Despite injury, Wyomissing’s Ryker Jones remained top target for college recruiters

Ryker Jones had no idea how badly he was injured when he got hit in the back of the knee in Wyomissing’s state semifinal last December.

He was on the edge, setting a block for his fullback, Matt Kramer, when a player from Neumann-Goretti came crashing down on the back of his left leg.

At first he thought it was an injury to his calf, which radiated with pain. Later, after he returned to the field, he realized it was his knee. He felt a tingling sensation. Several times it gave out on him as he tried to chase down plays.

It wasn’t until after that devastating loss – 20-17, the Saints scoring on deep pass in the final seconds – that Jones realized the severity of his injury: A torn ACL and sprained MCL.

Nine months of rehab. No junior baseball season. No summer travel baseball. No chance to hit the spring and summer college football showcase circuit where he could audition for a football scholarship.

He had completed an All-State junior season at inside linebacker, flashing Division I ability. He already had a scholarship offer from Army and was expecting others to follow.

But would college coaches be interested in him coming off such a severe injury and knowing he wouldn’t be back on the field for months, possibly after the start of Wyomissing’s season?

The thought occupied space in his head, for sure.

Ross Tucker, the CEO of Go Big Recruiting and a college football recruiting expert, reassured him the offers wouldn’t stop coming. And he was right.

On Super Bowl Sunday the 6-foot, 200-pound Jones got an offer from Penn. Interest intensified after that, from Ivy League and Power Five programs. That set his mind at ease.

“ ‘I’m going to be OK,’ ” he thought after receiving the Penn offer. “Ross Tucker told me (the injury) wouldn’t really be a big deal (in terms of recruiting). I trusted him, and it all worked out.”

Jones received an offer from Princeton in mid February. He also received offers from the Tigers’ Ivy League competitors, Columbia and Dartmouth, as well as Georgetown, Lehigh and Duquesne. He received interest from Penn State, Northwestern, Navy, Delaware and others.

“Once they did find out (about the injury) a lot of them were fine with it,” Jones said. “They said, ‘We trust that you’ll come back stronger.’ An ACL tear isn’t nearly as bad as it used to be. It used to be like a death sentence, but it’s not anymore with how much that technology has advanced. My ACL’s going to be stronger than before it got hurt.”

Jones announced earlier in the week that he plans to attend Princeton. He had never considered an Ivy League school but said once he stepped on the Princeton campus he “felt that click right away.”

“I felt I could definitely see myself there,” he said. “I had no clue I was going to like Princeton that much. I got there and absolutely loved it. To be honest, I didn’t know that (an Ivy League school) would be an option for me. I know how big that degree is, and the connections you make are amazing.”

Jones is a strong student and obviously a talented football player.

He led an outstanding Wyomissing defense with 84 tackles — 35 more than anyone else. He was named Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week three times — no one else was named more than once.

He earned all-league honors on defense in Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League.

He’s just as good on offense. He has breakaway speed as a halfback; he averaged 7.8 yards per carry in limited duty. He’s also a devastating blocker. Spartans coach Bob Wolfrum loves to run behind him in goal-line situations because he’s so reliable.

Like anyone else who has seen Jones play the Princeton coaches loved the way he hits on defense; they plan to use him at the ‘Will’ inside linebacker spot.

“They saw the film and went right after him,” Wolfrum said. “They really like the way he runs and especially the way he hits. They’re always looking for the guys who, when they hit you, you go backwards. And that certainly is the case with him.”

Jones is a big hitter in baseball, too. The Spartans are certainly missing his bat, and his arm (he was penciled in as the No. 2 starter this season). With him in the lineup they would be battling for first place in Berks III and for a District 3 Class 3A playoff spot. Without him it appears they’ll miss both.

Jones can’t wait to get back to the diamond next spring. Princeton doesn’t ask top prospects to enroll early so he’ll have a full senior year at Wyomissing.

He can’t wait to start hitting in football, either. That’s still a long way off. He won’t be cleared to start running until next week.

Recovery from his surgery is nine months, which would mean he could miss Wyomissing’s first three games next season. If he returns on schedule he could face Berks Catholic in the Week 4 league opener.

“I’m going to do everything I can to get back playing football as early as possible,” Jones said. “I’m doing really well right now, so I don’t think it will take me a full nine months.”