2 0 1 1
R E C R U I T I N G
C L A S S
with 34 receptions for 507 yards (14.9 avg.) and three TDs as a senior . . . accounted for 199 combined yards (rushing and receiving) and two scores vs. Port Huron North (10 carries for 101 yards, including an 83-yard TD run, and seven catches for 98 yards, including a 4-yard TD grab) . . . set career highs with eight catches for 111 yards vs. Stevenson . . . rushed 10 times for a career-best 185 yards vs. L’Anse Creuse, including TD runs of 47 and 67 yards . . . sidelined for all but two games as a junior due to a knee injury . . . three-year starter for the Anchor Bay basketball team, who is rated among the state’s Top 10 wing forwards by mirecruitpreps.com . . . son of Clarence and Kecia Jones . . . born Dec. 1, 1993 . . . no-preference major. DANTONIO ON JONES: “Taiwan Jones is a very exciting player who shows up in all areas on the football field. We saw him play in 2010. He shows up at wide receiver, running back, linebacker and even played a little quarterback. He is an outstanding athlete who is a great tackler in space. He has great ball skills and is very fluid. Taiwan is one of the higher recruited players in the state who we were fortunate to see in camp. He committed this summer and will have an exciting career as a Spartan.”
Ranked one of the top 20 seniors in the state of Michigan, Taiwan Jones was a 2010 first-team all-state (Division 1-2) selection by The Detroit News and Associated Press.
TAIWAN JONES
LB • 6-3 • 220 • New Baltimore, Mich. Anchor Bay High School • Coach Phil Latona Primary Recruiter: Mike Tressel HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Ranked among the nation’s top outside linebackers by Rivals.com (No. 30) and Scout.com (No. 57) . . . listed among the country’s top athletes by Scouts, Inc. (No. 73) . . . rated among the Midwest’s top prospects by SuperPrep (No. 57) . . . also named to PrepStar’s All-Midwest Team . . . ranked among the state’s Top 20 seniors by The Detroit News (No. 8), Rivals.com (No. 10), Detroit Free Press (No. 11) and Lansing State Journal (No. 12) . . . first-team all-state (Division 1-2) selection by The Detroit News and Associated Press . . . earned all-county and all-conference honors as a senior . . . selected Macomb Area Conference Blue Division MVP . . . three-year starter for Coach Phil Latona at Anchor Bay High School in Fair Haven, Mich. . . . accounted for more than 1,400 all-purpose yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior while leading the Tars to their first playoff appearance since 2004 . . . recorded 46 tackles (26 solos, 20 assists), including two for losses, and three interceptions from his strong safety position in 2010 . . . two-way starter also saw action at running back, wide receiver and quarterback . . . rushed 84 times for a team-best 856 yards (10.2 avg.) and 12 TDs as a senior . . . posted four 100-yard rushing games in 2010 . . . ranked second on the team
DAMON KNOX
DE • 6-5 • 265 • Muskegon, Mich. Muskegon High School • Coach Shane Fairfield Primary Recruiter: Mike Tressel HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Ranked among the Midwest’s top prospects by SuperPrep (No. 46) . . . also named to PrepStar’s All-Midwest Team . . . rated among the state’s top seniors by the Lansing State Journal (No. 15), Detroit Free Press (No. 18), The Detroit News (No. 23) and Rivals.com (No. 26) . . . two-year starter for Coach Shane Fairfield at Muskegon (Mich.) High School . . . recorded 112 tackles as a senior, with 17 resulting in losses including four sacks, and 12 pass break-ups . . . two-way player proved to be a devastating blocker at tight end, helping the Big Reds average nearly 450 rushing yards per game en route to the 2010 Division 2 regional final . . . tallied 102 tackles as a junior, including two sacks, and forced three fumbles . . . plays forward on the Big Reds’ basketball team . . . earned two letters in track and field . . . son of Damon Knox Sr. and Corine Rose . . . born Aug. 13, 1992 . . . no-preference major. DANTONIO ON KNOX: “Damon is a very powerful player, which we saw in camp this summer and also watching him play in 2010. He’s a very exciting defensive lineman who has great explosiveness and athletic ability. He has the ability to jump and bend his knees. He reminds me a lot of Robaire Smith, a former All-American here at MSU. He is a contact player in all respects.”