This first-year Clemson defensive back hasn’t wasted any time making a big impression on the Tigers’ head coach.

Dabo Swinney raved about true freshman safety Ricardo Jones following Clemson’s first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Jones recorded a takeaway in the scrimmage, and he drew plenty of praise from Swinney when he was asked what he’s seen from the 6-foot-2, 193-pound Jones, who enrolled early at Clemson back in January.

Clemson true freshman safety Ricardo Jones. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

“He’s a high-energy football player – you hear him, and you see him,” Swinney said. “He’s just one of those big personalities that loves to play football. I mean, the kid loves ball. You can’t break him. No matter how hot it is, it doesn’t matter how many gassers you run – he’s going to keep going. That’s just his mindset.

“He’s one of the more mentally tough kids we got, that I’ve seen as a young guy come in here. He is a mentally tough young player that loves to play the game.”

A former four-star and top-200 recruit nationally according to multiple services, Jones was ranked as high as the No. 157 overall player in America by Rivals, which considered him the 24th-best player in Georgia and the nation’s 12th-best safety.

Jones was a three-time all-region and all-state selection in Georgia. He finished his high school career with 111 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 18 interceptions and 33 passes defensed, to go with five fumble recoveries – giving him 23 defensive takeaways in his career.

“He’s incredibly physical, and he’s smart. He’s got good instincts,” Swinney said. “I’ve been really impressed with him.”

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