Coach Bonamego sent out his first 2016 offers today. All are from Chicago Phillips Academy, who went 12-2 last fall and lost in the IHSA Class 4A state finals.
Amani Jones, LB: Jones is a three-star inside linebacker. He is 6'0, 215 pounds and his Hudl page lists a 4.65 40-yard dash. Already has an offer from Illinois. Jones has good speed, closes well on ball-carriers and is used quite a bit as a tight end on offense. He is a very sound tackler. My only questions about the tape I saw are his ability to get off blocks and to play coverage, mainly because there just wasn't much in there. The tape I watched only showed him in coverage once and the ball was thrown right to him. He also didn't have to get off blocks very often. Not that he can't, just that his defensive line kept him clean most of the time. Jones is a bit undersized and I would think he projects as outside linebacker or a strong safety (depending on if CMU sticks with the 4-2-5 or goes to a 4-3). Here are his junior year highlights.
Amani Jones, LB: Jones is a three-star inside linebacker. He is 6'0, 215 pounds and his Hudl page lists a 4.65 40-yard dash. Already has an offer from Illinois. Jones has good speed, closes well on ball-carriers and is used quite a bit as a tight end on offense. He is a very sound tackler. My only questions about the tape I saw are his ability to get off blocks and to play coverage, mainly because there just wasn't much in there. The tape I watched only showed him in coverage once and the ball was thrown right to him. He also didn't have to get off blocks very often. Not that he can't, just that his defensive line kept him clean most of the time. Jones is a bit undersized and I would think he projects as outside linebacker or a strong safety (depending on if CMU sticks with the 4-2-5 or goes to a 4-3). Here are his junior year highlights.
