Pete Ellis
After the football team snapped its nine-game losing streak with a win against Wofford last Saturday, the locker room was silent, unsure of how to express the long-missed feeling of victory.
It took redshirt senior linebacker Ernest Jones to snap the silence and begin the celebration.
“E.J. got us all together and was like, ‘We just won a game,'” junior tailback Andre Brown said. “And then everybody started yelling and stuff. And we got into it.”
According to senior tight end Marcus Stone, Jones’ personality and sense of humor is contagious among teammates.
“There’s a charismatic aspect about Ernest,” Stone said. “He’s easy to get somebody laughing when they’re down and after the game. He’s always there to make a good mood.”
On the field however, Jones isn’t as vocal, according to linebackers coach Andy McCollum. His leadership shows through actions more than words.
“He’s not a vocal guy,” McCollum said. “But he has a great attitude, a great work ethic. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s been a leader.”
And in the same way that Jones’ vocal tendencies change on and off the field, so does his personality.
“I kind of have two personalities,” Jones said. “On the football field I’m kind of like a killer. But in everyday life, I’m the nicest guy you’ll ever meet.”
Jones has been given the nickname “Killer” by teammates for his aggression and hard hits, yet when not playing football he works helping local youth at the Avent House in Raleigh and is “fascinated with working with senior citizens and troubled youth.”
Jones said his attitude toward helping the community comes from being raised in Henderson, N.C., where he saw a good deal of gang violence growing up.
“I come from a pretty bad environment back home,” Jones said. “I actually have a bullet hole on the front of my car. We have a lot of gangs and a lot of violence and things like that. I’m trying to be a role model to the guys in my neighborhood, because every time I go home, they look up to me.”
Jones has had his share of hardships on the field as well. Since arriving at State, he has had four different linebackers coaches, two different head coaches and has battled through injuries and lack of playing time, waiting four years for his starting spot.
Under former coach Chuck Amato, Jones spent a majority of his time on special teams. This season, Jones leads the team with 25 tackles.
“College is all about being patient,” Jones said. “I knew I had to wait my turn in order to get more playing time. I’ve been waiting about five years now, so it’s definitely my turn to help the team out the best that I can.”
This weekend, Jones and his defense will have their hands full against a Clemson team that averages 391 yards and four touchdowns per game on the ground.
McCollum said he is confident in his linebackers following Jones’ example to stop the run. “What I want him to do is lead by example, and that’s everyday he comes out here,” McCollum said. “He’s busting his butt to get better. And it shows on the field.”
According to Jones, the task of slowing down Clemson running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller will be tough for the Pack, though the team looks forward to redemption after past struggles.State has allowed an average of 216 yards rushing in its first three games.
“They have two pretty good running backs,” Jones said. “It will be great to showcase how much we’ve improved since the first game.”
McCollum said the entire defense will need to step up to keep a dangerous Clemson offense in check.
“Everybody on defense has to do their job,” McCollum said. “It doesn’t take one guy. It takes 11. Everybody has to do their job. It’s going take a team effort.”
Also according to Stone, Pack fans can only hope the team, both offensively and defensively, matures at the rate of Ernest Jones.
“Ernest has always been a hard worker, ever since he came,” Stone said. “He was quiet the first couple years I got to know him. Now that we’ve got close, he’s a lot more vocal. He’s a hard worker on the field and in the weight room. And off the field he’s a great person.”
As Jones looks to lead his defense against the statistical odds Saturday, he also hopes his progress on the field will inspire others in all aspects of life.
“I went from being redshirted to now starting on a pretty nice football squad,” Jones said. “That’s pretty good ambition for those who are trying to make it from the bottom to the top. Just keep working and be patient, and one day your dreams will come true.”
Ernest Jones on:
Choosing N.C. State “State was a nice Division-I program and was also very local. It’s a big-time program that’s right down the road from my house. I knew it would be a good opportunity.”
Serial Killers “I like to read about serial killers. I know about just about every specific serial killer that we’ve had in history. I’m trying to go to the FBI one day so I can learn more about that.”
UFOs “I definitely believe in UFOs. I love UFOs. You know, since I was a kid, I’ve always been fascinated by unidentified objects in the sky. I used to look outside to the sky every night, just to find a UFO… I have a feeling there’s something out there now. We just don’t know about it.”
The Government and Football“The legislative branch is like the coaches or what not, creating the plays. And you have to go out there and execute, which is a part of the executive branch. So we [players] have to go out there and execute what the legislative branch passes down to us. And the judicial part of it is the officials.”
On who inspired him to play football“Probably Deion Sanders. He’s always been in the spotlight, you know. As a child I saw him on television playing football. It sort of inspired me to play a sport that gets a lot of publicity.”
On linebackers coach Andy McCollum“I’ve had four different linebacking coaches since I’ve been at State. But this year we have coach McCollum, and he’s the best coach I’ve had in my lifetime.”
-Langdon Morris & Emily Seck