Catching up with Mr. Jones

Andrew Jones wasn't a big name player coming out of Central High School in 2000. His name wasn't on the wish list of every college coach in America. It was quite the opposite for Jones. He had zero scholarship offers coming out of high school. That fact is what makes him want to pass the knowledge he's gained now onto the next generation and make their names known. In high school Jones was a self described stringy player who at 6 feet, 155 pounds wasn't going to blow anyone away with his size. But he started three years at safety for the Braves. His senior season the Braves went 2-8 and the athletic Jones had one option if he was to continue his football career. That option was a tryout with the revitalized football program of Bacone College in Muskogee. At the tryout he impressed coaches with his athleticism and was awarded a partial scholarship. It was at Bacone that Drew went from athlete to football player. He was a starter at safety from day one of his freshman season that ended at 5-5. By his senior season Jones and the Warriors had consecutive 7-4 seasons and Andrew Jones completed his journey from athlete to football player by being named to the NAIA All-American team for the fourth consecutive year. That accomplishment is something that Jones' current head coach still finds amazing. "I don't care if you're playing at OU, NSU, or Bacone. If you're a four year All-American then you're a good football player," Oklahoma Thunder Head Coach Bruce Madden pointed out. With his college career over Jones had a short stint with the Tulsa Talons of AF2. But an injury cut that run short and Jones caught on with a semi-pro team. It was there that Jones and his current head coach Bruce Madden crossed paths. It was during a semi-pro game between the Tulsa Stampede and Tulsa Rhinos that Madden noticed the tall, skinny kid playing strong safety. That tall, skinny safety was Andrew Jones and he didn't just cause problems on defense but he also putting on a show on special teams as a kick returner. After the game Madden spoke with Jones and persuaded Jones into joining the Tulsa Rhinos. Jones followed Madden to the Oklahoma Thunder and is a key component at safety on one of the strongest defenses in all of minor league professional football. "Drew is the poster child for minor league football. He spent some time with the Talons and the indoor game is just not his game. He's just a great football player. He's very instinctive. He and (Joey) Crawford make a great pair, they both have great instincts. He's one of the best players I've had defensively and I'm very proud of what he's done with himself", Madden elaborated upon what makes Jones so special. Those instincts are something that Jones hopes will help him in teaching the next generation of football stars in Tulsa. He would like nothing more than to return to his old stomping grounds and be the head coach of the Central Braves one day. Jones knows there are talented athletes in Tulsa; he however wants to make them talented football players by teaching them the fundamentals. In a sport that has begun to be more flash then substance Jones wants to get down to the basics. "He's very smart. He understands coverage and alignment really well on defense and he makes all our coverage calls. He understands what he sees visually in front of him and makes calls accordingly" Coach Madden explained. It's that understanding and knowledge that Jones looks to pass on. But for now Jones is following younger brother Felix Jones of the Dallas Cowboys and giving winning a championship with the Thunder his full attention.