Penn Hills ATH Corey Jones shines at PSU Nike Camp
by Wade Perry
Posted May 4, 2011 7:35 am
When it comes to college football recruiting–the camp circuit has every bit as much to do with a prospect’s rating as his film.
It gives reporters across various recruiting networks a chance to evaluate prospects in person and make sure they pass the “eyeball test.”
Penn Hills (Pittsburgh, Pa.) athlete Corey Jones passed the eyeball test and then some this past weekend in State College, Pa.
The explosive playmaker shredded the competition en route to MVP honors for the wide receiver position at the Penn State Nike Camp.
Jones got to see how he stacked up against some of the top high school football prospects in the 2012 class and he did not disappoint.
Blessed with jaw-dropping speed and acceleration, Jones is a blur in the open field once the football is in his hands.
His impressive performance at the Nike Camp earned him a scholarship from the Cincinnati Bearcats on Monday.
Currently–he boasts scholarship offers from Kent State, Toledo, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Kansas.
FinestPreps.com caught up with the dynamic playmaker yesterday to talk about his Nike camp experience and his college football recruitment, among other topics.
Below is the interview.
FinestPreps.com Interview with Penn Hills ATH Corey Jones
FinestPreps.com: First off, Corey talk about the offer that you got from the Cincinnati Bearcats and how you feel about them.
Corey Jones: “I mean I feel real honored. I could see if a recruiter came out from Cincinnati but the head coach came to my school today. I just feel like they’re really interested in me if the head coach is coming to my school. I mean he took me out of lunch and everything–the head coach did. I really feel like they’re really interested in me and I like their offense a lot because it’s the spread offense. I like it a lot. I like the offer.”
FinestPreps.com: Where do you stand in the recruiting process as far as favorites are concerned since I talked to you last Corey?
Corey Jones: “I don’t really have a favorite now but it’s just the interest for all schools right now–Toledo and Cincinnati are the main ones hitting me up. They hit me up almost every day. They’re definitely the top two right now.”
FinestPreps.com: Corey, I remember last time I talked with you–you had four scholarship offers. Who is the other new one besides Cincinatti?
Corey Jones: “I was talking to Ohio State and Ohio State said after they see my grades and all of that–they were gonna offer. I mean my grades are good so they’re practically gonna offer me.”
FinestPreps.com: So Ohio State is going to offer you pretty soon?
Corey Jones: “Yeah.”
FinestPreps.com: What would you think about an offer from the Ohio State Buckeyes, Corey?
Corey Jones: “I’m just waiting to see what they want to do with me. I’m just sitting and waiting to hear from them what they think about me. I’ll just make my decision from there.”
FinestPreps.com: What about Ohio State? Have they given you any kind of deadline as to when they could potentially offer you Corey?
Corey Jones: “No–I guess just when they get my transcripts.”
FinestPreps.com: Talk to me about your experience at the Penn State Nike camp, Corey. Talk about how much of an honor it is to get MVP of that camp.
Corey Jones: “Yeah–I liked it a lot. It was a challenge. Usually I haven’t had a challenge yet but this time I really had to start bringing out a little bit of moves I’ve got in my inventory. It was a good experience. I liked it a lot. I think I could’ve done better. I think I could’ve performed a little bit better. That’s it.”
FinestPreps.com: Corey, talk about the level of competition at the Nike Camp. You feel like that’s really helping you improve in your game and really helping push you as a player?
Corey Jones: “Yeah. I think it did because there were a couple DBs out there that were giving me a challenge. I liked it a lot though. Especially that (Marchez) Coates guy.”
FinestPreps.com: So Marchez Coates was the toughest DB you went against, Corey?
Corey Jones: “Yeah–he was the toughest one I went against up there.”
FinestPreps.com: Talk about what made Marchez so difficult to go against, Corey.
Corey Jones: “From what I was observing–most of the other DBs were real aggressive. If I was gonna make a quick move one way, they would commit that way. It was kind of easy. He had good patience and all of that. That’s why he was a little tougher than everybody else.”
FinestPreps.com: Are you going to any other camps coming up Corey?
Corey Jones: “I don’t know yet right now. I’ve been seeing what I wanted to do. I haven’t made a decision yet to see what camp I want to go to. I’m going to the Pitt prospect camp and I’m going to Penn State’s prospect camp too. Those are two that I know for sure that I’m going to.”
FinestPreps.com: Corey what do you think about Mark Ingram being on the cover of NCAA Football?
Corey Jones: “I like that a lot. He won the Heisman the year before last year. I like Mark Ingram a lot. He takes every step that he takes as an honor. He’s just not taking it forgranted. I like how he runs too–he runs hard.”
As a junior last year, Jones dazzled fans to the tune of over 2,100 all-purpose yards last year, including 16 total touchdowns.
Wade Peery is the senior writer for FinestPreps.com. He can be reached by e-mail at wadepeery@yahoo.com. All comments and feedback are welcome.
Check out the junior highlights of Corey Jones below–courtesy of FinestPreps.com!