Coach Mark Stoops’ highly rated class of 2017 took a big hit on Tuesday night when prized recruit Mac Jones announced he was flipping his pledge from Kentucky to Nick Saban and Alabama.
The four-star quarterback out of Jacksonville, Florida originally committed to Kentucky last summer when former offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson saw him at a UK camp and extended an offer which he quickly accepted. Dawson was let go after the 2015 season and when new coordinators Eddie Gran and Darrin Hinshaw were brought in with a new system, Jones wavered at first but remained firm.
Mac Jones Flips Commitment from Kentucky to Alabama
Over the last year Jones’ stock has skyrocketed to the point where many of the major college schools were offering him a chance to play for them. The Crimson Tide offered him in April and there had been rumblings Jones would not stay with Kentucky. Each time he was questioned on the matter, Jones said he was 100% committed to Kentucky, until Tuesday night.
On his twitter page Jones said ““I would like to thank the University of Kentucky for recruiting me, however, an opportunity of a lifetime has presented itself to my family and me. I am happy to say I will continue my football and academic career at the University of Alabama. I am 100 percent committed. Roll Tide!”
Jones, who is listed as the eighth rated pro-style quarterback in the 2017 class, will join another four-star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in Tuscaloosa.
As for the Wildcats Jones is the fifth player in the 2017 class to de-commit and they now rank 27th in the Rivals rankings. Walker Wood of Lexington Lafayette as the only incoming quarterback and he is listed as an athlete rather than quarterback.
Main Photo via Twitter.
