ORLANDO, Fla. – The 2024 football squad at Jones High School added to its accolades with 14 players signing letters of intent on National Signing Day.
Since Elijah Williams became the head football coach for the Jones Tigers eight years ago, over 135 students have signed to play in college.
“It’s like a family,” running back Jaquail Smith told News 6 after committing to Sacramento State. “It’s bigger than yourself; it’s a community. Everybody came out here to support me and my brothers.”
This year’s team also made history with the first undefeated regular season. The Fightin' Tigers lost in the Class 4A state championship.
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Three players committed to Bethune-Cookman and one committed to Florida A&M.
“It means everything,” defensive back Josiah Loving said, committing to Bethune-Cookman. “My mama went (to Jones). My brother went here; my whole family went here. On my mama’s side, everybody went to Jones.”
The total for this year is 17 football players, including three early signees in December: Vernell Brown III to the Florida Gators, Courtney Patterson to Arkansas State and Walki Ambroise to UNC Pembroke.
“(I’ve) been dreaming of it since I started playing football,” defensive back Isaiah Sink said, committing to Florida A&M. “(It) feels great to go to college.”
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