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Creative Director
April 27, 2002
Jones steps into spotlight for J-State
Receiver catches 7 for 173 yards in Blue-White standoff
By Mark Alexander
Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer
Jackson State football coach Robert Hughes has been predicting big things from Chris Jones ever since Jones arrived on campus.
J.D. Schwalm/ The Clarion-Ledger
Junior quarterback Robert Kent completed 18 of 32 passes for 407 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Jackson State spring game Friday night at Newell Field in Jackson.
2002 TIGERS SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 At Southern Miss
Sept. 7 at N orth Carolina A&T
Sept. 14 Tenn. State (Memphis)
Sept. 21 Northwestern State
Sept. 28 Miss. Valley State
Oct. 12 Alabama State (Mobile)
Oct. 19 Southern (New Orleans)
Oct. 26 at Grambling State
Nov. 2 at UAPB
Nov. 9 Alabama A&M
Nov. 16 Prairie View A&M
Nov. 23 Alcorn State
The nifty receiver showed why Friday night in JSU's annual Blue-White spring game at Newell Field.
Jones hauled in a game-high seven catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns ? all in the first half ? in a game that ended in a 18-18 tie.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound redshirt sophomore caught a variety of passes, showing no signs of a hamstring injury that limited him throughout the spring.
He made a diving catch on a bullet pass from Robert Kent at the 1-yard line, setting up his own 1-yard touchdown grab on a fade route in the corner for the White team's first points.
On the White's next possession, Kent and Jones hooked up again on a 70-yard scoring pass. Jones out-jumped cornerback Michael Cooley for the ball at about the 30-yard line, came down with it, kept his balance and sprinted toward the endzone.
Later in the half, he caught a ball in the flat and weaved his way for a 25-yard gain, then a few plays later caught a 10-yard slant route.
At that point, former JSU standout receiver Sylvester Morris, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, turned to someone on the sidelines and said: "I like that dude, No. 3, he can play."
That's something those who have watched Jones the past two years already knew. He showed some signs last year, although quality playing time was hard to come by with the likes of T.C. Taylor and Lawrence Story. With those two now gone, Jones is the most likely candidate to step in and start at one of the two outside receiver positions, giving Kent another big-play threat to go along with Tim Manning.
"Chris is a great player," said Kent, who threw for 407 yards and two touchdowns. "I expect him to become one of my go-to-guys next fall. It's just a matter of him getting into the game. I know he can make plays. That's why I kept going to him tonight."
Jones made countless big plays during his career at Noxubee County while playing quarterback, running back, wide receiver and defensive back. Although he was selected to play in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic, he was overshadowed that season by the likes of Antonio Hargro, Chris Collins and Trey Fryfogle.
Mississippi State and Ole Miss showed interest early during his senior season but backed off. Jones chose JSU, where he hopes to become the latest in a long line of great receivers.
"That's one of the things that motivates me," said Jones, who was timed at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash earlier this year. "I work hard every day to try to prove those people wrong.
"I know I've still got a lot to work on and a lot to learn, but I feel real confident in my abilities."
So, too, is JSU offensive coordinator Darrell Asberry.
"Chris made some tough catches tonight," Asberry said. "I'm looking for him to step in and make big plays for us, and follow in the footsteps of some of the other receivers we've had here like T.C. (Taylor) and (Lawrence) Story.
"He's such a good athlete. He's got good size and he runs well. And the thing that Chris does so well is he goes up and catches the ball at its highest point."
Jones was held without a catch in the second half as the Blue team rallied from a 18-6 halftime deficit.
Backup quarterback John Flen (239 yards, 3 TDs) threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Michael Johnson late in the third quarter to pull the Blue team to within six. Flen then threw a 12-yard scoring pass to Robert Jacobs ? who is expected to start at the other outside receiver spot opposite Jones ? to knot the score at 18-18.
Manning had five catches for 140 yards for the White team. Running back Charles Lee led the Blue with a game-high 104 yards on 12 carries.
Vince Davis had two interceptions, one at the one-yard line in the fourth quarter to halt a potential go-ahead score by the White.
