Varnado’s Andre Jones has signed a national letter of intent to attend the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and play football for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
“It’s a good feeling, coming from a small town to make it somewhere and I cherish this opportunity to make it,” Jones said. “I want to bless everybody that helped me get this far — my teachers, my school, my community, everybody who are my close friends — thank you.”
The 6-foot-7, 215-pound defensive end had several schools recruiting him and talked about his decision in choosing the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
“I just like it up there,” Jones said. “I felt close. I feel at home up there. It’s a good school. It’s a good facility. It’s a new facility.”
Jones had been verbally committed to the school, but last Wednesday, the commitment became official when he signed his name on the letter of intent. He said it’s a wonderful feeling.
“It’s once in a lifetime doing something like this,” Jones said. “It feels good. I’ve got all of my community with me, close friends and all of my school classmates showing love for me.”
Jones said some of his strengths are speed and agility to get around offensive linemen.
“I’ve got a couple of moves and I’m strong too with it — bullrusher,” Jones said.
This season, Jones was part of the District 8-1A champion Wildcats, who tallied an 8-4 record and reached the quarterfinals of the Class 1A state playoffs before falling to eventual state champion Logansport, 50-14.
This season, Jones made 55 tackles and six sacks to go with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt.
For his solid season, Jones was named a first-team all-district player. He was also selected a first team all-state player by the Louisiana Football Coaches Association.
Varnado coach Scott Shaffett said he knew Jones would be a Division I signee when he came in as a freshman.
“The thing was, we had to make sure he had the academics, but I knew the whole time that he was a Division I type prospect kid as a freshman,” Shaffett said. “He had the right work ethic. He was getting after it in the classroom. He was doing everything right and so I knew for sure that he would be here this day, so I’m just glad to be part of it with him.”
Shaffett talked about what Jones brings to the Ragin’ Cajuns.
“ULL is going to put some weight on Andre and they are going to get a player that’s going to work hard and is going to get after it,” Shaffett said. “I promise you, you are going to see him on Saturday(s) and he is going to make a name for himself.
“ULL knows what they are getting. They didn’t come after him for no reason. They knew he is a good ballplayer and they know the potential that’s in him and that’s what they’re excited about.
“They are going put a lot of weight on him, they’re going to put him in that weight room and he’s going to be under a very strict routine, but he’s used to that. His dad (Gerald Andre Jones Sr.) is a great dad. His dad’s strict on him and his dad was tough on him. On the football team, we were the same way. We were strict with him. We were tough on him, but it’s going to pay off because at ULL, they’re going to have him under a strict routine and he’s going to do a great job.”
In addition to football, Jones also plays basketball.
Jones plans on majoring in kinesiology in physical therapy. He has a 3.2 grade-point average.