Who is Krew Jones? Meet the top-ranked 2027 football prospect from Utah

LOGAN — If he's not on the field, Ridgeline High defensive end Krew Jones is likely somewhere on the water in his kayak fishing at his favorite spots — most recently in Mantua.

The four-star talent is a menace on the field and has already showcased an elite ability to disrupt opposing offenses with his 6-foot-4 frame, which has made him an easy selection as the No. 1 recruit in the state of Utah for the 2027 recruiting class.

And though Jones is just entering his junior season this fall and has a very promising future — nearly every big-time university in the country has attempted to reel him in to their school — he's simply living in the moment for the time being.

It's why fishing has become a great hobby and distraction from all the noise that a busy recruitment cycle as a top prospect naturally offers. On the lake or river, Jones doesn't have to worry about anything other than casting out his line as he hopes to reel in a trout or bass.

"I like to get a little bit away," Jones said. "I get away a bit, focus a little more. I like to fish a lot, so I kind of do that to relax and escape for a little bit."

He's also built a "tight circle" around him of friends who he knows are "good and work hard," and will help support him in all that he is as an individual and not just as a star on the football field.

But Jones is a promising talent who is not content with settling this early in his life. The rankings and ratings are a recognition of years of hard work — he's currently ranked inside the top 150 recruits in the country for his class — but Jones believes he's nowhere near a finished project just yet.

"Definitely feels good to know the work I'm putting in is paying off," he said. "I try not to look at rankings too much — just focus on myself and give all the effort I've got."

To Jones, who is reminded frequently that "your dream is very hard to achieve," there's always more to obtain for his high school career and as he prepares for the next level.

"I'm trying to put on as much muscle, speed as I can, a lot of building in my football IQ, just trying to get prepared for college as much as possible, and then trying to play against the best competition I can to try and make that transition into college easier."

As the top prospect in his class, Jones gets everyone's best each week — "someone's coming for that name, because if they can make me look stupid for a couple of plays then who are they, because they just beat Krew Jones or whatever" — and so there's a bit of pressure to deliver each week, but Jones continues to rely on his training and "just have fun."

Part of that training includes participating in as many camps as possible. Just this summer, Jones attended a majority of the in-state camps — BYU, Utah, Utah State and Weber State — and participated in the Under Armour Next Future 50 against some of the best players in the country.

"That was awesome," he said. "And I was lucky and blessed enough to get that game invite, so I was super excited for that."

This summer, Jones also took unofficial visits to Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State, among his visits to the local schools, but said he's recruitment remains "pretty open."

"I've definitely seen some things from schools that I like more than others, or those schools are reaching out more than others," Jones said. "So, I mean, I've narrowed it somewhat, but I'm still fairly open."

Jones hopes to commit to a school sometime in December and then enroll at his future school in January after his senior season. And though location "doesn't really matter a lot" to Jones, he's looking for a school that "develops me the best."

"That's my biggest thing, because the end goal is to make it to the league," he said. "So whatever school that I think I fit in the best and can help me progress the most to make it theirs is really what I'm all about.

"A big thing I like to look for is their base defense, kind of how they run their defense, how they would use me in their scheme," he added. "And then, I like to see individual coaches, who they've developed — like who they've actually developed, not just been at that school when that athlete was there. But, yeah, just like who they've developed, if they could develop me as fastly and efficiently as possible. I'd say those are probably my biggest keys."

Locally, Jones said he has a "great relationship" with Jay Hill (BYU) and Morgan Scalley (Utah) and has been to "numerous games and camps at both Utah and BYU."

"They're both great guys, know the game in and out very well," he said. "They both did a great job at keeping that communication, that connection with me, and a lot of my teammates, as well. ... Great connection with both of those guys. Just awesome coaches."

Though Jones still has a few years before he can realize his dream of playing Division I football, he's simply grateful to be in the position he's in, especially as he gets to represent an area of the state that generally doesn't feature highly-rated football recruits on a consistent basis.

"I think it'd be amazing to make it to where I dreamed to be," he said. "I think it'd be a little bit of an inspiration for kids, maybe in my same spot, just knowing that if you really work as hard as you can and put everything into it, then you can do whatever you want to do."

For now, though, his focus remains on getting better on the field with his teammates at Ridgeline High, where his team hopes to advance further than a 4A semifinal appearance last season.

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