Nothing Dawand Jones has experienced during the NFL draft process so far has come as a big surprise to the former Ohio State offensive tackle.
Because so many of his teammates during his first three years at Ohio State have already gone through the NFL draft process, Jones felt like he knew what to expect when he officially declared for the 2023 NFL draft last month.
“I kinda got a little inside scoop from last year and all my years past, obviously from everybody else, like from Justin (Fields), a couple guys that already went through it,” Jones told Eleven Warriors. “So I kind of had a feel for it, I just feel like I had to go do it. It was my time. So it’s gone well for the most part.”
A second-team All-Big Ten honoree in both of his two seasons as Ohio State’s starting right tackle, Jones believes his four years with the Buckeyes prepared him well for the next step of his career. He specifically credits Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye, who coached Jones for his final season as a Buckeye, with helping him develop into the player he is now.
“He just believed in me, honestly. Worked with me every day, whether it was on or off the field, making sure I was taken care of,” Jones said of Frye. “When we watched some of the drills that they were doing from the NFL, they were breaking them down, those were drills we were already doing. So I feel like in that aspect, giving us that platform already, it made me a better player … once I got into games and stuff like that, I felt more confident.”
A lot of hard work was put into this I wouldnt be here in this position without my dawg Coach Frye Gonna miss you https://t.co/tPboAbpthX
— Dawand Jones (@dawandj79) February 3, 2023
Jones started the NFL draft process by going to the Senior Bowl, where he made an immediate impression with a dominant first day of practice. That would end up being Jones’ only on-field work of the week, as he suffered a head injury that prevented him from participating in subsequent practices and playing in the game. Jones says he still had a good experience overall in Mobile, though, as he was still able to go through the interview process with NFL teams.
“They just put me in some sunglasses and let me go, so it was still good for me,” Jones said. “I feel like getting that experience, coaches seeing that I was at least trying to put work in and talk to them under my condition, it went well.”
Thank you, @JimNagy_SB, for the great experience. Though I was limited to one practice for the week, thank you to your training staff for taking care of me for the week! pic.twitter.com/9ofix3bcd3
— Dawand Jones (@dawandj79) February 6, 2023
Even though he was able to participate in only one practice at the Senior Bowl, that one day seemingly only helped his draft stock. By the time that practice was over, many NFL draft analysts were talking about Jones as a potential first-round pick, and that buzz has continued in the weeks since.
With 7-foot-5 reach & light feet like this, how are rushers supposed to get around Ohio States Dawand Jones? Weve had numerous NFL scouts tell us hes a better version of Chiefs 4x Pro Bowler Orlando Brown Jr. (and we agree). Sounds like 1st rounder.#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE pic.twitter.com/vfS3zlhVvS
— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) February 16, 2023
Jones says he’s trying not to get caught up in the hype knowing the NFL draft is still more than two months away.
“I definitely try to kind of block it out,” Jones said. “It's starting to seem surreal, but you just gotta stick with your head down and keep going to work every day.”
The next step of the draft process comes in two weeks at the NFL Scouting Combine, where Jones hopes to run the 40-yard dash in less than five seconds. He acknowledges that might be a lofty goal, considering he weighs 365 pounds, but he doesn’t feel it’s unrealistic after seeing Mekhi Becton run a 5.1-second 40 at 364 pounds at the 2021 NFL Combine.
“You want to set goals. You may not reach them, but at least you want to set them,” Jones said. “That’s definitely one of my goals.”
The combine will also give Jones another opportunity to go through the interview circuit with NFL teams, where he wants to show just how much he loves and cares about football. Because Jones initially wanted to play college basketball, some NFL scouts have questioned Jones’ passion for football, but he says they have no reason to worry about that.
“If you turn on the tape, you can kind of just see the reasons of why I love the game. I love the hustle, I love everything that comes with it,” Jones said. “I feel like now, it’s to the point where I die with it. It's not because of the money, it’s because I have fun with the game.”
Dawand Jones made a big impression during his only day of practice at the Senior Bowl. (Photo: Vasha Hunt – USA TODAY Sports)
Jones has been training for the combine in Los Angeles with Travelle Gaines, a renowned trainer who has worked with many notable NFL players such as Myles Garrett, DK Metcalf and Kayvon Thibodeaux, while he’s practiced interviewing with former Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo. He is still working to lose five more pounds to get down to 360, but he’s already lost 10 pounds since he weighed in at the Senior Bowl.
“I told all the scouts, I probably would be like in the 360 range. They was fine with it. They know what kind of player they’re getting. So I want to be at 360,” Jones said. “I think I'm almost there at 365, I just need five more pounds. I get five more pounds, there’s more money.”
Jones didn’t necessarily expect to be a future early-round NFL draft pick when he arrived at Ohio State in 2019 ranked as the No. 1,043 overall prospect in his recruiting class. Once he started seeing his teammates go on to play in the NFL, however, Jones started to believe he would follow in their footsteps.
“As a freshman, you just don't think like that,” Jones said. “But then you see all the guys go after the first year and you’re like ‘You could do it,’ especially when your coaches tell you and all your teammates tell you that you can be on the next level.”
Now that Jones is on the precipice of becoming one of Ohio State’s next NFL players, he says his advice to the Buckeyes’ current players is the same advice he gave himself.
“Keep your head down, never get too high, never get too low,” Jones said. “Never hear anything from outsiders, for the most part. Just keep working every day. Get better than you did yesterday.”
