Four for Four with Malcolm Jones – Hawaii Edition

I stole some time away from the beach in Hawaii to chat quickly with Oaks Christian running back Malcolm Jones.
Jones, you remember, is Scout.com’s No. 3 running back in the class of 2010, a power back with fantastic numbers (141 carries for 1,600 yards and 26 touchdowns while playing mostly only first halves) and a great work ethic.
Recently, Jones narrowed his list of potential colleges to Stanford and UCLA.

Here’s what Malcolm had to say:

Are UCLA and Stanford just at the top of your list, or is it just them two?
“I’m pretty much set on one of those two teams,” Jones said. “Both of them offer a really good education and both are teams who are on the rise and going to be good in the next couple years. I kind of want to be with a team that is still building up and needs exposure.”

Jim Harbaugh and Rick Neuheisel have similar backgrounds – college stars, pro quarterbacks, young coaches. Who would you rather play for?
“Either coach I’d love to play for,” Jones said. “They’re both young, exciting coaches who have a lot of enthusiasm. But right now, it’s the position coaches who are calling me the most.”

Why have UCLA and Stanford jumped to the top of the list?
“That’s the thing; those two schools said they needed me,” Jones said. “The other schools said they want me. These guys need me. That’s what separates them. The coaches and I both know I can make an early impact on both of those schools.”

How soon can we expect a decision?
“I’m hoping to make a decision in the next couple months,” Jones said. “September at least, maybe this month. Right now, its 50/50. Both schools are really good, and it’s really hard to decide. I don’t know if either school can do anything to push me forward. Right now, it’s a mental thing for me.”