Holy Spirit's Nigel Jones makes oral commitment to Maine for football

Holy Spirit senior running back Nigel Jones has committed to the University of Maine on a football scholarship.

Jones, who helped Holy Spirit to the Non-Public 2 state title last season, said he will sign with Maine on Wednesday, the NCAA's national signing day for recruits.

"I loved it," said Jones, who visited Maine this past weekend. "The football is great. They went really far into the playoffs last season, beating good teams like Delaware and James Madison and Appalachian State.

"It's a great place."

Jones ran for 1,331 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. Jones and Spartans senior Donte Pollock became the first set of classmates in New Jersey history to both run for more than 4,000 career yards.

In his last game, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound Jones ran for 189 yards and four touchdowns as Holy Spirit beat previously undefeated Camden Catholic, 51-7, in the Non-Public 2 state championship game Dec. 2 at the College of New Jersey.

Although he also played defensive back for Holy Spirit, Jones said the Maine coaches want him on the offensive side of the football.

"The offensive coordinator said there's no way the defense is getting me," Jones said.