The 90 Illini #45: Alexander Capka-Jones
When researching a new commit, I'll often scroll through their Twitter history. Sometimes it's looking for film, other times it's looking for the timing of specific offers. When Alexander Capka-Jones committed last year (he was part of the 2023 class), I remember scrolling back over the previous eight months and finding this tweet:
I have been named First Team All-Conference, Team Offensive MVP, and now I am 1 of 2 receivers in SoCal to be named ALL-REGION. I am currently up for All-State right now also. Not sure what else I have to do or who I have to show. Going to play with a chip on my shoulder forever. pic.twitter.com/ILCegkGfQd
— Alexander Capka-Jones (@alexcapkajones) December 13, 2022
Something about "not sure what else I have to do or what I have to show" stuck with me. I love that mentality. If I'm being honest, I find myself there a lot. "I know that I'm good at this - the accolades I'm receiving do not match up with how good I am at this."
As I scrolled forward through his Twitter timeline, I saw a lot more of that mentality. He had some FCS offers, but in January of 2023, when it came time to choose one of them, he decided not to:
I will be staying in the spring and receiving my AA instead of leaving midyear. My recruitment is 100% OPEN and I will be making a decision at some point during this upcoming semester! All-State JUCO Receiver with a 3.5 GPA! @CoachStuMC @CoachJDiazMC @raider_fball
— Alexander Capka-Jones (@alexcapkajones) January 6, 2023
That decision has to be difficult. Take the offer from Morehead State or Valpo or Central Arkansas... or pass on all three, let Signing Day go by, and wait for the spring/summer (with no ability to produce any more film since your final juco season was the previous fall), and risk those schools moving on to other recruits while you wait for the offer you think you deserve. There's betting on yourself, and then there's taking all of your chips over to the roulette wheel and putting them all on red or black.
And as that semester went by, he stayed at in on Twitter, his own one-man promotional campaign. Some people might be turned off by that, but I love it. Especially the "make it make sense!" here:
TOP JUCO WR IN THE STATE
— Alexander Capka-Jones (@alexcapkajones) February 6, 2023
6’4” 185 (and gaining) WR
All-State in HS AND JUCO
#1 WR in Pacific Conference
Still uncommitted! (Spring Grad)
Make it make sense! pic.twitter.com/kfJ385SEE9
He stayed at it through the spring, posting his highlights and hoping for a phone call. He did get a few more FCS offers, and Texas A&M offered him a PWO (Preferred Walk On) spot. But he didn't commit anywhere.
And finally, on JUNE 22nd, six weeks before fall camp starts, with most of his FCS offers likely expired, he camps at Illinois, shows out, and the offer comes:
AGTG!! Blessed to receive my 7th D1 offer to the University of Illinois! pic.twitter.com/IBfNHsCduL
— Alexander Capka-Jones (@alexcapkajones) June 22, 2023
June 22nd! You pass on offers in the winter and you pass on offers in the spring. And finally, in late June, you get the Big Ten offer you knew you deserved.
Want to know how you become My Guy? That's how you become My Guy. This one has My Guy Hall Of Fame potential.
