SEFFNER – Opposing offenses know about him, and soon enough the rest of the region and beyond will begin to know about the talents of junior OLB, Charles “CJ” Jones from Armwood. He’s 6-foot-3, 195-pounds and he’s beginning to come out of his shell for the Hawks. So far this season, Jones has produced 38 tackles, with 29 of those solo–along with 8 tackles for loss. Jones has also terrorized QB’s with 5 sacks, 2 passes defensed and even a fumble recovery that was returned for a touchdown.
We caught up with Jones this week to ask him all about the season, what it’s like to carry on the tradition of playing defense for Armwood. We even asked about his favorite moment wearing the colors for Armwood and whether or not the pressure of performing for his teammates his even greater than his coaches and for the fans. Here now, is CJ Jones in his own words.
BCP: How’s the season been? Have the expectations been met?
CJ Jones: “So far this season, we’ve had a great one so far. We had to overcome and come together, we’ve had to make big plays to win big games.
BCP: What’s it like playing for that vaunted Armwood Defense?
“It feels good. Just to be able to put that uniform on and go out and play for them and represent them–I just love that feeling. It feels good just to go out and ball-out when I’m wearing that jersey.”
BCP: It’s only a success, if you get to Orlando–is there any pressure?
CJ Jones: “We just take it game-by-game, one week at a time. That’s pretty much it. We take it slow–take our time to prepare each week and also just worry about fixing the mistakes and getting better each week as well.
BCP: With the competition for each spot so heated, is there perhaps a bigger pressure to perform amongst your teammates than for anyone else involved with the program?
CJ Jones: “Yeah, I would say there’s more pressure with my teammates, we come out with the attitude that we’ve GOT to win and that we want to win–this is who we are and we can’t be stopped. That’s the attitude that we bring on the field and put forth in the games. And we win those games–it just feels good.
BCP: What’s our favorite part about playing outside linebacker?
CJ Jones: “Being able to come off the edge and making big plays. Make whatever big plays or tackles that I can for my team. I love it.”
BCP: What have the coaches told you that you need to get better at?
CJ Jones: “My coaches have told me that I need to keep working on working the upfield shoulder–not letting guys get outside of me, just reading my keys. I feel like I’m progressing in that.”
BCP: How are you working to progress at that advice from your coaches, CJ?
CJ Jones: “In my spare time, I’ll watch film. In practice, I’ll just keep working the reps on the things they’ve been asking me to do.
BCP: You’re just a junior, but do you have a favorite moment so far as an Armwood Hawk?
CJ Jones: “My favorite moment was when we were playing Plant. The adversity through the whole game–the intensity throughout the whole game and how hyped everyone was for that. It was a big game that we knew we had to pull off. I really had fun in that game.”
BCP: What about your favorite teams growing up?
CJ Jones: “I liked Florida State and the Florida Gators.
BCP: Most people that grow up in this state are asked, no FORCED to choose at some point, but you like both, huh?
CJ Jones: “Yessir. You can’t really choose between the two if you’re asking me. I love to watch what both teams bring to the table.
BCP: Got to talk about your work in the classroom. What’s your favorite class? And have you thought about anything college-related regarding a major or anything like that?
CJ Jones: “My favorite class is American History. I really like to learn about things that went on in the past. I’m thinking about History, or Business, or Communications–but I’ve had another one in mind that interests me and that’s Criminology or Criminal Justice.”