College Football Recruiting: Will Ricky Seals-Jones stick with the Longhorns?

By Marian Hinton

College football recruiting can be quite a roller coaster ride, and the recruitment of the nation’s top-rated 2013 receiver, Ricky Seals-Jones, has had its share of twists and turns over the last couple of weeks.

Jones, who had been committed to the Texas Longhorns for several months, decommitted from one of the nation’s top rated recruiting class on June 5th. His decision came as a surprise to the program, considering that he recently attended the Horns’ first summer camp with fellow recruits, and had never shown any signs of wavering.

The wide receiver from Sealy, TX stated that the reason behind his change of heart was because he felt like he rushed the process, and wanted to make sure that Texas was the right place for him to spend his college career. Though Jones stated  that the Horns were certainly still in the mix, he mentioned Standford, LSU, Baylor, and Texas A&M as other schools he would like to consider.

Though Jones played quarterback his junior year for Sealy High School, he has made it clear that he wants to play receiver at the next level. While playing QB last season, Jones rushed for 1,245 yards and 15 touchdowns. He passed for 761 yards, 8 touchdowns, and threw just 2 interceptions. On the other side of the ball, Jones racked up 68 tackles and 5 interceptions, one for a touchdown.

Jones, who also excels on the hardwood, desires to play both football and basketball at the collegiate level, which many feel could be the reason for his sudden change of heart, believing that Texas would not afford him the opportunity to do both.

The standout made an unofficial visit to Texas A&M earlier this week, where he spent time with both the football and basketball staff. After the visit, he told sources that the visit went well, and he was very impressed with the school and that he could see himself playing for the Aggies.

However, on Thursday, Ricky Seals-Jones was back in Austin on another unofficial visit–this time to meet not only with the Longhorns’ head football coach, Mack Brown, but with head hoops coach Rick Barnes as well.

The Texas football staff, who was supposed to be on the road today, changed their plans so that they would be present to meet with the family.

At the visit today, both Brown and Barnes assured the family that, despite popular belief, they are in fact both on the same page, and if Jones wants to play both sports, they will each support his decision.

Though it’s still early in the process and unclear as to whether or not the nation’s best receiver lands at Texas in the end, it won’t be because the staff didn’t do all they could to get him to the 40 Acres.

The visit today couldn’t have gone better for the Longhorns. When asked about his time in Austin, Jones replied, “Everyone left happy,” and “Texas is still number 1 in my heart.”

 

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