Bastrop defender has big plans for 2008

If there's one thing that Bastrop, La. Defensive end DeQuinta Jones is getting used to it's winning. After an undefeated junior season in which his team won the Louisiana 4A state championship, Jones may now need to start getting used to college recruiting.

"I'm hearing from the same schools," Jones said. "Ole Miss and Mississippi State are talking to me. I talked to Michigan too now. I'm talking to Southern Miss. too. That's who my brother plays for."

Jones doesn't have any favorites at this point and is yet to land his first offer, but that should change in the near future, particularly with his plans to camp this Spring.

"I'm going to a couple camps," he said. "I'm going to the LSU camp I know. I might go to the Mississippi State camp. I've been working out and lifting weights and stuff, going through different drills."

Though the 6-foot-2, 265-pounder was dominant in his junior season, the best may be yet to come.

"I'm working on getting off blocks because I'm playing D-End this year," he said after spending most of 2007 at defensive tackle. "That's what I want to play anyway. That's my position that's what I love, coming off the edge. When I'm coming off the edge, I try to bully that tackle to the quarterback. I read well too. When that lineman steps down, I squeeze well."

After a 2007 state championship, the 2008 season will have high expectations for the Bastrop Rams. Jones is ready for it.

"I hope this season coming up will be the same way," he said. "I think we're gonna be better this year. Basically our whole defense is coming back."