Attention finds Jones

Meridian (Miss.) 2016 safety Zaire Jones has the full attention of college coaches and already has an SEC offer from the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Coach Dan Mullen and his staff have already worked hard to establish a relationship with coach Tony Hughes keeping in touch with the standout defensive back, and he plans to make it to Starkville in the near future.

Starkville is not the only trip in his future.

"Oh yes sir most definitely the Egg Bowl. I think I'm going to make that one," Jones said. "Then there is one I'm trying to get to Oct. 4. I'm either going to (Texas) A&M at (Mississippi) State or I'll be going to LSU at Auburn. One of those two.

"And LSU is also inviting me to a game. It depends because LSU has been sending me letters just inviting me to games and sending me prospect tickets. The defensive coordinator coach Chavis just followed me on Twitter the other day and we were just getting to know each other."

Mississippi State and LSU are not the only ones Jones has been getting to know.

"Duke, I've been talking with Duke the most surprisingly," Jones said. "I talk to a coach with Duke almost every day. I've been talking with Auburn quite a bit and also Arkansas."

It also sounds like those talks have been getting pretty serious.

"No sir, not any offers yet, but I know Duke is strong on an offer when I get down there," Jones said. "Of course they want to meet the family and everything and Auburn is kind of doing the same thing. Arkansas just told me they're still evaluating me. Auburn and Duke are almost on the same page with me coming down to the campus and want to offer in person. So when I'm able to get out there I'm pretty sure."

Jones is not ready to declare any favorites at this time in the recruiting process, but he does have a plan of action for narrowing his list to a few college options.

"Right now I'm just really looking to see what colleges want me the most and are trying to get the most out of me. You can pretty much tell which schools really want you and which schools just want to offer. Right now I'm just going through it. So the college who shows me the most love and just make me feel at home that's the one I'm going to go with and have at my top.

For now though, Jones is focused on the 2014 season. The Wildcats are 2-2 on the season

"It's been treating me pretty well individually but as a team we have gotten off to a shaky start," Jones said. "I'll tell you this though I see a completely different team out of everybody. I can even say for myself our whole team had a selfish attitude. Everybody wanted to get theirs. This bye week we got to practicing against each other and competing and come district play we'll really have something to look forward to."

Friday night Meridian begins district play with Jim Hill at 7 p.m.

Jones has recorded 14 tackles and two tackles for loss through the first four games of the season. He is currently ranked No. 13 in the Mississippi Initial Top 20 for 2016.