NSD Flashback: Gerald Jones, 2007
RedRaiderSports.com's coverage of National Signing Day 2017 is brought to you by our friends at Tailgate Express.
Planning a watch party for the big game or a corporate event? Let Tailgate Express take care of all of your planning and equipment needs! TGE has provided multiple companies and families with unforgettable memories and experiences.
Few recruitments were as closely followed during the early days of RedRaiderSports.com as that of Millwood, Okla. athlete Gerald Jones.
Jones first hit the radar of Texas Tech fans in the spring of 2006, when the four-star prospect unofficially visited the South Plains with his teammate – and future Red Raider – Tramain Swindall. The 6-foot, 180-pound standout already held offers from programs such as Florida, Michigan and Oklahoma, but the Red Raiders made a significant impression on Jones.
"We just went down there and watched practice, met some coaches, and met some players,” Jones said at the time. "We toured all of the facilities. I didn't just like it, I loved it. It was great. I have taken some other visits and nothing compares so far. I don't know if anyone else is going to come after me, but if they don't start impressing me soon, I'll be at Texas Tech next year."
While Jones continued to rank the Red Raiders high on his list over the summer, other programs began to enter the picture as well. Still, Jones took an official visit to Texas Tech in October and left town with Mike Leach’s program on top.
"I'd rate the trip a 10," he said at the time. "Everything went right and I got every question I had answered even without asking. It was really cool. I'd say of course they are the leader now since I found out more about them. Now I've got to see what other schools have to offer."
Jones’ recruitment then took a dramatic turn. His official visit to Tennessee the following weekend went so well that he committed to the Volunteers two weeks later.
This development took Red Raider fans by complete surprise.
Yet the story doesn’t quite end there. Jones began to have second thoughts as National Signing Day 2007 drew closer and closer. Tennessee had several other wide receivers committed for its class, and Jones became concerned that the Volunteers were planning to move him to defensive back. Texas Tech and Oklahoma State became serious contenders for a late-flip.
That uncertainty set the stage for Jones to announce his final decision at his high school on National Signing Day.
“I’ve decided to sign with the University of Tennessee.”
Jones had a largely forgettable career with the Vols, thanks in part to the fact that the program was led by three different head coaches – Phil Fulmer, Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley – during his time at Rocky Top.
Level’s take: "This was one of the first big-time guys I can remember Texas Tech being involved with during Mike Leach's tenure. His recruitment went down to the wire and wasn't ultimately known what Jones would do until his press conference on Signing Day.
"I visited with Tramain Swindall about Jones' recruitment recently and he told me the following: 'Gerald was real close (to picking the Red Raiders). I believe Tech was the second choice right behind Tennessee. I just think Fulmer made some pretty good promises Tech wasn't making.'
"As much as it hurt at the time, this was when recruiting got fun for Texas Tech fans -- a taste of competing with the big boys, if you will."