2024 DB Ricardo Jones Discusses Chansi Stuckey, Notre Dame & Summer Visits

2024 Northside (Ga.) defensive back Ricardo Jones‍ was fired up for multiple reasons on Tuesday evening. Jones and his teammates started spring ball, but there were also several college coaches on the sidelines. 

"We had day one today and right from the jump, we go out there and hit,” Jones told ISD. “It was high energy with the whole team with a lot of college coaches out there. I loved it." 

The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder appreciated the coaches coming out to evaluate him, but Jones was more excited to know his teammates had the opportunity to get seen by colleges as well. 

"It made me feel good because I'm not the only one getting looked at,” explained Jones. “The coaches might have been there for me, but they were able to see the safety next to me and the receivers I'm going against. I like to see everybody win and not just myself." 

And don’t think the Georgia native was nervous. 

"I wasn't nervous,” laughed Jones. “All the nervousness came out of me in 10th grade. It's all strictly business now." 

Notre Dame wasn’t there on Tuesday, but receivers coach Chansi Stuckey stopped by Northside on Monday.

"It means a lot,” stated Jones. “It means he cares about me to come back. Notre Dame should also be back before the spring ends to watch a practice. That just shows they love me."

Jones knows Notre Dame isn’t close to Warner Robins, Ga., but there was another reason Stuckey’s presence was meaningful. Stuckey starred at Northside in high school, so he was also coming home. 

"When I first found out when Coach (Chad) Alligood told me, he said he took it personally because he coached Coach Stuckey,” Jones said of when he found out Stuckey also went to Northside. “It meant a lot to him, so it was a special moment." 

Notre Dame safeties coach Chris O’Leary has also been building a relationship with Jones over the last few weeks. The two have had multiple phone calls and the four-star prospect has been impressed with O’Leary. 

"We talk on the phone and we laugh the whole phone call,” said Jones. “We talk about everything. Our relationship is great.

"I'm supposed to visit Notre Dame this summer, so I'm looking forward to meeting all the coaches."

When it comes to offers, Jones is in the double-digits and he’s not taking them for granted. 

"It means a lot and shows my hard work has paid off,” explained Jones. “I've been grinding and working. It all came in one day. The day before I got my offers, I wondered when my offers were going to come and then I got two back-to-back." 

On the field, Jones is an interception machine from his safety spot, so it’s easy to see why Power Five programs are flocking to his school this spring. 

"I read the field the best - presnap reads, knowing the plays and knowing what's coming,” Jones said. “I had eight picks and playing the ball, I feel is my specialty. 

"I'm working on getting lower out of my breaks and my feet. I want to perfect my craft." 

In addition to planning a stop at Notre Dame this summer, Jones expects to make return trips to SEC powerhouses and check out more schools in the South. 

"I'm supposed to go to Kentucky, back to Georgia, back to Alabama, Notre Dame, Florida, Clemson and some others,” said Jones. 

Ranking
ISD: N/R
247: 90 (four-star)
Rivals: 5.8 (four-star)
ESPN: N/R

Offers: Auburn, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Liberty, Middle Tennessee State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Pitt, Tennessee and Western Kentucky

Sophomore Highlights

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Victory Quarter-Zip