Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Jones clearing a path to the next level
6/10/2020 5:00:00 PM | Football, BRAA
MURFREESBORO - If anyone on the Middle Tennessee football team has a reason to be angry, it is stellar offensive lineman Robert Jones.
As a youngster growing up in the inner city of Chicago, Jones witnessed strife, struggles and tragedy. He witnessed it, but was never subjected to it.
Jones' mother, Lateasha Hopson, made sure he would overcome a culture of violence by steering him in different directions.
"Growing up it was rough and I saw a lot of different things, bad things, but I had family that kept me out of it," Jones said. "I used what I saw as motivation to do better and not end up like a lot of people I saw."
Instead of becoming part of the climate around him, Jones' motivation guided him down a different path. It was one of hope with the potential for future success. As an alternative to being angry or falling prey to the situation around him, Jones found happiness through the opportunities he was presented.
"I came from a rough place and could have ended up in a lot of different predicaments," Jones said. "I saw my family struggle. I could have ended up in a bad place so I am grateful for all of the opportunities I've been given. It's truly a blessing to go to college and play football."
Jones certainly has overcome the chaos and bedlam that once surrounded him. The 6-foot-5, 319-pound offensive tackle can best be described as a gentle giant who regularly exudes harmony and happiness.
"(Jones) is a great player and a really good leader but what I really appreciate is his spirit. It's not just his energy on the field, but he's always in a good mood," Blue Raider offensive line coach Mike Polly said. "He lives a happy life. Each day when he comes into the meeting room he has a big smile on his face. It's contagious. I was fortunate to recruit him and every time I was around him I noticed that's just the type of guy he is. He loves to laugh and have a good time."
Except when he is between the lines.
"(Jones) is nasty between the lines," Polly said. "His demeanor is different on the field. He is a very athletic guy. The number one thing about Rob is he is a powerful guy who moves people around. We are in the people moving business and he can move people. He is such a powerful person. He's an athletic guy who knows how to control his body."
Jones also is a fast learner.
The 2019 season marked Jones' fifth year of competitive football as he didn't take up the sport until his junior year in high school.
Growing up in Chicago, basketball was king and Jones was an imposing force on the hardcourt.
"Growing up in Chicago everybody wanted to be like Derrick Rose or Michael Jordan," Jones said. "I played basketball. Football was never in the picture."
But when Jones reached high school he was unable to make the basketball team at Rockford East.
"I was just sitting around, doing nothing," Jones said.
Enter coach David Hampton, a former NFL running back who became an assistant coach at Rockford East at the outset of Jones' junior year.
Hampton noticed an imposing force walking the halls who was not on the football team.
Hampton approached the prospect and sparked a relationship that changed the course of Jones' future.
"He came to me and said I was a walking meal ticket," Jones said. "He said with my size I had an opportunity to feed my family and get my family somewhere I never thought I would be. He convinced me to try out for the team. He had played in (the NFL) so I figured he knew what he was talking about."
Jones had a lot to learn in a short time so he put his game into overdrive.
It worked.
After only two seasons of playing competitive football at Rockford East High School, Jones attended Highland (Kansas) Community College. He played two seasons there and started every game of his sophomore season.
Jones was ranked one of the top 25 junior college offensive tackles in the country by 247Sports after two seasons at Highland before landing at Middle Tennessee.
The daunting Jones made an immediate impact at Middle Tennessee and started 11 games as a junior in 2019. He earned honorable mention All C-USA honors after going all season without allowing a sack.
"Rob is a really good player," Polly said. "He is a fast learner. He finished up his junior college degree in May (2019) so last year was his first year at the Division I level and within no time he had earned a starting position. He has prototypical size. There are a lot of good offensive linemen out there who are not blessed with size, but Rob has the size to go with his ability."
As a result, Jones is attracting the attention of professional football scouts.
"Even though I got a late start it has been my goal to make the (NFL) since I started playing football my junior year of high school," Jones said. "I had a lot of catching up to do so I play with a chip on my shoulder. When I go on the field I can't let anyone outplay me. I want to dominate and do my best no matter what."
