Published: 12:11 AM, Thu Jul 22, 2010
Westover's Jones to play for Pirates
Staff writer
By Sammy Batten
Michael Jones was an All-Cape Fear region pick in basketball as a junior at Westover High School.
But the future for the 6-foot-6, 285-pounder is now firmly on the football field.
Jones, who'll be a senior at Westover this fall, has accepted a scholarship offer to play football at East Carolina University. He's been recruited by the Pirates as an offensive tackle, which is one of two positions he plays for the Wolverines along with defensive end.
"East Carolina has really recruited me the hardest,'' Jones said Wednesday. "They've been sending me letters almost every day telling me how much they want me to play for them.
"Their coaches have been great, and the school is close to home and my Mom. It just felt comfortable to me.''
Jones' mother, Mina Vereen, is a former track athlete at Terry Sanford High.
After joining the football program as a sophomore at Westover, Jones came into his own as a junior when he helped spearhead an offense that churned out 2,439 yards rushing. Jones also produced 68 tackles from his end position on defense.
ECU's previous coaching staff began recruiting Jones during his junior year, and the new staff headed by Lumberton's Ruffin McNeill completed the process.
N.C. Central had also offered Jones a scholarship.
"A lot of schools have been looking at me, but I'm with ECU,'' Jones said.
Jones is also a major contributor on Westover's basketball team. He earned all-region honors as a junior after averaging 10.8 points and 6.9 rebounds for a team that went 21-6.
Jones is the 10th known player to have made a commitment to ECU's recruiting Class of 2011. He's the third offensive lineman to join the class.
The Cape Fear region now has had four players make oral commitments to major-college programs prior to the start of their senior seasons. Jones joins former Westover teammate and linebacker Christian Russell (UNC), Jack Britt tight end Eric MacLain (Clemson) and East Columbus defensive end Joe Gore (Clemson).
Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com or 486-3534.