Lovejoys Jones has speed, size
With a combination of a tank-like frame and excellent speed for his size, Hampton (Ga.) Lovejoy jumbo athlete Patrick Jones is a potential linebacker, defensive end, defensive tackle or fullback at the next level.
Jones comes from a solid high school program that sent four prospects to BCS conference programs in the class of 2006, including Rivals250 running back Mario Fannin to Auburn.
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A few early schools have emerged as favorites for the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Jones, who is awaiting his first scholarship offfer.
"UCLA, Ole Miss, Oregon and Miami (Fla.)," Jones said. "(Recruiting) is going good right now."
Jones' preference is to play linebacker in college, but he's willing to play other positions.
"I've heard a couple of schools are even looking at me as a fullback," Jones said. "It really doesn't matter where I play, I'll play wherever the team needs me.
"I'm trying to lose some weight and get down to about 240, hopefully I will run a 4.5 (40-yard dash)"
Jones played middle linebacker and defensive end for Lovejoy this past season.
Jones grew up a Florida State fan.
"I grew up on FSU," he said. "My father pulls for them, so I grew up on that."
His favorite NFL team is the hometown Atlanta Falcons. He watched Super Bowl XL, but not closely.
"I was pulling for Pittsburgh," he said. "But it wasn't really a good game."
Jones hopes to attend the Rivals.com Junior Day on March 18 at Lovejoy High School. He also plans to head to UGA, where he camped last summer, for its junior day. Should UCLA invite him out, he wouldn't mind seeing Los Angeles in the near future.
"If they send me an invitation, I will go," Jones said. "I've already gotten like 30-40 letters from them."
He also plans to attend the Athens NIKE Camp on April 29 on the campus of the University of Georgia.