HILLTOPPER FOCUS: UAB transfers Morris, McCollum say linebacker Shaq Jones headed to WKU
Published 6:10 pm Wednesday, April 8, 2015
- UAB linebacker Shaq Jones
Western Kentucky defensive tackle Jontavius Morris and linebacker T.J. McCollum – former UAB transfers – told the Daily News on Wednesday that they expect UAB linebacker Shaq Jones to join the Hilltoppers after this semester.
While talking about McCollum transferring with him to WKU, Morris said after spring practice that “we’ve got another guy coming down here also. He’ll be here soon.”
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Morris confirmed that player is Jones, who was the Blazers’ third-leading tackler as a junior last season. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder tallied 50 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and an interception in 2014.
Morris said he talked with Jones recently, and the linebacker is planning to attend the Tops’ spring game April 18. He would eligible to play his final season immediately.
Morris and McCollum joined WKU this semester after UAB disbanded its football program in December for financial reasons.
McCollum said knowing he’d have Morris and Jones at WKU helped sell him on the move to Bowling Green.
“I didn’t want to come nowhere by myself,” McCollum said with a laugh. “Knowing that Jon-Jon and Shaq was coming helped make my decision easier.”
Rumors have swirled for months that Jones would transfer to his new school in time for summer sessions.
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WKU coach Jeff Brohm said on signing day in February that the Tops have a few scholarships “that we’ve left open on purpose,” without mentioning any specifics.
“If anything between now and the end of the spring semester breaks open, we’re able to make moves,” Brohm said. “That was important as well. We definitely did that on purpose. There’s a lot of things that could happen between now and the end of May, whether someone qualifies late or a transfer becomes available. A lot of different scenarios, and we want to make sure we’re prepared for that.”
— Zach Greenwell
