Glenville RB D'Shawntae Jones taking official visit to Kentucky

Ohio’s Glenville High School is a major focus for the Kentucky football program right now. Four-star tight end Damarion Witten is the big fish, with the Wildcats and Ohio State fighting for his talents. Witten has already locked in an official visit with UK for the weekend of June 9-11 and will visit the Buckeyes later that month.

But Kentucky is targeting several other Glenville players too, notably offensive tackle Fred Johnson and running back D’Shawntae Jones. The trio of Cleveland-based prospects are from the class of 2024 and will look to wind down their recruitments going into their senior seasons this fall. Kentucky is a player for all three.

Witten visited Lexington last month and is near the very top of UK’s recruiting Big Board, although nearby Ohio State is believed to have the inside edge at this stage. Johnson visited in April as well and is considering an official visit to Lexington this summer after a successful stop in the spring. Jones also visited in the spring and has already locked in an official with the ‘Cats, telling KSR he’ll make the trip the week of June 9.

According to On3, Jones is considered a three-star prospect. He clocks in at 5-foot-9, 225 pounds. Kentucky initially offered him back in June 2022, his third from a Divison I program. Jones currently holds 17 D1 scholarships.

This will be Jones’ third trip to Kentucky since being offered last summer. On his most recent visit in April, he was able to meet with new running backs coach Jay Boulware. Associate head coach Vince Marrow is also heavily involved in Jones’ recruitment.

“I toured the campus, they showed me a lot of different things, I interacted with the players, talked to the coaches, had a meeting with the running backs coach, learned blocking, stuff like that,” Jones told KSR after his last visit to UK. “(Boulware) seemed like a really good dude. He has a lot of knowledge that I took from him and took back to my high school to start blocking different and running the ball.”

Jones has said that he and Witten could team up together at the college level. They both visited Kentucky together a few weeks ago and will be in Lexington again at the same time in June. Jones says that Witten will join him on his official visit.

“One particular guy that they’re recruiting very well is our tight end, Damarion Witten,” Jones added. “Coach (Marrow) is doing a really good job with that one right there. Me coming on the board, I feel like that could be home for me and Damarion.“

During Glenville’s perfect 15-0 run to a state title victory in 2022, Jones helped carry the load throughout the season, highlighted by three touchdowns and 195 rushing yards in the Division IV championship game.