Easton Jones selected for The Opening

Stephenville QB to participate in prestigious regional recruiting showcase Sunday at The Star

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Easton Jones is back at the controls of a suddenly scary looking Stepenville offense. || TheFlashToday.com file photo

By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com

ALLEN (March 4, 2017) — It’s a good time to be Easton Jones.

Three days after pitching a complete-game shutout for Stephenville High School, Jones will be back on the gridiron at The Star in Frisco Sunday.

The junior was excused from being with the Yellow Jacket baseball team when they wrapped up classic play in Kennedale Saturday, and for good reason. Also a quarterback, he has been invited to one of the most prestigious football recruiting events in the country.

Jones will participate in one of the regional events in Nike’s The Opening at The Star in Frisco Sunday. He’s the third quarterback to participate in what began as the Elite 11 and has grown to include all positions.

“It’s a blessing just to get invited to the deal, it’s a huge honor to me, whether I make it to the next round or not,” said Jones, as he leaned back on a couch in a luxury suite at the Allen Event Center Saturday evening. Jones is here in Allen visiting his father, Troy Jones, an associate athletic director at Tarleton State University who is helping with administration of the Lone Star Conference Basketball Championship.


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With an easy smile and humble comments, Jones certainly portrays the charisma of a standout quarterback. And at 6-1, 190 pounds with a strong arm, many college recruiters are finding the Class of 18 signal caller to be worth a look.

“It started a couple months ago, we just submitted a form to see what they said,” Jones said of getting involved in The Opening process. “The coaching staff at the school helped get it submitted and they submitted some other requests for me, and I had some college coaches request to have me come to it so that helped a lot.

“I was excited when I found out I had been picked,” Jones continued. “I got a phone call from my dad, because he found out before me. When he called me, it was exciting and I immediately looked at the schedule of their regionals and saw there was one at Frisco at the same time as the conference tournament so it worked out great.”

Jones is staying with his father at Allen, where he’s enjoying watching the Tarleton TexAnns compete in the LSC Championship. On Sunday, they will make the short trek over to Frisco, another suburb north of Dallas, for the competition at The Star, headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

“I just want to compete and give all I have,” said Jones. “I want to stand out because there will be some great athlete there. On top of being good football players, they are just great athletes in general, so I want to show that I can stand out among them.”

Even if it means missing a baseball game.

“Coach (Justin) Swenson is good about it,” Jones said. “He knows my future is more leaning toward the football side of things. He’s good about working with me and understood this is a big opportunity for me.”

Just like it was for Elite 11 quarterbacks Jevan Snead in 2005 and Jarrett Stidham in 2014. Snead went on to the University of Mississippi and Stidham to Baylor before eventually landing at Auburn.

Jones hopes to also follow their footsteps into collegiate football.

“I’ve thought about colleges, but nothing specific yet,” he said.


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Of course, a strong showing at The Opening would certainly ramp up the attention he receives from college recruiters.

“It’s a great opportunity and I’m just focused on making the most of it and seeing what happens,” he said.

Regardless what The Opening does for his own recruiting profile, he can’t wait to use it to benefit the Stephenville program.

“I want to learn from it, see what other guys are doing successfully and bring that back to Stephenville to share with our guys, especially the younger guys on the team, just lead by example,” he said. “It’s an honor for me, but I wouldn’t be able to do this without the program and our coaches.”

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