Eric Sorenson
Jai Jones is one of the fastest rising prospects on the west coast.
The 2027 Chandler High 3-star recruit currently holds 13 offers, including Arizona, ASU, Oregon, Washington, and Iowa.
We recently sat down with the versatile cornerback/wide receiver to discuss a myriad of topics on, and off the field.
When you decided to transfer from Corona del Sol two years, what set Chandler apart from all the other schools? “Chandler prepares you to go to college. Chandler was a big preparation school. The guys that go through Chandler are big-time guys. They’re on the wall in our weight room. Even Olympians, track runners. Just going through that process on the name behind it.
“I go out of town and a lot of people and coaches I meet know of Chandler High School for their winning program and their legacy.”
Chandler is one of those schools that when you drive by the campus and Austin Field, you can just feel that football tradition of success. Do you feel the same way? “Yes. In eighth grade, I played with the Alpha Dogs, which was their feeder team. I was also a ball boy when I was in seventh grade for seventh grade. They had a lot of guys. I think Dylan Raiola was there. It was cool. I was on the sideline. I just loved the environment and everything that was taking place.
“It was a big decision. I had a lot of schools on the line, including some from out of state. California, Florida, Texas. But staying home, I liked the way Coach Eric Richardson was talking, and Coach G. [Rick Garretson]. I love those guys…they said, ‘I think this is the place to be,’ and I agreed.”
Besides the football aspect, how was the adjustment to Chandler in terms of campus life, adjusting to new teachers, meeting new friends, etc.? “I already had sort of made a name for myself at Corona so staff, administrators, teachers, they all knew my name [laughing]. It was nice. That was really cool. It definitely made the transition easier.”
Compare Coach G. to your new coach, Ty Wisdom. “I would say Coach Wiz is a younger version of Coach G. They both have that sarcasm and dry sense of humor [laughing]. They’re on top of everything. Coach Wiz is always on it, no matter what it is. He’s laser focused. He’s picky with everything. That’s the way Coach G. was.
“Everybody loved playing for Coach G. Now, the rest of his staff, I couldn’t stay the same. So, I feel like a lot of the players weren’t bought in. [Coach Wiz] had to win the weight room first. When he came in, he won it immediately. He got everybody to lift consistently and push to be their best in the weight room, then it trickles on to the field. If there’s competition in the weight room, there will be competition on the field. I feel what Coach Wiz did, he motivated the guys to play for him immediately.
“I feel like a lot of guys weren’t motivated last season.”
Had fun competing at the @Elite11 @TheOpening in LA pic.twitter.com/n5X2IAHBWH
— Jai Jones | c/o 2027 (@jaigothands) March 23, 2025
I spoke to Coach G. before this interview and the one thing he stressed to me was you love to be coached hard. You love to pushed in practice. Is that something that’s always been with you or did you develop those habits more recently? “My dad is my hardest coach. He’s my biggest critic. That’s just how I was brought. Stay motivated and work harder.”
Crazy this kid isn’t ranked anywhere‼️Jai Jones, WR/DB c/o 27’ Chandler Arizona. He can move on both sides of the ball and breaking like this on dirt! pic.twitter.com/UNC2KQyxe6
— DRTYPRO (@drtypro) March 1, 2025
Do you have a preference between cornerback and wide receiver? “No, I like both. I feel I’m very talented at receiver and corner. I feel like I’m a playmaker, so what ever school takes me at the next level, they’ll be getting a playmaker.”
Do you watch a lot of Travis Hunter tape? “Yes. I feel like he’s one of the prime examples to go off of playing receiver and corner. It’s something I’ve been doing my whole life. I’ve always played both sides of the ball but Travis Hunter made it like a light. Since he did that, he’s the main person to watch and study.”
Has it crept into your mind at all that you could, theoretically, probably play both ways in college? “Yes, for sure. I talk about it all the time with college coaches, teammates, my dad, Coach Wiz.
“A lot of college coaches ask what I’d prefer to play in college. They say, ‘You have the ability to play both ways.’ A lot of coaches are like, ‘I want to see what you can do on this side of the ball. Why are you still playing receiver? We know you’re an athlete. We know you’re a playmaker.’
