Interview: 3-Star Jekob Jones is the Best 2021 Linebacker You Have Not Heard About… Yet

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

High praise brings great scrutiny, so let’s get into it and pick this apart. Whatever one’s measuring stick for a high-achieving high school linebacker may be, Jekob Jones has it covered. Before breaking down his game, know that he is a two-time first team All-State linebacker, two-time Tri-River Defensive Player of the Year, 2019 Valley Defensive Player of the Year, and, of course, Tri-River League All-Conference. With all that he has accomplished, there is still great upside to Jones’ game, and college programs are finding out about the three-star in a hurry.

Jones’ accolades with Fresno’s Central High School speak for themselves, but the skill to his game is the real headliner. At 5-11, 220-pounds, Jones is as fast as any other linebacker out there cleaning up the backside in the team’s 4-2-5 scheme and stopping any outside zone before it turns up field. His power not only shows in his hits, but also when shedding blocks to make plays. He put it on opposing Division I California teams in 2019 racking up 85 tackles, 24 solo, with 13 tackles for a loss, five sacks, and two picks in stats posted through 11 games. If that was not enough, Jones lined up in the Grizzlies’ backfield carrying the pigskin 24 times for 95 yards with an impressive 10 touchdowns scored.

Jones’ talents at stopping offenses was instrumental in the Grizzlies 15-0 season capped with a 34-19 championship win over Los Angeles’ Sierra Canyon earning an end of season No. 25 MaxPreps national ranking.

California’s Central Valley is one of the more underrepresented recruiting areas in the country given all the talent within. To shed some light on one of the best players in the nation, I sat down with Jones covering ground on his abilities and recruiting.

Interview

Jekob, I want to start off by congratulating you and the Grizzlies on the perfect season and the state championship win.

“Thank you.”

What was that playoff run like for you colliding against all that top competition?

“It was fun. I loved it. It was the most fun playing football for me. Getting out there playing against everyone as good as me and getting to showcase my skills – it was a lot of fun. Sierra Canyon, playing them was fun and great.”

A linebacker’s speed is not always easy to recognize, but when you picked off that pass returning it for a touchdown, you looked like an All-American sprinter. How fast are you?

(Laughs) “I don’t know. When people see me run, they tell me I am fast. I run faster naturally on the field. I’m not a track guy. I may be the fastest in the Valley at my position. My last 40 was during my sophomore year.”

Another thing that is easy to pick up by watching you play, the opposing teams, especially the running backs, are intimidated by you tip-toeing up to the line knowing they are going to get crushed by you. Do you find that to be true?

(Laughs) “I think so. When running to my side, they try outside runs because it is hard to block me. I can out run them to the outside on a zone if it is coming in my direction. On the backside, I catch the running back going that direction. Up the middle, I fill hard. It is hard for an offensive lineman to knock me off. When I fill, my linebacker next to me will clean it up. Our defense is perfect the way we run it.”

Do any of the running backs and/or linemen try to talk to you during a game to get in your head? If so, what are they saying?

“No, not really. I don’t receive talk, and I don’t talk. I am a quiet guy. I don’t talk like that.”

That does not surprise me. I’m guessing they don’t want to piss you off (laughs). Looks like you guys were running a 4-2-5 last season, or a variation of it. What was your base defense and what were your responsibilities within the scheme?

“Actually, our base is a 3-4 with two ends. We had Ricky Correia at nose, two inside linebackers, and two outside backers. Our outside backers read the tackles. One linebacker seals and the other cleans up. We fill the gap. We stuff the run, seal hard, and we are not shy of contact.”

How did you see your game grow throughout the 2019 season as a linebacker?

“I got better at reading and knowing what the offense is going to run. I was getting smarter at the game, knowing what is coming, and what block I am getting from the lineman. I knew what is coming.”

That hard-nosed toughness you bring to the defense was also used on offense seeing you score the pigskin 10 times off 24 carries. How did the coaches utilize your athleticism on offense last year?

“We have a package, “The Tank Package”. All the big boys in, and I am the QB. We are in a Wildcat offense essentially. We run it up the middle, a power play. We bulldoze everyone ahead of us. It is a great package, and it is hard to stop. All the defenses know it is coming but there is nothing they can do about it.”

When the playoffs hit, which game did you turn in your best performance?

“Oak Ridge, that was fun. That was my best.”

Against Oak Ridge, what did you do well to make that your top game?

“I was flying around everywhere and making plays everywhere.”

What are you working on this offseason?

“Working on trying to get bigger, faster, and stronger. I am working on perfecting my craft, reading, and making my game better.”

Are you receiving extra training? If so, who are you training with this offseason?

“I’m training with T1 Sports Academy.”

How is T1 Sports Academy helping you improve upon your talents?

“It is great. They are great. T1 is like a family. They hold me accountable. They are helping me with my footwork and helping me get stronger in weight room. I love going there working out with all the guys.”

Going into recruiting, which schools are showing interest but have not offered yet?

“UTEP, Cal, Cal-Poly, Davidson, and Yale.”

Which schools have offered?

“Northern Arizona and UC-Davis.”

Are you taking the skills to any camps coming up?

“I may go to The Opening Regional, maybe a Rivals camp, and college camps like Cal, Stanford, and Sac State.”

Jekob, it was great learning more about you and your play on the field today. Thanks for your time and good luck at the upcoming camps.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Central HS/Jones family; No. 6 Jekob Jones