Jones is happiest when he's on the gridiron or around his teammates.
Football has become Jones' happy place though he has a knack for making it very unpleasant for those going against him.
As a youngster growing up in the inner city of Chicago, Jones witnessed strife, struggles and tragedy. He witnessed it, but was never subjected to it.
Jones' mother, Lateasha Hopson, made sure he would overcome a culture of violence by steering him in different directions.
"Growing up it was rough and I saw a lot of different things, bad things, but I had family that kept me out of it," Jones said. "I used what I saw as motivation to do better and not end up like a lot of people I saw."
Instead of becoming part of the climate around him, Jones' motivation guided him down a different path. It was one of hope with the potential for future success. As an alternative to being angry or falling prey to the situation around him, Jones found happiness through the opportunities he was presented.
"I came from a rough place and could have ended up in a lot of different predicaments," Jones said. "I saw my family struggle. I could have ended up in a bad place so I am grateful for all of the opportunities I've been given. It's truly a blessing to go to college and play football."
Jones certainly has overcome the chaos and bedlam that once surrounded him. The 6-foot-5, 319-pound offensive tackle can best be described as a gentle giant who regularly exudes harmony and happiness.
"(Jones) is a great player and a really good leader but what I really appreciate is his spirit. It's not just his energy on the field, but he's always in a good mood," Blue Raider offensive line coach Mike Polly said. "He lives a happy life. Each day when he comes into the meeting room he has a big smile on his face. It's contagious. I was fortunate to recruit him and every time I was around him I noticed that's just the type of guy he is. He loves to laugh and have a good time."
Except when he is between the lines.
"(Jones) is nasty between the lines," Polly said. "His demeanor is different on the field. He is a very athletic guy. The number one thing about Rob is he is a powerful guy who moves people around. We are in the people moving business and he can move people. He is such a powerful person. He's an athletic guy who knows how to control his body."
Jones also is a fast learner.
The 2019 season marked Jones' fifth year of competitive football as he didn't take up the sport until his junior year in high school.
Growing up in Chicago, basketball was king and Jones was an imposing force on the hardcourt.
"Growing up in Chicago everybody wanted to be like Derrick Rose or Michael Jordan," Jones said. "I played basketball. Football was never in the picture."
But when Jones reached high school he was unable to make the basketball team at Rockford East.
"I was just sitting around, doing nothing," Jones said.
Enter coach David Hampton, a former NFL running back who became an assistant coach at Rockford East at the outset of Jones' junior year.
Hampton noticed an imposing force walking the halls who was not on the football team.
Hampton approached the prospect and sparked a relationship that changed the course of Jones' future.
"He came to me and said I was a walking meal ticket," Jones said. "He said with my size I had an opportunity to feed my family and get my family somewhere I never thought I would be. He convinced me to try out for the team. He had played in (the NFL) so I figured he knew what he was talking about."
Jones had a lot to learn in a short time so he put his game into overdrive.
It worked.
After only two seasons of playing competitive football at Rockford East High School, Jones attended Highland (Kansas) Community College. He played two seasons there and started every game of his sophomore season.
Jones was ranked one of the top 25 junior college offensive tackles in the country by 247Sports after two seasons at Highland before landing at Middle Tennessee.
The daunting Jones made an immediate impact at Middle Tennessee and started 11 games as a junior in 2019. He earned honorable mention All C-USA honors after going all season without allowing a sack.
"Rob is a really good player," Polly said. "He is a fast learner. He finished up his junior college degree in May (2019) so last year was his first year at the Division I level and within no time he had earned a starting position. He has prototypical size. There are a lot of good offensive linemen out there who are not blessed with size, but Rob has the size to go with his ability."
As a result, Jones is attracting the attention of professional football scouts.
"Even though I got a late start it has been my goal to make the (NFL) since I started playing football my junior year of high school," Jones said. "I had a lot of catching up to do so I play with a chip on my shoulder. When I go on the field I can't let anyone outplay me. I want to dominate and do my best no matter what."
Jones is happiest when he's on the gridiron or around his teammates.
Football has become Jones' happy place though he has a knack for making it very unpleasant for those going against him.
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