Weis stunned departed QB Demetrius Jones with announcement that Clausen was starter

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Demetrius Jones, the Notre Dame quarterback who lost the starting position after a poor performance in the season opener, expects to play next season at Northern Illinois following his decision to transfer.

Jones surprised Notre Dame coaches by failing to show up Friday for the team bus trip to Michigan. He said he was stung by coach Charlie Weis’ comments that freshman Jimmy Clausen had been the team’s top quarterback but was not named the opening game starter because he was recovering from surgery to remove a bone spur from his throwing elbow.

“When I heard Jimmy Clausen was the No. 1 all the way through spring and that the only thing that was keeping him out of the lineup was his surgery, well that’s not what I was led to believe going into the summer,” Jones told the South Bend Tribune for a story Monday. “I thought I was getting a chance because coach Weis believed in me. Then I didn’t know what to believe anymore.”

Jones, who is from Chicago, said he attended Northern Illinois’ 21-19 loss to Eastern Michigan Saturday in DeKalb, Ill., but had not yet been in contact with the school’s coaching staff and did not know when he would begin practicing with his new team.

“My plan is to practice with them this year and be eligible to play next fall,” he said. “I’d then have three years of eligibility. That’s how I hope it works out.”

Northern Illinois spokeswoman Donna Turner said Monday that she had no word that Jones was yet part of the team.

“Everything so far has taken place outside the athletic department,” she said.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Big Ten -- Indiana sophomore QB Kellen Lewis (19-of-24, 137 passing yards, three TDs; 199 rushing yards, two TDs, in win over Akron); Michigan State senior DE Jonal Saint-Dic (two sacks, two forced fumbles in win over Pittsburgh); Ohio State junior LB James Laurinaitis (two INTs, eight tackles, in win over Washington). Mid-American Conference West -- Ball State sophomore HB MiQuale Lewis (178 all-purpose yards, one touchdown, in win over Navy); Eastern Michigan junior LB Daniel Holtzclaw (13 tackles, interception that led to game-winning TD, in win over Northern Illinois). Great Lakes Conference -- Hillsdale senior QB Mark Nicolet (29-of-42, 426 yards, three TDs, in win over Ashland); Saginaw Valley State senior DT Josh Miller (10 tackles in win over Ferris State); Michigan Tech freshman PK Tyler Cattelino (48-yard FG as time expired in win over Northwood).

Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association -- Adrian sophomore DL Gino Panza (10 tackles in win over Bluffton).

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