Everything is terrible, but Tom Allen’s recruiting is good

In a recruitment that saw him land offers from Ohio State, Michigan and Iowa, it came down to Indiana for Valparaiso defensive end Cooper Jones.

The three-star prospect announced his commitment to IU on Thursday, making him the second player in the Hoosiers’ 2021 recruiting class. The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Jones is considered the No. 5 player in Indiana and the No. 26 overall strong-side defensive end nationally, according to the 247 Sports Composite rankings.

“First off I know this is small news during these chaotic times,” Jones tweeted. “I would like to announce that I have committed to Indiana University to further my academic and athletic career. I want to thank (IU coach Tom Allen) and the rest of the IU coaching staff for this great opportunity.”

Jones’ verbal pledge is a big win for Allen, whose current two-man class is comprised of highly-regarded defensive linemen. Jones joins Elkhart native Rodney McGraw, a three-star prospect and the eighth-ranked player in the state.