Jones steps into spotlight for J-State
Receiver catches 7 for 173 yards in Blue-White standoff
By Mark Alexander
Clarion-Ledger Staff Writer
Jackson State football coach Robert Hughes has been predicting big things from Chris Jones ever since Jones arrived on campus.
J.D. Schwalm/ The Clarion-Ledger
Junior quarterback Robert Kent completed 18 of 32 passes for 407 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the Jackson State spring game Friday night at Newell Field in Jackson.
2002 TIGERS SCHEDULE
Aug. 31 At Southern Miss
Sept. 7 at N orth Carolina A&T
Sept. 14 Tenn. State (Memphis)
Sept. 21 Northwestern State
Sept. 28 Miss. Valley State
Oct. 12 Alabama State (Mobile)
Oct. 19 Southern (New Orleans)
Oct. 26 at Grambling State
Nov. 2 at UAPB
Nov. 9 Alabama A&M
Nov. 16 Prairie View A&M
Nov. 23 Alcorn State
The nifty receiver showed why Friday night in JSU's annual Blue-White spring game at Newell Field.
Jones hauled in a game-high seven catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns ? all in the first half ? in a game that ended in a 18-18 tie.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound redshirt sophomore caught a variety of passes, showing no signs of a hamstring injury that limited him throughout the spring.
He made a diving catch on a bullet pass from Robert Kent at the 1-yard line, setting up his own 1-yard touchdown grab on a fade route in the corner for the White team's first points.
On the White's next possession, Kent and Jones hooked up again on a 70-yard scoring pass. Jones out-jumped cornerback Michael Cooley for the ball at about the 30-yard line, came down with it, kept his balance and sprinted toward the endzone.
Later in the half, he caught a ball in the flat and weaved his way for a 25-yard gain, then a few plays later caught a 10-yard slant route.
At that point, former JSU standout receiver Sylvester Morris, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, turned to someone on the sidelines and said: "I like that dude, No. 3, he can play."
That's something those who have watched Jones the past two years already knew. He showed some signs last year, although quality playing time was hard to come by with the likes of T.C. Taylor and Lawrence Story. With those two now gone, Jones is the most likely candidate to step in and start at one of the two outside receiver positions, giving Kent another big-play threat to go along with Tim Manning.
"Chris is a great player," said Kent, who threw for 407 yards and two touchdowns. "I expect him to become one of my go-to-guys next fall. It's just a matter of him getting into the game. I know he can make plays. That's why I kept going to him tonight."
Jones made countless big plays during his career at Noxubee County while playing quarterback, running back, wide receiver and defensive back. Although he was selected to play in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic, he was overshadowed that season by the likes of Antonio Hargro, Chris Collins and Trey Fryfogle.
Mississippi State and Ole Miss showed interest early during his senior season but backed off. Jones chose JSU, where he hopes to become the latest in a long line of great receivers.
"That's one of the things that motivates me," said Jones, who was timed at 4.3 in the 40-yard dash earlier this year. "I work hard every day to try to prove those people wrong.
"I know I've still got a lot to work on and a lot to learn, but I feel real confident in my abilities."
So, too, is JSU offensive coordinator Darrell Asberry.
"Chris made some tough catches tonight," Asberry said. "I'm looking for him to step in and make big plays for us, and follow in the footsteps of some of the other receivers we've had here like T.C. (Taylor) and (Lawrence) Story.
"He's such a good athlete. He's got good size and he runs well. And the thing that Chris does so well is he goes up and catches the ball at its highest point."
Jones was held without a catch in the second half as the Blue team rallied from a 18-6 halftime deficit.
Backup quarterback John Flen (239 yards, 3 TDs) threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Michael Johnson late in the third quarter to pull the Blue team to within six. Flen then threw a 12-yard scoring pass to Robert Jacobs ? who is expected to start at the other outside receiver spot opposite Jones ? to knot the score at 18-18.
Manning had five catches for 140 yards for the White team. Running back Charles Lee led the Blue with a game-high 104 yards on 12 carries.
Vince Davis had two interceptions, one at the one-yard line in the fourth quarter to halt a potential go-ahead score by the White.
