Wolves’ DE tops in SBC
It wasn’t that long ago that Ja’Von Rolland-Jones struggled to get on the field consistently for Arkansas State.
The junior defensive end started only one of the team’s first six games. Coaches favored other players because they couldn’t trust Rolland-Jones enough in defending the run.
But after a final month of the season that coaches had long desired from Rolland-Jones, he joined a club that includes only one other ASU player before Wednesday.
Rolland-Jones was named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year on Wednesday when the conference released its yearend awards. The award was based on a vote by coaches and selected media members.
Rolland-Jones finished with 11½ sacks while breaking both the school and
Sun Belt career record. He also tallied 18½ tackles for a loss, tied for most in the Sun Belt, while earning an award that only quarterback Ryan Aplin previously had won for ASU.
He said he learned about the honor in a text message from teammate Chris Odom, who had a case for the award with 12½ sacks but settled for a first-team all-Sun Belt nod.
“I didn’t think I was going to get it,” Rolland-Jones said. “I expected first team, yeah. But not player of the year.”
Rolland-Jones improved upon his shortcomings to reach these heights.
He was a proven pass rusher, entering this season with 17 career sacks, which was tied for sixth on the ASU career list. But after missing five starts early in the year, coaches told him he needed to learn to defend the run.
He started in an Oct. 29 victory over Louisiana-Monroe, accumulating 1 sack and 1½ tackles for a loss, and he hasn’t been out of the lineup since. He had 7½ of his 11½ sacks in the final six games, and 12 of his 18½ tackles for a loss came in the same span. He broke the Sun Belt career record for sacks in a loss to Louisiana-Lafayette and the ASU career record the next week. He has 28½ career sacks with one year to play.
He said the improvement happened gradually.
“It’s really just a day at a time,” he said. “You can’t just flip a switch and say, ‘OK, I’m going to get better at my run defense.’ You’ve got to work at it every day.”
Defensive line coach Brian Early said last month he thinks Odom’s breakout season helped Rolland-Jones’ progress. Odom led the Sun Belt with 12½ sacks and was third in tackles for a loss at 17½.
Odom, Rolland-Jones and safety Money Hunter were first-team Sun Belt picks off ASU’s defense. Left tackle Jemar Clark also was picked for the first team.
ASU’s defense, third in the Sun Belt in scoring defense (22.2 points per game), had second-team selections in linebacker Xavier Woodson-Luster, safety Cody Brown and nickelback Justin Clifton. Blaise Taylor was picked to the second team as a punt returner and Warren Wand was selected as an all-purpose player.
Tight end Blake Mack and offensive lineman Colton Jackson also were picked for the second team.
Defensive tackle Waylon Roberson, wide receiver Kendall Sanders, cornerback Chris Humes and quarterback Justice Hansen each earned honorable mention. Linebacker Kyle Wilson was named to the all-newcomer team. The 16 ASU players who were honored tied for the program’s most ever.
Idaho’s Paul Petrino was named coach of the year after leading the Vandals to an 8-4 season and a spot in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Appalachian State’s Jalin Moore, who led the Sun Belt with 1,367 yards rushing, was Offensive Player of the Year. Troy defensive tackle Rashad Dillard, who had 7½ sacks and 13½ tackles for a loss, was named Defensive Player of the Year.
“You can’t just flip a switch and say, ‘OK, I’m going to get better at my run defense.’ You’ve got to work at it every day.”
Arkansas State defensive end Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year