Last Evening, during the Troy-Oklahoma State game, Joe Schaad of ESPN reported that Demetrius Jones did not board the team bus to travel to Michigan. In addition to this, Jones is going to seek a transfer from Notre Dame. Jones started Notre Dame's first game this season. As we know, Jones did not play well in the stripped down version of the Spread Option that was installed by Weis for the Tech game. Jones finished 1-4 passing for 4 yards. Jones also ran the ball 12 times for 28 yards and had 2 fumbles.
This news would not be shocking to me if it was announced at the end of the season. But, to have news like this leak out before the third game! Now, I am a bit surprised. Realistically Jones' time as the Irish starting QB was over. The spread option experiment blew up in Charlie's face. Weis knows he has to use a pro-style offense for his Irish to have the best chance to win. Jones can not run this style of offense. The question in mind though is: Why was Jones recruited in the first place? Out of the four QB's that began the spring with a shot to start, Jones, Sharpley, Razier, and Clausen, only Jones did not fit into the prototypical Weis QB mold. Jones was described as a Michael Vick type of QB with better accuracy. This description does not fit into Notre Dame's offense the last two seasons at all. The truth is I like Jones and his attitude. The kid switched his number from #4 to #3 because he was so confident he would be the next great Irish QB. All good QB's have this type of confidence. The only problem is, he really had no real chance to be the long-term starting QB at Notre Dame. This situation had Arnaz Battle or Carlyle Holiday written all over it. After that first game, Irish fans all over wondered how long it would be until Weis converted Jones into a wide-out.
I can't blame Jones for leaving. Clausen is the Irish starting QB case closed. Sharpley is a good back-up, but he is not a starter. What about next year? Dayne Crist is on board just waiting for his chance to challenge Clausen as the starter. Crist might be a better model of Charlie's QB vision than Clausen. Where does this leave Jones? Not as the starting QB. In fact, after the Tech game, I really don't think he had any chance to start again.
Now keep in mind, the Jones transfer is not official. This was one report by one ESPN reporter. But, if the report is accurate, I wish Jones all of the luck in the world wherever he ends up. Demetrius, just don't go to UConn. The Huskies already have a former Irish QB from this year's QB battle.
