Patrick Jones commits to SMU

Last week, Arlington Heights defensive end Patrick Jones was at home sitting on his couch, thinking.

He was thinking about a message he had just received from SMU head coach Chad Morris on Twitter. The message contained a picture with a saying: "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

"I just thought to myself, this is where I want to be," Jones told the HillTopics. "This was the school for me."

On Sunday evening Jones became the second new Mustang of the day, joining offensive tackle Jacob Todora in SMU's six-man 2016 class.

Jones' reasons for committing to SMU over offers from Toledo and Louisiana-Monroe ranged from academic to the campus and the history of the football program. But one thing that really stood out to Jones was the obvious chemistry on the SMU coaching staff.

"The coaching staff seems very cohesive. I believe that you can't win if you're not on the same page," Jones said. "When I went to their Junior Day, just seeing them up there able to play around, they seemed pretty tight. For a brand new staff that doesn't know everybody, some coaches put on a show but you can tell (the SMU coaches) are close."

SMU's point man in Jones' recruitment was defensive line assistant Keith Gunn. Gunn's effort building a relationship set him apart from coaches from other schools.

"We talk all the time," Jones said. "That was one thing I did like. I had offers from other places but they don't contact me like coach Gunn did. And it wasn't always about football. We would talk about things going on. We stayed in touch."

It was Gunn whom Jones committed to on Saturday night before calling Morris personally.

"He was ecstatic, he was electrified, he was pumped and I was too just to give him the great news," Jones said. "I gave coach Morris a call that night and he was pumped up as well."

"I feel deep down he will turn the program around."

Jones also was contacted by a number of local DFW recruits excited by his commitment to SMU.

"That just shows that they can really turn this around."

Future SMU quarterback and fellow 2016 classmate David Moore helped recruit Jones to the Hilltop and he plans on doing the same now for other recruits, including Fort Worth All Saints defensive tackle Michael Williams.

For his part, Jones expects to play defensive end for SMU but is willing to move positions if his new coaches think he would be better suited at defensive tackle. Jones wants to be a high school coach after his playing career is through though he may major in marketing while at SMU.

The thought of a good education played a big part in Jones' decision to pony up. That and a little message about blazing a trail from a certain head coach in Dallas.