State, Middle Tennessee State, Navy and several Ivy League programs.
I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to play college football at some really great places.
Some of the schools were really great academically. Some of them were really good for football. I was looking for that mesh point in between.
I think being recruited during COVID-19 has been crazy, but it’s been really fun all the same. I got my first offer last December after the state championship game, and shortly after, COVID-19 hit. It’s definitely different not being able to go to games and visit campuses. All the coaches who reached out did a really good job. All in all it’s been a good ride.
I had some great choices at some great institutions, but I just didn’t feel complete. Then Virginia Tech called me and offered me a chance to be a preferred walk-on.
Coach Lechtenberg said they would really like me to be a part of their program. They were going to give me the opportunity there to come in and work. They said, “If you’re the guy we think you could be, it will work out and hopefully you’ll be on scholarship soon.”
Virginia Tech has always been a dream school for me.
My family has been Virginia Tech most of the way. My grandpa went there. My aunt and one of my cousins went there. My dad’s side of the family has rooted for them my whole life. Additionally, staying in the state of Virginia is something I really wanted to do.
It’s also just a great school with a great atmosphere.
Game day for me is just crazy. The fans are going crazy. Football means a lot to the community there. That’s something I want to keep going. Football was important at Stuarts Draft, obviously it’s important at IMG and I want to continue that into college.
I wanted to go somewhere where football players are looked up to, where football is a big deal.
Looking at all options for me, there’s not many I would have considered more than Virginia Tech. Maybe a Stanford offer — and even then, with all the visits and camps being shut down and it’s so far away from home that I don’t know. Maybe Notre Dame. If they offered, it would be hard to pass up. They gave me a preferred walk-on opportunity that was really attractive and that’s where I would have landed if Virginia Tech hadn’t called.
I definitely hear that some people are surprised that I’m going with a preferred walk-on offer rather than guaranteed scholarship, but it’s my decision. I have to do what I think is best. It doesn’t matter if it’s a walk-on or a scholarship position, I know I have to prove myself and better myself to be the best Will Jones I can be everyday.
I got some great offers, but Virginia Tech is the place for me to go.
And I’m ready, too.
I think being here at IMG has definitely prepared me — whether it’s a scholarship or as a walk on — for what college football is like. Be responsible, take ownership for yourself, put in the work.
Success will require perseverance, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and commitment to my craft.
Being at IMG has been amazing. Just over the summer, being with the linemen every day. We went over to the island, as we refer to it. We worked hard together and I had some phenomenal role models — JC Latham, Greg Crippen, Tyler Booker — guys who aren’t in your average high school. These are guys who taught me a ton about the process. Wake up early, attack the day, go to practice, lift weights, go to meetings, and classes while maintaining constant focus. It’s been a great experience.
I want to thank everybody back home, including my coaches from little league to high school: Matt Altis, Tim Johnson, Chris Haskins, JD Rines, Abe Mikell, and Nathan Floyd to name a few. I also want to thank my mom and dad, family, friends and teammates. Also, a special thanks to IMG, for taking me in. Coach Lyons, Coach Brey, Coach Hegamin, and Coach Acosta.
I didn’t expect high school to end this way, but it’s been a really good time and I can’t thank everybody enough for everything along the way.
I’m coming home.
