In the world of wide open Pac 12 offenses, the tight ends get used less and less. Take UCLA for example. Over the last two seasons, the Bruins’ use of a tight end could be described as anything from negligible to non-existent. In 2014, UCLA listed no tight ends on the depth chart at all, and used fullback Nate Iese in the role occasionally.
Perhaps that spooked Alize Jones, the #1 tight end prospect in the country. Jones had been a verbal commit to the Bruins for 13 months, but decommitted Thursday afternoon, opting for Notre Dame instead. The 6-5, 218 pound Jones had 41 receptions for 931 yards and 13 touchdowns this past season Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, widley regarded as the top 2014 high school football program in the country.
He had offers from 13 schools including USC, Baylor and Georgia, but he committed to UCLA shortly after his junior season. In recent weeks however, after making his official visit to Notre Dame, his commitment to the Bruins started to waver. He sent a out tweet Wednesday night that he was seeking some divine intervention in the process. Thursday he notified UCLA coaches that he had changed his mind and took to Twitter to announce his decision to go to Notre Dame.
Jones will be joining a Fighting Irish roster that has four tight ends, all with little experience, and will have Bishop Gorman teammate, DB Nicco Fertitta, with him in South Bend.
Ironically, UCLA’s last tight end of note was Joe Fauria, now of the Detroit Lions. Fauria began his college career at Notre Dame before playing transferring to UCLA for the 20011 and 2012 seasons.
National letter of intent day, for high school players to sign their college agreements, is February 4th.
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