Former Sooner linebacker Kellen Jones enjoys Clemson visit

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Mon Apr 02 00:17:38 GMT-04:00 2012

Linebacker Kellen Jones and his family spent Thursday through Saturday on the Clemson campus, visiting with the Clemson coaching staff, touring the campus and the athletic facilities and generally getting a feel for what life in Tiger town is like.

Jones is 6-1, 222-pounder who began his career at Michigan before transferring into Oklahoma last spring, where he played for current Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables. He asked the Sooners for his release in March, and Clemson was one of the first schools he sent the release to, setting up this weekend’s visit.

The visit went very well, according to Jones.

“It was great. I had a really good time,” Jones told TigerNet Sunday evening. “I have a really good feel for Clemson and the coaching staff. I got to meet and talk to Coach [Dabo] Swinney, and I like him as a man as well as a coach.”

Jones said he managed to spend time with Venables and secondary coach Charlie Harbison and met with almost everyone on Swinney’s staff.

“I really like the whole coaching staff,” he said. “Clemson just has a family feel to it, and that impressed my parents as well as me.”

Jones said his favorite part of the trip was just spending time with the coaches and players.

“I enjoyed talking to the coaches, and we were able to have a lunch and dinner with them," he said. “Thursday, we didn’t do very much but I got to meet with Coach Venables and Coach Harbison. And then I got a chance to meet Grady JarrettGrady Jarrett

Fr. Defensive Tackle

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View Full Profile and Corico HawkinsCorico Hawkins

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View Full Profile , who is a funny guy.

“Friday, that was when I really got down to business on the visit. I got to go around the school and take a tour, and get a feel for the academic side of things. And then I went out and saw the practice and that was very good. I can truly say that I was very, very impressed with Clemson.”

Jones played in 12 games for the Sooners last season, recording 10 tackles, and he told TigerNet that he would play either the middle or weakside linebacker in Venables’ 4-3 scheme.

Jones said that one of the highlights of the trip was getting to see Clemson’s Death Valley up close and personal.

“I have always heard about Death Valley and how loud it can get,” he said. “At Michigan, they have the Big House, and I never got to play there. At Oklahoma, their stadium doesn’t really have a name but they had a 39-game home winning streak. And then you have Death Valley – I would love to see what that place is like on game day.”

Jones said he is contemplating a move to either Clemson or Purdue.

“Right now it is down to those two,” he said. “I am not leaning toward one over another right now. Know I have to make a decision by the end of the semester, which is really soon. I don’t know yet where that is going to be. I am just praying to God and asking Him where He wants me to go.”