While Christmas is a time for giving and receiving gifts, Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones has been doling out presents all year. The sophomore from Columbus by way of Southern Cal has been a dominating force for one of the Dogs' most dominant defenses.
He has racked up 69 tackles along with an SEC-leading 13 1/2 sacks and 19 1/2 tackles for loss. He needs just one sack in the Jan. 2 Outback Bowl game against Michigan State to break David Pollack's Georgia record for sacks in a season (14). All of this came after a tumultuous 18-month stretch in which Jones wasn't even sure if he'd be able to play football again following a neck injury.
Now the gifts are coming in for Jones. He was named a first-team All-America by four different outlets, including the Associated Press, the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp and the Football Writers Association of America. He is Georgia's first consensus All-American on defense since Greg Blue in 2005. Before the Bulldogs left Athens for Christmas break, Jones answered some questions about how he feels about his first season at Georgia and why, despite some extremely favorable projections, he chooses to remain a college football player.
Q: Was it one of your preseason goals to earn All-America or all-conference honors?
A: I really didn't have any goals. I just went into the season wanting to leave everything I had out there on the field.
Q: Is it something you even considered?
A: No, I didn't. I didn't even look at it like that. I think I'm more of a team player. I just want to do everything I can to help my team out.
Q: So how does All-American Jarvis Jones sound to you?
A: It's just a blessing for all of us. I know I'm the All-American but it just shows the work that we put in as a group, as a unit. It's more than just me. Look at Bacarri Rambo. He did good work. If you go across the board on our defense, you'll see a bunch of players that stepped up and elevated their games. So all the accolades I got, it wasn't all me. A lot of guys stepped up to get me in position to make plays. I'm just thankful for all the people that had input on that.
Q: What were your personal expectations in the preseason?
A: Preseason, I'm going to tell you, the only thing I knew was I was going to go out there and give it everything I had. I didn't know anything about any awards, no All-American, none of that. I was just trying to prepare myself the best way I could to make plays and help my team out and give my team the best chance of winning.
Q: Did you even fill out the NFL paperwork to receive a draft evaluation?
A: No sir. No reason to.
Q: Aren't you concerned you might be shortchanging yourself?
A: At the end of the day I think everything will work out for itself. I'm not really concerned about that. We're still playing. We're still in season. With all that said, I'm coming back. It is what it is. I've just got to keep working, keep getting better.
Q: What are some of the reasons you don't feel the need to turn pro now?
A: I've still got a lot to learn. It's my first year at my position. I mean, I feel like I've got the best coach and the best group of players around me. I think we can do a lot of stuff here, some great things if we just stick together and believe in each other like we have been. The sky's the limit for us.
I mean, if I did go to the NFL, I could learn that way. I definitely know they'd teach me what I need to know. But here it's just different. You've got guys that you're really bonding with and that you can have fun with. When you get to the NFL, it's a whole different level.
I'm having fun. Being here you can mess up a couple of times. There, man, it's serious. [Those] people pay you to play; we get scholarships here. The NFL, if you can't get it right, they're going to find somebody else. Not saying that I'm not ready for it; I try to prepare myself as well as I can. But it's just a different atmosphere being here.
Q: Have you tried to persuade some of the other guys contemplating the NFL to come back?
A: They know where I stand, man. It's like I told someone earlier, when that decision comes and it's right for you, you just have to make it for you.
Q: You know, if you all you ‘draft-eligibles' come back, there are going to be some huge expectations for the Bulldogs next season.
A: Good. We need all the politics we can get so we can be No. 1 in the country next year. I mean, we want all the pub we can get, great guys coming back. Aaron Murray is a great quarterback. He works hard. I know he's going to take us to the Promised Land. We've just got to keep believing.
Q: How did your experience at USC and the very real possibility that you might not be able to continue your football career affect you?
A: You have mentors and older guys telling you all the time that football doesn't last forever and you better take advantage of it. Not being able to play football, just hearing them say that over and over, it was heartbreaking, it was devastating. But now that I got the opportunity to play again, I try to give everything I've got. I try to seize the moment. You've got to seize the moment. Like they say, any play can be your last play, so you've got to give everything you've got out there on that field, practice, game, whatever.
Q: Have you had a chance to talk to David Pollack about the Georgia sack record?
A: I actually saw him after the SEC game. He was on the sideline and he told me to keep working hard. He told me to go get it. I told him I would.
About the Author
