Jeff Jones recruiting update: Plans Feb. 5 announcement; coach still thinks Gophers positioned well

I sat down with Minneapolis Washburn running back Jeff Jones and Washburn coach Giovan Jenkins today for story that will run in Sunday's paper. Here's where things stand with the four-star recruit who now ranks as the nation's No. 44 college prospect in the latest Rivals.com rankings:

* Jones made a verbal commitment to the Gophers last February but has kept his recruiting options open.

* Jones plans to announce his college choice on National Signing Day (Feb. 5) inside Washburn's gymnasium.

* He said his five finalists are Minnesota, Iowa State, Florida, Michigan and Tennessee. Michigan State had been on that list but the Spartans have two running back commitments and recently told Jones they won't be seeking more.

* Jones has made official visits to Minnesota and Iowa State. He will visit Florida on Friday and Michigan on Jan. 31. He won't be visiting Tennessee, but said the coaches have been working on him.

* Jones has yet to qualify academically for a Division-I scholarship, but he is very close. He is within a point of getting a qualifying ACT score and plans to retake the test on Feb. 8. Jenkins said Jones would have two more chances to take the test and qualify if it doesn't happen on this try.

I came away from the interview feeling pretty confident that Jones will wind up sticking with Minnesota.

I asked Jenkins for his gut feeling, and he said: "I like his relationship that he has built up with Minnesota. They've done a great job. They were in on him first and early and often. They are well within their contact limits, and they do a good job making sure that Jeff knows where he stands with them and their staff.

"They've never left me guessing or him. And in terms of a relationship already built and established, it's going to be very hard for anybody to come in in the 13^th hour and make up the ground they've already made up in the two three years they've known the man."