Saraland, Ala., wideout Velus Jones has quickly become one of Tennessee's top targets as signing day creeps closer.
The 6-foot, 180-pound receiver has been looking to the Tennessee visit for some time after the Vols offered earlier this fall.
Jones is looking to see if Tennessee is the right fit this weekend.
"It's a nice school and people have told me I need to visit it," Jones explained. "They said it's a great environment and game day is crazy and the fans are awesome. It's something I want to check out and me knowing there's a chance I could start if I went to Tennessee is big, too."
The speedy wide receiver committed to Southern Cal will be making his first visit to Tennessee his weekend and is looking forward to meeting with Tennessee coaches Butch Jones and Zach Azzanni as well as fellow Alabama native and Vol linebacker Gavin Bryant.
"I'm excited about seeing about seeing coach Jones and coach Z and seeing my friend Gavin. I want to come up there and see what campus is like and get the feel of it."
Tennessee coaches visited with Jones and his family earlier this week and let him know they saw an early opportunity for him to hit the field.
"When they came down here they were telling me the slot position is wide open and that I could come in and play," Jones explained. "They said I can do big things and they could get me the ball in kinds of ways. A lot of good things."
After watching several Tennessee games on TV this year and researching the program for the past several weeks, Jones believes he would fit in nicely in Knoxville.
"I can see myself playing at Tennessee," Jones said. "If I didn't think thatI would go up there at all. I do think I fit in good with Tennessee."
The Vols aren't the only program that have made Jones a priority recently as he's already visited Oklahoma and Michigan on official visits.
"At Oklahoma and Michigan, they both made me feel at home," Jones said. "At Oklahoma, I have some family like 10 minutes away from campus. At Michigan, I'm friends with John O'Korn, the transfer quarterback that is supposed to transfer next year.
"I feel at home at both schools but I will say Michigan is colder."
As Jones continues to take his official visits he said the most important thing to him is finding a fit on the field and with a coaching staff.
"What is important is playing time," Jones said. "Education will come with. The relationship and understanding I have with my coaches and then the feeling of being at home. I have to like the place because I'll be spending four years there."
After his Tennessee visit, Jones has tentatively scheduled visits to Notre Dame on Jan. 15 and Mississippi State Jan. 22, but added those could change.
Southern Cal could still receive an official visit as Jones talked to Tee Martin Thursday night and let him know the Trojans still want him.
