Michigan Commit Kody Jones Still Hearing From Vols, Talks Commitment, Recruitment, and More

Michigan Commit Kody Jones Still Hearing From Vols, Talks Commitment, Recruitment, and More

Alpharetta, Ga.-- Kody Jones committed to Michigan just days after Josh Heupel was hired. The two were in contact shortly after Heupel took the job, but Jones was ready to lock in with Wolverines. Despite the commitment, Tennessee has continued to stay in communication with Jones since assembling their defensive staff, and he talks about all of that here. 

“The relationships I have with the coaches,” Jones recalled about his decision to commit to Michigan. “They made me feel like I was wanted, and I feel like that is the place for me.”

“They made me feel confident, and I could see what they told me slowly progressing over time and this is still the beginning. We have a whole year left,” he added. 

“I was very excited,” Jones said on making the commitment. “Coach Mo is a great coach, and he just came from the Dallas Cowboys, and I beleived in him and we are doing good so far.”

“From time to time, but I am committed to Michigan,” Jones said of communicating with other schools.

When he talks with the Tennessee staff, it is largely by committee.

“The whole coaching staff, coach (Jerry) Mack, coach (Josh) Heupel, the d-line coach, the wide receivers coach, they are all hitting me up.”

Jones is still locked in with Michigan, but he admits the push from the Vols is nice. 

“It makes me feel good,” he added. It is in-state, but it is still six hours away, but they want to keep me in-state and it makes me feel wanted.”

“I am a versatile player, and I can play offense and defense. I am an in-state player, and they want to keep all in-state players there,” Jones said of the message from Tennessee. 

“Text, zoom, and facetime. It is a constant,” he said of Tennessee hitting him up. “ I know they want me because they always hit me up.” 

So what would it take for a school to sway Jones away from his Michigan pledge?

“A feeling, a relationship, it is just going to have to be right for me. It will have to be God telling me. If it ends up not being Michigan is the route for me, I just have to pray about it, talk to my parents and find what is right for me.”

Michigan or whoever it may be in the end as schools will work tirelessly for his services, Jones hopes to find more than just football in a school  

“Somewhere I can prepare myself for life. Football isn't going to last forever, so somewhere that can make me successful in life,” he said. 

Jones has the option to play either way in college and he doesn’t have a preference. “I like to play both, and I know I can make plays on both sides of the ball,” Jones said of his preference on playing receiver or defensive back.

However, on Sunday, he starred as a defensive back making SI All-American All-22 honors. 

“Jones is a versatile defensive back who can line up throughout a secondary (or even on offense) and the Michigan commitment was perhaps the best defender at the line of scrimmage Sunday,” Director of Recruiting John Garcia Jr. said. “He is truly comfortable in re-routing the opponent and he has the speed and strength to compete even when things don't go his way.”