Why this was an important spring for Ernest Jones
SOUTH CAROLINA GAMECOCKS FOOTBALL
One player’s misfortune is another player’s opportunity.
The Gamecocks have been without starting middle linebacker TJ Brunson all spring, missing the senior’s leadership on the field, but it has proven to be a positive for some of the younger players.
With Brunson out, it’s made Sherrod Greene grow into a new role but it’s also giving sophomore linebacker Ernest Jones a chance to get starter reps at the middle linebacker spot.
“It’s awesome. In a weird way it’s a good thing. I can’t wait to get TJ back; he’s one of the leaders of our defense, of our team but this has put Ernest in a great spot as the starting MIKE, starting leader, starting communicator,” linebackers coach Coleman Hutzler said. “And it’s put Sherrod in a great spot. Now eyes are on him and people are looking to him for leadership. In a backwards way it’s a positive.”
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Jones, who battled a back injury at the start of his freshman season only to come on strong the last quarter of the year, has stepped in and thrived from the start of spring practice while learning what it takes to succeed as the middle of the Gamecocks’ defense.
The defensive staff asks a lot of their middle linebackers, wanting them to control the defense and make sure everyone’s in the right spot pre-snap then having them cover and defend the run as the centerpiece of the unit.
As spring practice comes to an end this week, his teammates have seen a marked improvement from Jones compared to where he was last year.
“It’s just getting him comfortable and to the point where he has to lead the defense as the MIKE,” Greene said. “Communication is key at that position and TJ’s absence is helping him with the communication on the defensive side of the ball. He’s been doing a great job, too.”
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Jones played in five games last year, making what he called an easy decision to burn his redshirt in the Belk Bowl last December.
In five games, he made 16 tackles and forced a fumble taking some pressure off Brunson at the middle linebacker spot.
Another year stronger and more experience, Jones is showing he’s hopefully ready to take on a bigger role this fall.
“I know he was out pretty much with a back injury but he’s been balling out this spring,” Greene said. “It’s fun playing beside him.”
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Jones knows it’ll be a tall task to usurp Brunson and his starting role this season with the senior entering his third year as the team’s starting MIKE, but wants to make it a hard decision on the coaching staff.
He said he’s going to do his best to push Brunson for the starting job while learning all he can from the senior and hopefully it leads to more snaps as a sophomore.
“He’s a senior so he’s got that extra leverage being that he’s older. But I’m going to come in and I’m going to work and I’m going to learn from him,” Jones said. “From then on, I’m going to let it be up to the coaches.”
