Camp play gets Jones noticed by ND

Jamarco Jones hadn’t been in touch with the Notre Dame coaching staff
for a couple months since visiting in April for the Blue-Gold Game.

Then, after making the trip from Chicago for a one-day camp at ND last
Friday, the rising junior offensive tackle put his skills on display
in shorts and a T-shirt.

His camp performance combined with game film from his sophomore year
earned Jones an offer from the Irish coaching staff at the end of the
camp.

“They just said they watched my game film and they liked what they saw
— my athletic ability, my footwork, and things like that,” Jones said.

Jones was told about the offer by offensive line coach Harry Hiestand
and offensive coordinator Chuck Martin. Working with those two allowed
Jones to get a feel for who they are as coaches.

“I like their styles,” Jones said. “They’re pretty fired-up coaches. I
learned a few things while I was down there, so I thought it was
great.”

At one-day camps without pads, an offensive lineman has to show off
his footwork and quickness rather than brute strength and physicality.
For Jones, those are assets. Jones said the athletic ability and
footwork that he’s developed as a basketball player at De La Salle
Institute in Chicago helps him on the football field.

In isolated pass-rush drills at camps, the 6-foot-5, 290-pound Jones
focuses on himself more than the defensive lineman he’s going against.

“I don’t worry about making a mistake. I just try to do as best as I
can,” Jones said. “Make sure I get out of my pass sets really quickly,
because at most of the camps the defensive ends are really fast. Some
of them look like receivers. They like to line up wide and rush up
field. Now that I’ve been to a few, most of the defensive linemen do
the same thing so I’m kind of prepared to block them and stop their
moves.”

The offer from Notre Dame marks the eighth for Jones. He also holds
offers from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State,
Toledo and Vanderbilt. Jones has made visits to Illinois, Michigan,
Michigan State and Ohio State.

Having visited five schools, Jones said no one holds an edge yet.

“They’re all really good. The campuses are great,” Jones said. “Big
Ten schools have great campuses. I’m just trying to learn as much as I
can about some of the schools so I can make a good decision later on.”

Jones’ interest in Notre Dame has been aided by his quarterback Shelby
Spence’s father, former Notre Dame cornerback Marv Spence. Jones made
his first visit for the Blue-Gold Game with the Spences.

“It helps to know people from the program and helps you know what type
of program it is and ask them questions,” Jones said. “Any time I have
a question about their program I can just ask him because he actually
played there.”

With two more high school football seasons ahead of him, Jones has no
designs on when he’ll make a decision.

“It’s been kind of crazy lately. A few months ago, none of this was
happening,” Jones said. “I’m not really setting a timetable for
myself. Whenever I feel the time is right, I’ll make my decision.
Whether that’s the end of this season or my senior season, whenever I
feel like I have the right school, I’ll make my decision.”

Harris sets decision

Two-sport athlete Drake Harris is set to announce his college decision
on Wednesday.

Harris, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound, rising junior at Grand Rapids (Mich.)
Christian, plays wide receiver in football and shooting guard in
basketball and hopes to play both at the college level.

Harris told the Tribune the decision has come down to Michigan,
Michigan State and Notre Dame.

In basketball, Rivals.com ranks Harris as the No. 46 player nationally
in the 2014 class. In football, 247Sports.com ranks him as the No. 11
wide receiver in the class and No. 83 overall.

Mlive.com reported the announcement will be held at 6:45 p.m. ET at
Christian’s Eagles Stadium.