Jamarco Jones Is Not Your Typical New Starter on the Offensive Line
For the past couple of seasons there has been a sense of calm with respect to the left tackle position at Ohio State. After all, Taylor Decker was around, and that was a guy you knew you could count on.
All that changed when the Fiesta Bowl ended last January. Decker’s college eligibility was exhausted, and that meant there was going to be a new left tackle at Ohio State this fall.
The heir apparent is Jamarco Jones. At 6-4, 305 pounds Jones has the size to play the position. Coming out of high school he was ranked as no worse than the 7th-best offensive tackle in his class and a four-star recruit by every recruiting ranking service. That, you would think, means that he has talent to go with his size.
This is Jones’ third year in the OSU program. That means two years of coaching under Ed Warinner and weight room work with Mickey Marotti have improved his technique, strength and conditioning. The only thing missing from his resume at the moment is The Big E, Experience, but even in that crucial area Jones has an edge. During the past two seasons as an understudy he has gotten some spot play, and that is a huge advantage for the young offensive lineman.
“My freshman year I still remember playing in the Kent State game,” said Jones.
“I played the whole second half. I remember playing in the Big Ten Championship Game and things like that, so playing in those situations has helped me know what to expect.”
Jones wasn’t anything remotely resembling a regular on the offensive line these past two seasons, but got just enough playing time to make him very comfortable in his new position as the front-runner for the left tackle position.
“No, I don’t really feel the pressure,” Jones said.
“I’ve been training for two years. Taylor (Decker), Darryl (Baldwin) and Chase (Farris) have helped me prepare for this moment, to be able to step in when it’s my time. And I feel I’m prepared to do that. So I don’t really feel pressure. I feel like I’m prepared for this.”
Entire article:
http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...our-Typical-New-Starter-on-the-Offensive-Line