Ole Miss Football: Know Your Coaches, Jason Jones, Secondary
Welcome to another edition in the series Know Your Coaches. This time we get to know Ole Miss football secondary coach Jason Jones.
Ole Miss football has seen quite a few new faces around the coaching staff. However, there are still a few familiar faces in Oxford. One of those staff members retained from last season is secondary coach Jason Jones. Trust me, I’m happy we kept him and promoted him.
Coach Jones is entering fifth season as a coach for the Rebels. For the past four seasons he has coached corner-backs specifically. Of course, he has also served as co-defensive coordinator those four seasons as well. Co-DC is where he will continue to serve, however this season he steps up from corner-backs and is taking over the entire secondary. Everything.
So, how does this fare for a relatively young crop of DB’s this season? Ole Miss football fans know we have to have better secondary play this season. Last year was miserably bad by the time injuries and lack of depth decimated our secondary. I believe it gets better for the Rebels secondary because now coach Jones has a new defensive coordinator in Wesley McGriff and he has them motivated.
Also, this Rebels secondary is going to be far better this season with Webster healthy and the addition of some really good freshman talent. Of course, these DBs have some talent in this man as well. Coach Jason Jones knows what he’s doing.
What Coach Jones Brings
Ole Miss Rebels Football
A 2001 graduate of Alabama, Jason Jones was a Crimson Tide starter at defensive back for two seasons. Coach Jones was also a part of two SEC Championships at Bama.
If we look at his four seasons while in Oxford he has played a huge part in the success he had in the first three.
It’s hard to look at the past four years and the names Senquez Golson, Tony Conner and Mike Hilton don’t pop out. Of course, their experience is now gone and we are left with a fairly young secondary. However, don’t count them out, they are very talented.
And Ole Miss isn’t his first rodeo. He has had success at every spot he’s coached because he had talent at every spot. This Rebels secondary is no different. This is talent. Of course, with Ken Webster, CJ Moore, CJ Hampton and Myles Hartfield, among other returners, you get some experience and depth.
With the addition of freshmen DD Bowie, CJ Miller, AJ Harris and Breon Dixon you get some explosive young talent. Coach Jones can certainly repeat on some of his past success at Ole Miss with this secondary this season. Overall this season could be a repeat of 2014. According to OleMissSports.com,
"In 2014, Jones turned one of the most inexperienced units the previous year into one of the most dominant. His corner-backs helped Ole Miss lead the nation in scoring defense (16.0) and fewest touchdowns allowed (24). ~OleMissSports,com"
The whole experience of last season will help these guys this season. Last season we were plagued by injuries on the defensive side of the ball. The key to success for this secondary is staying healthy enough early in the season to condition much needed younger depth.
Coach Jason Jones has things squarely in his sights as he prepares his squad for South Alabama. I believe we see more of the ball hawks this season and it begins with the Jags on September 2nd in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Thanks coach Jones for all your hard work and good luck this season. Hotty Toddy!