“A lot of schools that have been recruiting me ask what I like more…it’s hard. Man, I’ll say I put more time into receiver than I do corner, but corner comes so naturally to me.”
Vicious 😤 pic.twitter.com/PD9D0JOYx2
— Jai Jones | c/o 2027 (@jaigothands) January 28, 2025
How do the two positions make you better at the other? “When I study one position, I have to go against the other position on the other side of the ball. That’s a big factor. From the way the receiver lines up, to the way the DB lines up. To how the receiver comes off the ball, to how the DB backpedals. Those things helped me tremendously once I understood the game at that level.”
I talked to Basha’s Noah Roberts earlier this spring and he talked about how he can almost see a play developing and a hole opening pre-snap, are you at that level, whether it’s at receiver or corner? “Yes, for sure. My dad’s biggest thing is the game is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical.
“So, pre-snap read, it’s determining, if it’s the offensive side of the ball, how I’m going to run my route. Where the safety is playing. Where the linebacker is playing. Where the corner is playing. Reading the whole field and where I have to block at.
“Going to DB – how many receivers are on my side? Are there any receivers on my side? Where is the running back lined up? Is he looking at me? Just being aware of everything. I’m very observant. I study a lot [of film].”
What’s been your favorite part of being recruited? “The relationships. It’s going to be the biggest deciding factor [when I commit]. Who do I have the best relationship with?”
#AGTG Blessed to say I’ve received an offer from The University of Oregon! #Goducks @RashaadSamples @GarretsonRick @oregonfootball pic.twitter.com/jRskEVnvqj
— Jai Jones | c/o 2027 (@jaigothands) May 15, 2024
How do you keep everything balanced, and in proper perspective, during all the recruiting chaos? “I’m going to tell you a story.
“After the spring last year, I picked up around nine offers, but recruiting slowed down completely. No communication from the coaches. Football ended. There weren’t many coaches pulling the trigger offering. Man, I thought there were a lot of factors in it. Me, my mom, my dad sat down and talked. The offers are going to come. That’s the outside noise.
“So, they reminded me to stay on top of my school, stay in the playbook, get to know [Coach Wisdom]. Thing like that – bigger priorities, because the offers are going to come. You already have nine. All you need is one. Just stay focused.
“If it comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. That really helped me out. Now recruiting is picking up again. I kept God in focus and kept praying. That was the biggest thing.”
One of the things I love about your Hudl, is you have several clips of you blocking. It’s not all catches or long touchdowns, or whatever. How much pride do you take in helping your teammates make big plays even without the ball in your hands? “I’m a big team guy. Anything for the team. When I transferred, it was always about the team and bringing those guys closer.
“I feel like it shows I’m a great teammate, putting it all on the line, even if the ball isn’t coming to me and going to someone else. I think about that all time.
‘How would I want someone else to do it for me?’
“I love blocking. Blocking is fun.”
I love BLOCKING! 🥷🏽Hudl uploading soon! pic.twitter.com/5Zh6CnNOcR
— Jai Jones | c/o 2027 (@jaigothands) November 27, 2024
Have you picked up some tricks of trade trying to get off blocks as a corner that you have used when playing the other side of the ball? “I know what I don’t like when I go to block corners. I mean, some just run away. So, I’ve picked that up. Corners are smart. When your hands come up, they swipe them down. I’ve picked up a couple of things along the way.”
What parts of your game have you really been focused on this off-season? “My speed. I’ve been on the track consistently. I ran track. My speed is what a lot of [college] coaches are looking for.”
Last question. This sounds crazy for me to even ask, but do you feel people are sleeping on Chandler this upcoming season? “Yes. We hear it all the time, especially from the guys down the street [Hamilton]. So, at track meets, most of the guys play football [laughing]. It’s friendly. We’re all friends. We all played youth ball together, but it’s always a conversation.
“Like I said, a lot of guys weren’t motivated last season but the amount of dedication we have this season, we’re going to the top one, top two team in the state, for sure.”
