By Mike Keeney
Contributing Writer
James Jones isn’t the sort of guy who brags about himself, but others have no trouble signing his praises.
As a senior, James, Eisenhower’s starting quarterback, led the Eagles to a second-place finish in District 18-5A and a return trip to the Class 5A playoffs. During his senior season, Jones completed 88 passes for 1,433 yards and 12 touchdowns, rushed for 1,295 yards (Jones averaged 7 yards per carry!) and scored 23 touchdowns and even caught two passes for 51 yards. He also helped out on defense (more on that later) as he intercepted two passes and returned one for a touchdown.
As a junior, Jones passed for 1,423 yards and 7 TDs, and picked up 786 yards on the ground and scored 10 times.
As a two-year starter, Jones accounted for 4,300 yards of total offense and an eye-opening 52 touchdowns.
Not a bad two-year stretch!
Jones’ stellar senior season earned him the Northeast News’ Offensive Player of the Year honors and Eisenhower interim head coach Dre Thompson said his star pupil was most deserving of the award.
“James is a very talented kid,” Thompson said, in an understatement. “But he’s not a boaster. He understands it’s a team game.”
Jones doesn’t have the physical size of his boyhood idol, Vince Young, but he possesses outstanding speed and quickness. Even though he’s only 5-11, Thompson thinks Jones will get a chance to play collegiately. He’s heard from Baylor, Missouri, Army, Air Force and the University of Houston. The service academies have said he will get a chance at quarterback, while the other schools pursuing him would like to use him as a slot receiver/return man.
Jones said while he loves playing quarterback, it does not matter where he is used once he picks a college.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” the likable Jones said. “I just want the chance to get a college education and have the opportunity to play at the next level.”
Thompson compares Jones to Chicago Bears wide receiver/return man Devon Hester, who played defensive back at Florida State and early in his NFL career before the Bears converted him to a wide receiver. Hester is also one of the league’s most dangerous punt/kickoff returners.
“I see him being like Devon Hester,” Thompson said. “He can make plays on both sides of the ball and he can be explosive on kick returns. James knows he needs to get stronger and continue to learn the game, but he’s a coachable kid and that’s what college coaches like.”
Oh yes, there was that mention earlier of Jones’ penchant for making big plays on the other side of the ball. That was never more evident than in a non-district game against Class 4A powerhouse Dayton early in the 2010 season. With the Eagles clinging to a small lead and Dayton driving for the tying score, Thompson inserted Jones in at safety hoping he would come up with the play of the game. Jones did not disappoint.
“James picked off the ball and ran it back 104 yards for the game-clinching touchdown,” Thompson said. “He made his name on offense, but to me, that was the biggest play of the year for him.”
Football isn’t Jones’ only game. He’s the starting point guard on the Eagles basketball team and in the spring will run a leg on Eisenhower’s 400-meter relay team.
When he isn’t excelling on the athletic field, Jones likes to spend time with his family and will be watching with keen interest when Oregon takes on Auburn in the BCS title game on Jan. 10. Jones will have a rooting interest in the game considering his cousin, Michael Huff, who played at Nimitz High a year ago, will be playing wide receiver for the Ducks and catching passes from one of Jones buddies, Darren Thomas, a graduate of Aldine High.
“James is a natural born leader,” Thompson said. “His teammates love him because it’s not about him, but rather it’s about team.”
That’s music to a coach’s ear!