Peach State DT Quentel Jones Discusses Vols, Rodney Garner, and Upcoming Official Visit

2022 Peach State Defensive Lineman Quentel Jones holds 19 Division 1 offers, and he has quickly become a priority for Rodney Garner and Tennessee's defensive staff. The 6'3", 290lbs prospect discussed his recruitment by the Vols with VR2 on SI in the interview below. 

"Things are going really good right now," Jones said of his recruitment. "I have a lot of schools coming at me, and Tennessee is one of them. It is a lot of schools coming at me, and I love it. It is a dream come true for me."

"Everything they are telling me is a lot of the same,' Jones said of any unique pitches from colleges. "I get told a lot this school is the best school for you. The coach at Miami told me one thing I liked. He told me, 'If I come there, I won't be coming there to take on blocks for another man. I will be able to my thing like I do at my high school.' I liked that right there."

Since Tennessee offered Jones, Josh Heupel's staff led by Rodney Garner have made him a priority on the defensive line. 

"To tell you the truth, ever since Coach Garner called and offered me, it has been the entire staff on me. I talk to the head coach probably 3-4 times a week. I love it." 

"We talk, and it is more about learning about each other," Jones said on the conversation with Tennessee. "It is not always about 'come here.' Of course, they will tell me at times, they would love to have me, but it is not just always about that. It is about building that bond with each other, so if I go there, I can be comfortable there and know everybody. We are just learning each other and talking football."

Garner's prowess as a developer of top-end NFL talent has certainly caught Jones's attention. 

"I knew for certain when he told me he could make me a draft pick, he wasn't telling me a fib because he has already put a lot of guys in the league, so I know he has what it takes for me to get to the next level, so that is the main priority."

"It means a lot, and I am not going to say it helps their case, but it does mean a lot." Jones said about Garner's ability to produce NFL picks. "Every school that offers me is a blessing, and I look at it as another opportunity, but Tennessee is at the top board for me possibly going there."

Jones has only locked in one official visit at this point, and it is set to go to Tennessee on June 25th. 

"I have been there before, so I know what it looks like. I just want to go see what it is like. Is this for me? Is Tennessee for me? I just want to find a school that has the culture that I need, coaches that are going to make me better on and off the field, and a place I know that can make me better."

With several schools being involved in his recruitment, Jones has a timeline in my dor when he will make a college decision. 

"I already have my date," he said. "I am not going to say it is official, but I plan on committing the first game of my senior season."

Whenever the time comes, Jones was very clear about what his goal is for the college level and what a school will get in him as a player. 

"They are going to have a dawg," he said. "They will have a defensive lineman who will come in and put that work in. My goal is to come in and start as a true freshman. Whoever is the man up, I am coming in to be a dawg, be that guy. I am not coming in to sit on no bench. I am coming in to play."

featured image via Quentel Jones