Illinois transfer is one to watch

Edwardsville (Ill.) junior athlete prospect E.J. Jones (5-foot-11, 185 pounds) has yet to see the field for the Tigers and veteran head coach Tim Dougherty. This mid-year transfer student from North High School in Springfield, Ohio definitely has Dougherty as well as several colleges excited this spring.

"E.J. has been getting a good amount of mail," Edmund Jones, E.J.'s father said. "E.J. also made junior day visits earlier to both Indiana and Northwestern. E.J. has also been invited to several spring games and practices, but he's playing baseball this spring so he won't be able to make those events."

Edmund Jones, who was a head coach at East St Louis back in mid 90's, talked about his son's latest suitors.

"E.J. has been getting steady mail from Boston College, Northwestern, Indiana, Cincinnati, Vanderbilt, Duke and Arkansas. Those seem to be the schools who are showing him the most early recruiting interest for now."

Edwardsville head coach Tim Dougherty can attest to Jones and his ability.

"E.J. transfered into Edwardsville in the fall after the football season was over with here. I've had a chance to see him play on tape when he was at North High School in Springfield, Ohio and I'm really excited to see what he can do on the field for us this coming fall. E.J. played both quarterback and defensive back at North last year, and I'm still not sure how we'll use him here. He definitely has some serious skills, and he played basketball for us this winter and was really an impressive athlete. It's doesn't surprise me at all that he getting recruiting interest, and we're excited to have him at Edwardsville."