From the Bronx to the Big Ten for WR Shameen Jones

A football career in the Big Ten is now part of the future for Cardinal Hayes class of 2017 wide receiver Shameen Jones. His Tuesday commitment to Rutgers University fulfilled a longtime dream that began when Jones was just a boy.

“I was about six years old when I started playing in North Bronx,” Jones said. “I started out playing defensive end. It was kind of fun. Everybody was small so it didn’t really bother me. I was not really big, but I was always aggressive.”

It took a few years of playing defense before Jones would finally settle in at the wide receiver position.

“When I was about 11 or 12, I was too skinny to play defensive end. So they moved me to receiver because I was fast,” Jones said. “I started to settle into the position and just stuck with it.”

It was not until high school that Jones really began to show the skills of a Power Five football player.

“Going into my sophomore year, my whole coaching staff wanted me to play varsity. I was not sure if I was ready for it, but after my junior year, I knew I could definitely go to the next level with it,” Jones said.

That junior campaign led to a mix of FBS and FCS offers that stretched over the double-digit mark.

And even though Jones is now committed to a Big Ten program, his offer list does not tell the entire story.

“I feel like I was a little underrecruited. But it really didn’t bother me because I blew up kind of late,” Jones said. “I was not really seen as early as I should have been. Son I can really understand where all the schools were coming from. They were trying to find out more about me and test me a little bit. I guess that is all part of the process.”

Recruiting really started to pick up steam over the last month for the 6-foot-3, 175-pound Jones.

“These last couple of weeks have been crazy,” he said. “There was a lot of schools showing interest. But Rutgers has been on me for a while. They have kept in contact with me and that really led me to them.”

Throughout his entire football career, Jones has excelled in the classroom as well.

“I was always like an honor roll student. Going into high school, it got a little harder, but I always kept my grades where they should be,” Jones said. “I was brought up that way. My parents did not want me to settle for being average. So I always wanted to have a high standard.”

Now that Jones’ recruitment is finished, the reality of his commitment is starting to set in.

“I feel overwhelmed,” Jones said. “All the support I am getting right now and all the support from the Rutgers fans, it is just a good feeling knowing that people are on your side and supporting your decision.”

Looking back on his recruitment, Jones had a unique take on the most memorable part of it all.

“I feel like the best part of my recruitment was just playing the game of football. When I went to camps, I always went there for a purpose. But when I got there, I was just trying to have fun and doing what I love.”