Iowa in good position with 2018 Illinois WR Micah Jones
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa football team already had earned a spot in the top five for coveted 2018 receiver Micah Jones.
A 42-3 pounding of Iowa State during a rare night game at Kinnick Stadium, and with Jones as part of the sellout crowd of 70,585, has only increased Iowa’s chances of landing the 6-foot-5, 196-pound Illinois native.
Jones had been to previous Iowa games, but not to a night game until Saturday. The fact that Iowa State was the opponent made the experience even better.
"It was crazy," Jones said Sunday. "It was crazier than usual. I loved Iowa before, but I love it even more now. I loved the atmosphere."
As a four-star receiver from Gurnee, Ill., Jones is both heralded and lives somewhat close to the University of Iowa campus. That has helped him become recognizable to some die-hard Hawkeye fans, who showed their hospitality during Saturday’s game.
"Seeing the dedication of the fans (was my favorite part)," Jones said. "It was fun to see that some of them knew me. I also loved the family atmosphere.
"Everyone loves their Hawkeyes."
With almost two years of high school football still left to play before he steps on a college campus, Jones is still working through the recruiting process. He has Iowa in his top five along with Illinois, Michigan State, Northwestern and Notre Dame.
Iowa’s stock has risen with Jones since he visited the UI campus over the summer.
"They are one of the top teams on my list as they always have been," Jones said. "I don’t have a top school right now, but they have been starting to creep up since the Tailgater in August or July."
Jones’s travel schedule kept him from talking much to the Iowa coaches on Saturday. He took the ACT college entrance exam Saturday morning before driving to Iowa City.
But Jones said message from the Iowa coaches was clear:
"They didn’t really get to talk to me because I had to take the ACT," Jones said. "I got down there when they were with the players. But overall everyone just said ‘come home’ or ‘come to Iowa’.
Jones wants to visit Notre Dame, Michigan State, Illinois, Ohio State and Wisconsin in the near future.