Penn State reserve quarterback Paul Jones came to Happy Valley as a highly touted five-star recruit out of Sto-Rox High School in 2010 hoping to compete for the starting quarterback job. As the Nittany Lions prepare for 2011, though, Jones will have to watch from the sidelines as Joe Paterno confirmed Friday he's been ruled academically ineligible for the upcoming season according to Cory Giger of the Altoona Mirror.
↵↵↵JoePa was asked if Jones would be able to play and replied, "I don't think so."
↵Sophomore Rob Bolden and junior Matt McGloin will be competing for the Nittany Lions' starting quarterback job. Jones was expected to be the third-stringer, but now juniors Kevin Newsome and Shane McGregor, a former a walk-on from Central Cambria High School, will compete for that spot.
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With two years of eligibility left, it's too soon to call Jones a bust. His academic troubles prove, however, that all the recruiting service stars and hype in the world can't promise you'll be an impact player the moment you walk on campus. Jones, if he as any hope of ever taking over Penn State's starting job, has a lot of work ahead of him both on and off the field.
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