Photo by: Chamberlain Smith/MSU Athletics
Jones Anxious For Gridiron Return
August 26, 2021 | Football
STARKVILLE – When Mississippi State's season opener finally rolls around next Saturday it will have been 672 days since Nick Jones last suited up to play in a football game.
Jones' previous school, East Mississippi Community College, canceled its 2020 season due to the pandemic forcing the now redshirt sophomore offensive lineman to be away from the sport that he cherishes.
 "It was a hard pill to swallow," Jones said. "But everything happens for a reason."
Instead of moping around last fall with no football practice or games, Jones began preparing for the next phase of his career. The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder flipped his commitment from Southern Miss to MSU in September and was "working out, running, doing drills and perfecting my craft" on his own time.
Jones was also focused in on his schoolwork. His grades prevented him from qualifying out of Byhalia (Miss.) High School and his time in Scooba taught him the value of his education.
"It made me start taking school seriously," Jones said.
With his newfound appreciation for academics, Jones was able to reach NCAA requirements in only a year and a half and enrolled at Mississippi State in January.
Jones is also grateful for his experience on the field at EMCC. He appeared in 10 games in 2019 and earned second team MACJC All-North honors.
"It really prepared me a lot and helped me out with the position that I'm playing now," Jones said. "I was going against big people at EMCC and now I'm going against a little more bigger."
Jones went through spring drills with the Bulldogs and is learning several positions along the line. He has been a left tackle throughout most of his career but is also now working some at guard.
"It's really not that big of a deal," Jones said of playing guard. "It's really the same thing, just stuff happens a little bit faster."
Jones is under the guidance of offensive line coach Mason Miller, who brings a blue-collar approach to practice each day.
"He's a hardworking type of guy and wants everybody to be perfect," Jones said.
It was Miller and Mississippi State's track record of advancing offensive lineman to the NFL that influenced Jones to choose the Bulldogs over 10 other scholarship offers during the recruiting process, including Oklahoma State.
"They're really good at developing O-linemen," Jones said. "I think they can develop me and help me get to where I'm trying to go."
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Jones' previous school, East Mississippi Community College, canceled its 2020 season due to the pandemic forcing the now redshirt sophomore offensive lineman to be away from the sport that he cherishes.
 "It was a hard pill to swallow," Jones said. "But everything happens for a reason."
Instead of moping around last fall with no football practice or games, Jones began preparing for the next phase of his career. The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder flipped his commitment from Southern Miss to MSU in September and was "working out, running, doing drills and perfecting my craft" on his own time.
Jones was also focused in on his schoolwork. His grades prevented him from qualifying out of Byhalia (Miss.) High School and his time in Scooba taught him the value of his education.
"It made me start taking school seriously," Jones said.
With his newfound appreciation for academics, Jones was able to reach NCAA requirements in only a year and a half and enrolled at Mississippi State in January.
Jones is also grateful for his experience on the field at EMCC. He appeared in 10 games in 2019 and earned second team MACJC All-North honors.
"It really prepared me a lot and helped me out with the position that I'm playing now," Jones said. "I was going against big people at EMCC and now I'm going against a little more bigger."
Jones went through spring drills with the Bulldogs and is learning several positions along the line. He has been a left tackle throughout most of his career but is also now working some at guard.
"It's really not that big of a deal," Jones said of playing guard. "It's really the same thing, just stuff happens a little bit faster."
Jones is under the guidance of offensive line coach Mason Miller, who brings a blue-collar approach to practice each day.
"He's a hardworking type of guy and wants everybody to be perfect," Jones said.
It was Miller and Mississippi State's track record of advancing offensive lineman to the NFL that influenced Jones to choose the Bulldogs over 10 other scholarship offers during the recruiting process, including Oklahoma State.
"They're really good at developing O-linemen," Jones said. "I think they can develop me and help me get to where I'm trying to go."
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