Not Again: NY DT Jarron Jones Decommits From Penn State

PHOTO: Rivals.com

New York defensive lineman Jarron Jones has decommitted from Penn State following a visit to Notre Dame. The Nittany Lions remain in the hunt for Jones, along with the Irish, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech, but this obviously is not good news.

You can’t blame Jones for wanting to make the best possible decision for himself. He’s a young man choosing an option that will impact him for the rest of his life. If it’s any respite for Penn State fans, though, it’s that his mother apparently loves Penn State. What mother doesn’t?

With the additions of Derek Dowrey and Austin Johnson last week, the Lions still have bodies at a position of need, but will now have to turn up the heat for some other recruits who may already be lost. IL DT Tommy Schutt is likely the best shot for the staff, while the ship for IN DT Sheldon Day and others may have sailed.

If this announcement sounds familiar, that’s because it is pretty similar to the curious case of Dominque Easley, another New York defensive lineman that committed to Penn State only to decommit and head elsewhere. The Class of 2010 prospect dropped Penn State in January for Urban Meyer and the Florida Gators, though he has not exactly been the model scholar athlete in Gainesville.

Jones’ commitment was always labeled as a “soft verbal” giving many the impression that he was never really committed anyway. Reports indicate that the staff was essentially treating him as a recruit rather than a commitment, but it was nice to see a five-star defensive tackle commitment on our list.

This one will be a battle for the coaches, who now have to fight against the increasingly annoying Brian Kelly for Jones’ service. Jones has said he will likely make his choice (again) before his senior season, so hopefully the staff is putting the right resources on this to get right back on the horse.