CATHOLIC KNIGHTS: Jones leading another stellar defense

Catholic’s Jaden Jones sheds a block in a recent game against ACA. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

After losing its top two tacklers at linebacker, along with two of its defensive linemen and a pair of secondary players that had signed with Power Five schools, most people probably didn’t expect a lot from Catholic’s defense this season.

The players, on the other hand, haven’t been surprised that the Knights appear to have picked up where they left off last season.  

“That was the plan,” middle linebacker Jaden Jones said. “No matter who we lose -- a lot of people talk about how we lost TJ Dudley, we lost Kylon (Griffin) -- we’re going to keep working, we’re going to put in the work and do what they did, if not better.”

It’s not surprising to find Jones at the forefront of the 2022 defense. It’s sort of a family tradition.

“All his family went here,” Catholic coach Kirk Johnson said. “He is a cousin of CJ Person, TJ Stokes, Mark Robinson and Marcus Dees. They all wear 5 or 55. We’re blessed to have him. He works hard and is a very physical kid. We’ve watched him grow tremendously from his early days at Catholic to now being a senior captain.”

Unlike his cousins, Jones wasn’t considered a star on the rise several years ago like his famous cousins because he’s rarely ever remained at the same position to develop into that type of player. He’s played inside and outside linebacker, taken some snaps at quarterback, caught some passes as a receiver and even played H-back last season.  

“We had four talented guys that we already knew could play (linebacker) and we needed an H-back,” Johnson said. “Jaden has always played linebacker but we needed an athletic guy to block and stretch the field vertically. He was perfect for that.”

Jones was just biding his time. He actually started two games at linebacker last year and played H-back because the team needed one.

“I was just doing it to get the job done,” he said. “I had played it before but it took some getting used to, blocking bigger people.”

He went to work each day at practice knowing the middle linebacker job would become his once Patrick Ryan graduated. He was ready to become the leader on a defense that was badly in need of one.

“I’ve coached somebody in that family for the last 10, 15 years,” Johnson said. “I’ve known them and watched them grow up, so he knows it’s tough love. He can receive tough coaching. He has great parents. I don’t care about the age, I care if he can take the brutal coaching that comes at that position. That and free safety are the most Coach J-loved spots on the field. He knew what was going to come with being a ‘mike’ linebacker on a defense that had just given up 43 points an entire season.”

It wasn’t evident early. Catholic allowed 21 points in the season opener, but overcame their early mistakes by allowing just 21 points since.

 “When we play together, we’re a good team,” Jones said. “But in the first game, we gave up 21 points because we weren’t playing together, we were being selfish. We weren’t locked in on our jobs and doing what we were supposed to do.”

Jones has 55 tackles in six games, along with three tackles for loss, a sack, two fumbles caused and a fumble recovery. His 55 tackles are, by far, tops on the Catholic defense as he molds himself into the next great Catholic defender.

“The difference between him and the last ‘mike’ linebacker is he’s playing with young guys,” Johnson said. He’s playing with a sophomore, a junior who had never made a start and another junior who had never made a start. Meanwhile, the old linebacker had TJ (Dudley), Ethan Binns and Zach Underwood, so it’s changed tremendously.”

Jones admits he is a different player this season after stepping into his new role.  

“It made me step up and become a better player, become a better leader, become a better teammate than I’ve been the last two or three years,” he said. “The old Jaden was nothing like the player that people see today.”

People shouldn’t seem surprised at the “new” Jaden Jones. After all, it’s a family tradition.

“That’s the reason I started playing football,” he said. “Marcus and T.J. helped me become the player I am today.”

That confident leader of the Catholic defense will lead his unit into Friday night’s home game with Montgomery Academy, the region rival that ended their season a year ago in the semifinals of the state playoffs.

“Last year, we put in the work, 13-0 coming in, and we thought we had it,” Jones said. “We didn’t prepare ourselves, we came in thinking it was going to be handed to us and they beat us. This year, it’s very personal. I have a chip on my shoulder. I’ve been waiting for this game.”