Myrtle Beach senior offensive lineman T.J. Jones verbally committed to play at the University of Kentucky on Tuesday morning, Seahawks coach Mickey Wilson said.
Jones, 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, started every game at left tackle for the Seahawks in 2010, helping Myrtle Beach win the Class AAA state title. According to the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, he is the fifth offensive lineman to commit to Kentucky for 2012.
"He really came into the picture this summer," Wilson said. "He went to camp [at Kentucky] this summer and did really well, and that is when [UK} offered him."
Jones played on the junior varsity squad as a sophomore, but was key in Myrtle Beach winning the state championship. He was part of the Seahawks' effort in containing the nation's top college prospect Jadeveon Clowney in last season's AAA title game.
"[Jones] was kind of a late bloomer," Wilson said. "He has always been tall, but he has added some weight in the last year."
Wilson said Jones had scholarship offers from Kentucky and East Carolina. Rivals.com reported Jones also received interest from Clemson, South Carolina and Miami (Fla.).
Wilson also said defensive end Tyler Knox, one of the state's top senior recruits, would likely make his college choice in the near future, possibly before the regular season starts. Knox has numerous offers from BCS programs, including South Carolina, North Carolina State, Southern California and Kentucky.
