UA: Jones dream realized

John Brice

Volquest.com Associate Editor

Jack Jones has enjoyed plenty of big moments the past 20 or so months, rising from little-known prospect at Murfreesboro power Oakland High School to garnering a bevy of major college football scholarship offers and national acclaim for his tenacious playing style.

Jones took in another significant life moment on Monday -- and picked up his Under Armour All-American Game jersey in the process.

Tennessee's reigning 2013 Class 6A Mr. Football lineman signed early scholarship papers with his home-state Tennessee Volunteers, to whom Jones committed in May 2013, and also secured his shirt for his end-of-year trip to the nation's most prestigious high school all-star game.

"It's been a wild ride. It's one of the days I've been thinking about and dreaming about since I was a little kid," said Jones, his family a pillar in the Midstate 'Boro community. "I never thought all this would be happening. I can't wait to celebrate with my family and all the people that have impacted me and put into helping me get to this point. I'm real excited.

"And I'm real excited to be one of the first to sign that documentation to get to Tennessee and set the tone for this class a bit. I'm ready to be up there and ready to give my all for Tennessee."

A physical force whose weekly highlight clips oftentimes possess a season's worth of pancake blocks, Jones is happy to give thanks to all who have walked along his path to becoming an Under Armour All-American, Rivals.com four-star selection and a linchpin in the Vols' nationally regarded crop of 2015 pledges.

"Just kind of saying thank you," Jones said. "I've been thinking a lot about my parents and all they've done for me, my siblings and coaches. Everybody and how much they've poured into me. I feel forever grateful for all the people that have. I start thinking about just how a little while ago I was playing Pee Wee football, my dad (John) was coaching me. It's crazy how time flies. I'm forever indebted to all those people."

Jones also is continually motivated by where he's been, where he's going and how he'll be representing his home-state school when he arrives in January.

"It means a lot to get that (UA) jersey; I've definitely worked my tail off for it," Jones said. "So many camps, it's been a pretty crazy ride. Two years ago where you're coming over to the Oakland indoor and I was running around catching balls and now I'm about to get my jersey for the Under Armour All-America Game. I'm extremely blessed; I've got a lot to be thankful for."

Like many recent Midstate standouts, Jones also traces back to his work with the non-profit In Full Motion program based in Nashville, which also has spawned the National Playmakers Academy workouts with former Vols standout Buck Fitzgerald.

"It's been a journey," Jones said. "It's good to see the countless hours on the practice field and on my own with trainers, coaches, all starting to pay off. I'm starting to see that light at end of the tunnel a bit. The next few years will be some big years in life. I'm going to make some great memories. I definitely want to thank Buck Fitzgerald and IFM, they've helped me with football, with the on-the-field stuff and their ACT prep. I really think Buck, he has a great heart. He really does it for the kids. Not for himself. I feel like some guys out there do it for personal gain, but Buck is really watching out for my personal interest. He and the IFM family have definitely played a major role."

Now, Jones has two major roles remaining in his high school careers: he dreams of a shot at a 6A state championship with his Oakland squad, and they begin playoffs this week; Jones also wants one final shot at the Under Armour event to put on for Tennessee before he becomes a Tennessee student-athlete.

"It's a big chance to maybe lure some guys in on the fence and mainly just to show what Tennessee's about," Jones said. "People talk California, Georgia and Florida and I'm going to go down there and show them what Tennessee football is all about. I can't wait to rep my state and rep the orange. It's a big reason I'm going to Tennessee. There's nothing better than playing for your state. It means a little more to you. You play a little harder, block a little longer. You want to do extra reps. You're not just playing for yourself; you're playing for those 102,455 cheering you on."

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