Jones fulfills father’s dream
After losing his dad to COVID-19, Oscar Smith defensive lineman has sparked team’s dominance
Caleb Jones never needed a reason to give his all when he stepped on the football field.
Jones’ parents, Darrell Sr. and Cassandra, brought him up to honor God, be respectful and kind to others and do his best in everything.
But during this spring high school football season, Jones has been given extra motivation.
On Aug. 21, Darrell Sr. died from COVID-19.
In what had already been a trying time, Jones lost his biggest fan.
“He always cheered me on everywhere we went,” Jones said. “He was always telling people that I was the best player he ever watched or the best athlete he’d ever seen. He always talked about me.”
After his father died, Jones’ mother was worried. She wanted to make sure that Jones — along with her other six children — expressed how they felt after such a traumatic experience. She could see a change in her son.
“I was very concerned because at first, it didn’t seem like he wanted to play anymore after his dad passed,” Cassandra said. “But I kept giving him positive incentives, saying ‘You can do it. You have to fulfill your dad’s dream.’ ”
Jones took her words to heart. And now he’s making the most of every opportunity.
On Thursday, he will lead No. 1 seed Oscar Smith when the Tigers host No. 4 Grassfield in the Class 6 Region A semifinals. The game, which begins at 6:15 p.m., was moved from Friday to Thursday due to the threat of inclement weather.
This season — in just five games — the 6-foot, 310-pound defensive lineman has 32 tackles, including 22 for loss. He also has nine sacks. He’s been an integral part of an Oscar Smith defense that has allowed just six points.
“Football just gives me so much energy. It’s so much fun to just tackle the quarterback,” Jones said, laughing. “My dad’s passing gave me that bigger boost to go and do what he wanted me to do when he was alive.”
The Tigers have outscored opponents 284-6 and had gone 17 consecutive quarters without allowing a point before Indian River scored in last week’s regular-season finale.
Oscar Smith defensive coordinator Ray Gatlin said the unit’s success starts with Jones in the middle.
“Caleb makes calling defense pretty easy,” Gatlin said. “He
demands a double team most of the time. And when they doubleteam him, that means somebody else is free. That helps our defense out a lot.”
Defensive line coach Rashad Lilly calls Jones the “anchor” of the line and one of the most dominant defensive players he’s seen.
“He’s a force and has to be accounted for on every play,” Lilly said. “If not, he’s going to terrorize opposing offenses.”
Oscar Smith coach Chris Scott knew Jones was going to be special the first time he saw him. Scott was impressed with Jones’ work ethic.
But he admits that he was concerned about how Jones would respond after his father’s death because Scott lost his mother at a young age.
“I knew it was going to affect him and impact him just because of how close they were, and how much he loved his dad,” Scott said. “I felt like Caleb at the end of the day was going to do everything he had to do to honor his dad, and honor all things that he ever taught him. As long as he keeps doing that, then his dad’s spirit will always live through him, and it will be his way to continue to honor him.”
Even Jones’ mother is impressed by her son’s play.
“I just feel so proud and so excited because I’m looking for him to do a great job, each and every time,” she said. “It’s a good feeling.”
Jones didn’t play much as a freshman. But as a sophomore, he finished with 90 tackles and 14 sacks to earn All-Tidewater and all-state honors.
So far, he has scholarship offers from Southern Mississippi and Morgan State, but those are expected to be joined by others
after his play this spring.
Jones is undersized for an interior lineman, but he’s not concerned about the doubters and points out that Los Angeles Rams All-Pro Aaron Donald at 6-1 is one of the NFL’s most feared defensive players.
“That motivates me a lot,” Jones said. “Aaron Donald is probably the best defensive tackle that I’ve seen play the game. And that’s my favorite player because he’s about my height and he’s doing things that people never thought he could do.”
Gatlin says the same thing about Jones.
“Once you look at that film, it’s going to be hard to turn that guy down just because of what he brings to the table,” Gatlin said. “His variables might not be what they’re looking for, but if you look at the film, you can see that he dominate.”
Jones, who has a 3.8 grade-point average, said he just wants to keep honoring his father.
“Always,” he said with a smile. “I know he’s over my head, protecting me and watching me.”