Elon University senior linebacker Joshua Jones was named to several All-American teams after this past season. The Pendulum asked him about those selections, his senior season and his future.
Q: How do you feel overall about your senior season at Elon?
A: We grew a lot throughout the season as a team. We had a few growing pains midway through the season, but we were able to come together and play well down the stretch. With a new coaching staff and new schemes, it usually takes a while to iron out all of the wrinkles, and when we finally started clicking, we became a very good team.
Q: You have watched junior wide receiver Aaron Mellette make a few All-American teams. You have also been named to a few of them yourself. Describe the moment when you first received the news you had been named to an All-America team.
A: I was actually sleeping and got a text from one of our former coaches congratulating me. I was still a little dazed from being asleep so I had to go and look on the Elon website to confirm it. It felt great though, to know that my efforts did not go unnoticed. This was the hardest I ever worked in an off-season and it paid off.
Q: Is there any disappointment or regret about the Appalachian State game Nov. 29, 2011, and how it ended? Why or why not?
A: There are no regrets at all about the game. When, as a team, you can come off the field knowing that everyone played their absolute hardest, you never have any regrets. I felt that all of my teammates left everything on the field that night, so it makes a loss a little bit easier to swallow. The only disappointment I have is that App State will always be the only SoCon team I did not get a victory against in my career. The future of Elon looks great, however, and I expect them to get it done soon.
Q: Describe the pick-six play you had against Furman. Was that the biggest play of your career, in your opinion?
A: We were running a man blitz and I was originally man-to-man on the running back. The tight end motioned over, making him my new responsibility. He ran an out-cut and I just broke on the ball. I had been having a good game to that point, but it just put me over the top. I do think it was the best play of my career. Their tight end was the leading receiver that game and it helped ice a big win for the football team. The feeling of getting into the end zone was incredible.
Q: Tell me about the personality of the defensive side of the ball for Elon.
A: The personality of the defense is a relentless bunch of guys that, over all things, make sure all 11 players are around the football. Missed tackles and mistakes in scheme happen on all levels of football from little league up to the NFL. Those mistakes are minimized when teammates are around to back you up. This is why we harp on running to the football more than anything.
Q: What are your plans post-Elon?
A: Shortly after the season ended, I signed with an agency. I’m currently training right now in hopes to get an opportunity to extend my playing career. I’m not quite ready yet to hang my pads up for good.