SoCal DL gets second Big 12 offer
Defensive lineman/offensive lineman Otis Jones (6-2, 268, 5.0) from Lawndale (Calif.) Leuzinger just received his second offer and interesting enough his second offer like his first comes from the Big 12 conference.
Jones picked up his first offer from Colorado last month and now he picks up his second from North rival Iowa State.
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"Otis is very intrigued with Iowa State," Leuzinger assistant coach Ralph Oliver said. "He is the only high school player in California they have offered.
"The defensive line coach Mike Pelton and his recruiting coach for Iowa State, Jeff Koonz met with the staff and the whole staff talked about Otis for 30 minutes," Oliver said. "They talked about how enamored they are with him. They think that Otis has an unbelievable upside."
There could be offers coming from the Pac 10 in short time, Washington State and Oregon State are said to be close to offering him a scholie.
"Otis is going to attend camps at Washington State and Oregon State this weekend in hopes to secure offers," Oliver said. "While he is up there he's going to take unofficial visits to Washington and Oregon.
"Oregon coach Don Pellum called me today (May 14th), to request film. Arizona wanted him to attend their camp on Sunday and Wildcat defensive line Mike Tuiasosopo called me Saturday Evening to find out if Otis was coming to their camp.
"It would have been tough on Otis because he was at UCLA's camp all day Saturday," Oliver said. "He wanted to attend the camp but it would have been too much with travel and all."
"Otis feels he competed at the UCLA camp very well and he learned various hand techniques. He used the push and hand technique that Bruin defensive line coach Todd Howard taught him and he used them during the one-on-ones and they worked.
"Coach DeWayne Walker said Otis was one of the best defensive linemen at the camp and they really love him," Oliver said. "He's on their board as one of the top five. Coach Walker told me they want to see his game film from his first two games as a senior. Then they will go from there."
The amazing thing about Jones though he is being recruited as a defensive lineman, he played primarily offensive guard and earned all-league status for his performance.
Jones did play some defense as a junior as a defensive end. In part time duty, Jones accounted for 32 tackles, six sacks and had three forced fumbles.