TRANSFER DJ JONES FINDING HIS PLACE ON UAB’S OFFENSIVE LINE

Transfer DJ Jones (78) finding his place on UAB’s offensive line.

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - April 3, 2024

In one way, DJ Jones’ tape from four seasons at Murray State lied just a bit. And that’s a good thing.

“He’s more athletic than we saw on tape,” UAB head coach Trent Dilfer said when asked about early impressions of the key transfer portal addition at offensive tackle.

Jones certainly looks the part, there is no doubting that. He’s listed at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds. Honestly, he looks a little taller when in uniform, even amongst a group that includes several tall tackles. However, simply looking the part was not Jones’ objective when spring practice opened.

“I feel like I had that ability in me and that’s one of the reasons I came here,” Jones said. “If they didn’t think I could do it right away then they wouldn’t have brought me in. I felt pressure but then again it was an opportunity.”

There was a time when football wasn’t in the picture for Jones, largely because his parents didn’t want him to play the sport. Jones’ first love in sports was a basketball, which began as a youngster and continued in his time at Jackson High, a Class 4A school in Southwest Alabama. It wasn’t until the eighth grade that Jones finally joined the football team. He was selected to the all-state team as a senior.

“(The coaches) saw something in me and asked me to give it a try,” said Jones, who already towered over his classmates. “Ever since I started playing, I fell in love with the game. My parents were scared for me, nervous. I finally convinced them to give me a shot. They finally gave in and agreed. It just went on up from there.”

Jones said he had a scholarship offer from South Alabama but it was pulled late in the recruiting process. His next best offer, Jones said, was Murray State. He played in 30 games over four seasons at the FCS school with starts in the final 22. After the season, he made the decision to step up another level in his final college season.  

“I really just wanted to play at a higher level, just prove my ability more to the (professional) scouts,” Jones said. “They wanted to see that from me and I think I can get that here. On my visits (to UAB), they showed me around, showed me how they could improve me and my abilities. I just loved it here.”

UAB coaches were looking to upgrade a position that had struggles last season, partly because of untimely injuries. Dilfer and his staff found what they hoped was immediate help in the transfer portal with Jones and offensive guard JonDarius Morgan (South Carolina).

Morgan played well early in spring practice before being sidelined. Jones has played well throughout.

“I think the biggest thing from (Jones) is he responded to Group of Five football really well,” Dilfer said. “That’s always (the thing), who he’s playing against at his old school against who is he playing against here. I like that he knows he’s got to get better. He’s not a guy who is comfortable where he’s at. Every day he’s striving to get better.”

Jones quickly moved in with the first team at right tackle. He’s held on to a spot with the first group and also has experimented some at the opposite tackle.

“With DJ, he came in and cemented himself as a professional from day one,” said Matt McCants, who is serving as the Blazers’ offensive line coach this spring. “His ability to catch on has been really quite rapid. He hasn’t that adjustment that you kind of see from small school, jumping up to higher level. That adjustment has been very minor. It’s been really good having a guy who’s played a lot of ball that you can plug and play in certain situations. Just to see where does he play best, who does he fit best by (on the line) and ultimately to put him in the best position to not only make him successful, make us successful.”

McCants smiled when asked if Jones is always as soft spoken as he seemed during an interview after practice earlier this week.

“He’s quite a beast on the field,” McCants said. “We have a little thing we do, every time he’s on the field, I remind him that he has a son and the strength he has from that. I always tell him to make sure he uses it. When he uses it, he’s really powerful. It’s going to be exciting in the fall, seeing him do some really good things for the Blazers.”