Sam Jones: DHS's Center of Attention

A four-year starter, first at guard and now center, Decatur’s Sam Jones, son of head coach Price Jones, has sampled the entire spectrum of life in the trenches.

There’s probably no position in sports more inglorious than offensive lineman. If you’re doing your job, then it’s the quarterback and running backs that guzzle champagne. If you get any attention it’s likely because you’ve botched the snap, or been called for a penalty, or you’ve been flattened by a nose guard.

Despite a murky start – Decatur lost two of its first three games, and there’ve been inconsistencies in both pass and run blocking – Sam Jones remains convinced that he and his offensive line colleagues are primed for a big year.

Besides Jones that line consists of left tackle Matthew Shecter, left guard Kyle Kitchens, right guard Marlon Joyner and right tackle Carl Langley. All are seniors except for the talented sophomore Kitchens, who’s replacing senior Sam Weitnauer, likely out for the season with a fractured ankle.

“We’ve all been through a lot together,” Jones said. “We’ve (the seniors) taken our licks the last three years. Now it’s our turn to dish it out.”

Recently the 5-7, 195-pound Jones sat down and verbally dished it out on his team, his goals, his personal background and interests.

Full name and birthday.

Samuel Roselle Jones. I was born Nov. 29, 1993, at Georgia Baptist, but we were living in Jackson, Ga., at the time. I’m the oldest of three. I have two younger sisters.

 Vital stats.

 I bench 355, squat  490, power clean 245.

Religion.

Baptist. Going to church is a big part of our life.

Favorite all-time football player.

David Pollack (three-time All-American defensive lineman at Georgia, 2002, ’03 and ’04). He really inspired me, especially with how hard he worked. 

Favorite athlete other than a football player.

Chipper Jones. Great leader and he’s always doing what he’s supposed to do. 

How long have you been playing football, and what has sustained your love for the sport?

I’ve been playing since I was nine. I think I’m like anybody who plays the game. I love the physicality of it. You can come out here and get your crazy side out. Let all the feelings and emotion out.

Last year Decatur began the season with the fullback option as its primary offense. But midway through the season your dad switched to the I-formation, which the team uses to this day. Do you have a preference?

I personally don’t. But I think as a team, and as a line, the I is a lot better. It’s a lot simpler to block out of. You mostly fire ahead, whereas [in the fullback option] you’re doing a lot of pulling out, and shifting and filling in.

What’s your grade point average?

3.8

Favorite subject.

[Advance Placement] U.S. government. Mr. [Geoff] Koski’s my teacher. A great class.

What are you thinking about as a potential college major?

Even though I’m loving government, I’m thinking I might do some form of a business management major. For a long time I thought I’d go into politics, but now I’m thinking more and more I might want to teach and coach.

Favorite book.

“The Kite Runner” [2003 novel by Khaled Hosseini].

Favorite Movie.

“The Dark Knight.” I like action-packed movies.

Favorite Musical artist.

Kenny Chesney. I like country music in general.

So, unlike your teammate Chris Hambie, you don’t listen to Wacka Flocka Flame?

[laughs] Chris is a great guy, a great teammate. But we definitely have different musical tastes.

Favorite song.

“The Boys of Fall” by Kenny Chesney. I really love the video, where it shows him going back to his old high school and kind of reflecting back on his career. I’m really interested in stuff like that, in taking everything that I’ve already gone through and figuring out how it might apply to the man I’m going to be.

 Favorite TV show.

I’d have to say “Friday Night Lights.” It honestly shows what we go through as high school football players.

Favorite food.

Grandma’s chicken and dumplings.

Midnight snack.

Cereal and pancakes

Person you’d most like to meet.

[University of Georgia coach] Mark Richt. He’s definitely a role model in the way he is with his family, his life and his coaching. Clearly, he’s passionate for the game and his players.

Who’s the most influential person in your life?

That has to be my father. We have a good relationship. Sometimes it’s hard keeping football separate from regular life. But when the game’s going on, or when it’s practice, he’s my coach and not my dad, and he pretty much treats me like any other player.  

 You’re a longtime member of the Family Career and Community Leaders of America or FCCLA. Talk a little about that organization.

I’ve been in it since the seventh grade. I’m now the first Vice President for the state of Georgia. Being an officer involves a certain amount of public speaking, which I enjoy. There’s a lot of emphasis in the FCCLA on family, on creating strong families and strong leaders for the future. We have competitive events where we work on projects that are entered in local, state and national levels. My most recent was a project on career investigation, which is something I’m really interested in. It’s like I said earlier, taking all the things I’ve already learned and applying it to the future.

There are so many student organizations, but this one really fits my outlook and goals. It is a predominantly female organization, which I admit is kind of nice, but that’s not why I chose it. Matter of fact, we could use more male members. 

Between football, school and the FCLAA, it sounds like your plate’s pretty full.

It can get crazy. We have three main [FCLAA] state conferences a year. We have one next week, up in Covington, so I leave right after the [Sept. 22] Therrell game, and then stay up there all weekend and get back just in time for school Monday.

You have any spare time to pursue hobbies?

I love reading the daily sports section, and I don’t mean reading it online. I like to hold the actual paper in my hands, or spread it out over the table while I’m eating cereal. I guess I’m old school.

You’re too young to remember the days when most folks subscribed to both a daily morning and evening paper.

Oh man, two sports sections in one day! That would be awesome.