Sam and Arlee Jones aren’t your typical married college couple.

For one, they tower above the other couples on campus. Sam comes in at 6-foot-7 and while Arlee is listed as 6 flat, she’s admitted in the past that may be underestimating.

Beyond that, the two have both spent time as varsity athletes. Arlee was captain of the volleyball team while Sam, a former four-star recruit, signed with the Wolfpack in the Spring of 2008.

But probably the strangest thing about the two is that their relationship started with a case of mistaken identity.

Sam suited up for Hargrave Military Academy last year, and when he finally got to State in January, 2009, he saw Arlee repeatedly around campus with her teammates and their haphazard courting ritual began.

“She thought I was Zach Allen, one of my teammates,” Sam said. “I’m not sure how she made that mistake. But one day I was on Facebook and she sent me a message with a number in it. She said ‘the ball’s in your court.’ I texted her and we started going out. And here we are today.”

Arlee and Sam married Dec. 30, 2009 and welcomed their first daughter, Kendal, a few weeks later. Since then, the two have had their hands full juggling homework, athletics, marriage and an active three-month-old.

“It’s really tough just being a student and in a relationship,” Sam said. “Working on a marriage and having a brand-new baby – it’s tough. It’s a lot of planning ahead.”

Sam’s hectic class schedule and lengthy spring football practices haven’t made things easier. He is set to start at right tackle Sept. 4 for State’s season opener against Western Carolina. Arlee, who is taking only online classes this semester so she can stay home with Kendal, called Sam’s football career a five-to-nine job – the opposite of a nine-to-five job.

“In the winter and spring, I’d be getting up at 4:30 in the morning and won’t be back until 10 at night,” Sam said. “I can’t see my girls or hang out with them at all. It sucks, but when I have free times, it’s definitely nice.”

Because Kendal can’t move around yet and spends most of her days “eating, sleeping and pooping,” according to Arlee, the couple can occasionally find time to slip out and see a movie on the weekend.

“Right now, though, we’re focusing on school,” Arlee said. “I’m focused on graduating and Sam’s focusing on getting through the year. But it’s not that hard because Sam’s my best friend and I feel like that makes it much easier. It’s all worth it.”

Arlee transferred from Boise State before her junior year and was immediately named co-captain. She played in all 35 matches and led the team in kills (328) and service aces (29) Her 263 digs was also good for second-most on the team.

But since the start of the school year Arlee has been forced to shift focus from being an outside hitter to finding a sitter. She’s had to shelve her athletic career for the time being to focus on Kendal, but says that’s a sacrifice she’s more than willing to make.

She sat out the 2009 season while pregnant with Kendal but had an agreement with former coach Charita Stubbs that she could return for a final year. But after Stubbs was fired in December and Bryan Bunn took over, Arlee soon learned the new man on the sidelines had a different vision.

“Originally, with the old coach, me coming back was the plan,” Arlee said. “We were going to find a way to make it work. But the new coaching staff had different ideas and it didn’t work out financially for our family.”

Though she’s no longer on the roster, Arlee said she still feels as though she’s part of the team. She occasionally joins in on practice because Bunn has released several players and, according to Arlee, the team is undermanned.

“When I got pregnant last year, I was really all about that. I was still at practices, but I had so many other things I was worrying about,” Arlee said. “I didn’t know what I was doing. But every time I come back now, they seem pretty thrilled that I’m there.”

Arlee’s teammates threw her a baby shower and have turned into some of her most frequent visitors and trusted babysitters. Seniors Alex Smith and Taylor Pritchard come by and hold Kendal so Arlee can free her hands for a few minutes and finish laundry or homework.

Smith said she doesn’t mind chipping in and helping out with her honorary niece.

“I love Kendal,” Smith said. “We’re both of mixed race, so I hope I can help her when she gets older. She really likes to throw up on me, but she’s a great baby. I could spend all day with her.”

Smith said the couple is definitely thriving in what could have been a difficult situation for most couples, as their love for their daughter sharpens their focus.

“He’s been doing really great with his grades and Arlee’s always there pushing him,” Smith said. “They work well together as a team so they can have the best future possible for Kendal.

Both husband and wife expect life will be less hectic by the time fall rolls around. Arlee will have graduated and she and Kendal will be in the stands whenever Sam travels to play football.

This will also give them time to work towards another goal: expanding their brood. Arlee said they expect to give Kendal a sibling – hopefully a brother – by next year.

“I’ll do my best,” Sam joked.

While Sam expects to teach his future son to play football, Arlee wants Kendal to add another sport to the family’s athletic resume.

“I want her to play soccer because I want her to be skinny and just run her life away,” Arlee said. “But she’s probably going to play basketball, with our genetics.”