LSU baseball and football fans were worried this day would come.
LSU junior safety Chad Jones declared for the NFL draft on Monday, foregoing his remaining years of eligibility for both the Tigers’ football and baseball teams.
Jones told The Times-Picayune in an e-mail he made the decision after consulting both his family and LSU football coach Les Miles.
“Since I was a kid growing up in a family with a strong football tradition, I’ve always dreamed of playing football in college and hoped one day I’d make it to the NFL,” Jones said. “After many discussions with my family and Coach Miles, I feel it’s the right time for me to enter the NFL draft.”
Jones already has experience in one professional draft. He was picked up by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2007 MLB Draft.
Jones helped the LSU baseball team to its 2009 national title as a left-handed relief pitcher. He had two seasons of baseball eligibility remaining before today’s announcement.
Michael Bonnette, LSU sports information director, said he had not been contacted by Jones as of Monday afternoon.
Bonnette said the earliest the University would schedule a press conference about Jones’ decision is when Miles returns from the 2010 American Football Coaches Association convention in Orlando, Fla., later this week.
LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri said Monday that he received a text message from Miles saying Jones had chosen to enter the NFL draft.
“I have not personally talked to Chad,” Mainieri said. “But that seems to be the indication, that he is going to declare [for the NFL draft].”
Mainieri said he and Jones had talked at the end of last baseball season about the “distinct possibility” of Jones leaving for the NFL after this past football season.
He said he had planned to use Jones as a designated hitter and left-handed relief pitcher this upcoming season, which opens Feb. 19 against Centenary in Alex Box Stadium.
“I’ve been kind of preparing this team with the idea that [Jones] would not be a part of it,” Mainieri said. “I felt like if he did decide to play the spring with us and not go into the NFL draft, I would have really looked at it as lagniappe.”
Mainieri said he’s disappointed he won’t get another chance to coach Jones but isn’t disappointed in Jones’ decision.
“My attitude has always been that a young person has to do what they think is best for their own life,” Mainieri said. “I feel very grateful that he was a part of our program for two years. He helped us win a national championship last year. And I loved coaching him. He’s a wonderful young man. I’m sorry that we’re not going to have him any longer.”
 
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