Dre’Mont Jones’ name has come up on more than one occasion this spring.
And more often than not, it has been Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer doing the praising.
“Dre’Mont Jones is really turning into a fine player here for us,” Meyer said last week.
Everybody has heard it, too. Well, almost everybody.
“Did he? I didn’t even know that,” Jones said Thursday. “For real? Thank you, Coach Meyer.”
The Buckeyes’ redshirt sophomore defensive tackle received quite a few compliments from Meyer as well as other Ohio State players and coaches. His improvement is rather obvious from talking to others, and Jones is expected to have a big season on the interior of an insanely talented defensive line.
“Just the maturity and growing. He’s really growing a lot,” defensive line coach Larry Johnson said of Jones. “He’s locked in. He’s done a great job academic-wise in the classroom. A really smart football player, his football IQ is really high.”
“Now, just the ability to grow and he’s really done that. He’s had a great spring.”
After starting three-technique Tracy Sprinkle suffered a serious injury in Ohio State’s season-opener, Jones was thrust into the role and excelled. As just a redshirt freshman playing his first collegiate season, the Cleveland native recorded 52 tackles — most among Buckeyes’ defensive linemen.
It was a rather impressive debut season when you consider Jones is almost completely new to the position. He played defensive end in high school at powerhouse St. Ignatius, but his transition to the interior of Ohio State’s defensive line has been smooth thus far. Jones has a unique quickness and skill set for a defensive tackle and his motor reminds Johnson of one of the best players he ever coached.
“He’s close to Tamba Hali. Tamba Hali was like that. He would run all day long,” Johnson said. “Dre’Mont is like that. Dre’Mont can run like a running back. He’s a very smooth transitional player and is in great shape. Dre’Mont is one of those guys that is in shape all the time because he runs. I think that’s what makes a difference. He can go get the football.”
Last season, Jones primarily played on first and second downs for Ohio State and came off the field in passing situations as the Buckeyes utilized their famed ‘Rushmen’ package. That was part of the reason why Jones didn’t register a sack last season; he was rarely on the field — if at all — during obvious passing downs.
That might not be the case this season. There has been some recent discussion about Ohio State utilizing a package with five defensive linemen that include Jones and the Buckeyes’ four talented defensive ends.
Jones said he’s worked at length on his pass-rushing skills throughout spring ball.
“That’s what Coach Johnson emphasizes a lot is just getting to the quarterback, getting to the quarterback, getting to the quarterback,” he said. “That became my philosophy too so I’m eager to get to the quarterback every trip, it doesn’t matter if it’s run or pass.”
Perhaps that willingness to improve is what has Meyer, Johnson and Co. singing Jones’ praises so often this spring — even if Jones himself doesn’t hear it.
“I’m very eager,” he said. “I didn’t know about it until now so thank y’all, but I’m glad [Meyer] mentioned me.”
It certainly won’t be the last time.
