Auburn makes move for Georgia linebacker

AUBURN | Auburn on Saturday made a big impression on Ware County (Ga.) linebacker Ernest Jones, big enough to move the Tigers near the top of his list.

“I like it (at Auburn),” Jones said. “It feels like home a little bit. It was my first time here and I like it. I have high interest in Auburn.”

Jones was one of a handful of Class of 2018 recruits in Auburn to watch the Tigers’ first scrimmage of the spring. He liked what he saw from the defense.

“The defense had very good intensity,” Jones said. “I like practicing fast, and No. 30 (Tre’ Williams) stood out. He’s good.”

Linebacker coach Travis Williams also stood out to Jones. The Tigers’ second-year coach was a big reason Jones left with Auburn among his top schools.

“Coach T-Will, you can tell he loves his players and he would make sure I’m good while I’m here,” Jones said. “Me and Coach T-Will talk a lot, just about every other day.”

Jones now lists Duke and Auburn as his top two schools. He’s also high on South Carolina, Georgia Tech and Florida.

“I’d probably say Duke (is No. 1) because of the medical program, but Auburn is close,” Jones said. “I’d like to play on a good defense and that’s what they have here (at Auburn). And I’ll get a good education while I’m here, so that stands out, too.”

Jones plans to make a commitment soon. He’s on pace to graduate in December and enroll in college in January.

“I think it will be the beginning of May,” Jones said of his commitment date. “I’m going to try and do it before spring practice.”

Jones will continue doing research until then. He’ll visit Duke on Monday, South Carolina on Tuesday and Florida on Wednesday. Jones also will return to Auburn, either for A-Day on April 8 or for Big Cat Weekend, which usually is held in May.

Jones, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 210 pounds, finished with 56 tackles in eight games as a junior, including 41 solos, five tackles-for-loss and two sacks.