The Cardinal Countdown: 44 Days Until Kickoff

#44 Dorian Jones

Class: Freshman

Ht/Wt: 6-0/235

Position: Linebacker

Hometown: Plantation, FL

Twitter: @newera22_

Thoughts: I highlighted Dorian earlier this year in my ‘Preseason’ countdown post covering the four players who were part of the early signing period, you can go back and check that out here. Since that time, Jones has been on campus and looking to get into that inside linebacker rotation behind CJ Avery and Dorian Etheridge. For those who opted not to go back and read the post linked above Jones was a signing day flip from Indiana (“and pay the tolls”…again) after visiting Louisville a short period of time right before signing day. The staff had been on Jones for awhile, offering him a scholarship while at App State and then extending another offer when they arrived here. I think the combination of the new staff, the new culture, the falls fountain, and the stadium upgrades helped Jones make the flip, but the big selling point in my brain…playing time.

When you look at the inside linebacker group as a whole Coach Brown and Coach Jones have eight total bodies in the room, but five of those are upperclassmen, and only three of them have any type of substantial playing time. One injury could spell a mini-disaster, and they knew that was a position of need going into this recruiting cycle. When you watch Jones one thing is for sure, he does not shy away from any type of contact. He’s not afraid to rush the passer up the middle, not afraid to attach the outside, and does not hesitate to try and put someone one their back. On signing day Coach Satterfield called Jones a “downhill thumper” and his high school career that included 39 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks proves it.

I think Jones is an embodiment of what Satterfield and his staff have done in the past to become so successful. After reading up on Dorian last year and watching some more of him the last few days I think he is an absolute animal that just missed the target measureables for the Alabama’s and Clemson’s of the world. If the 6-0/235lb Jones was 6-3/242lb, I think he’s stacking offers’ like Jenga blocks, but because he’s not, the opportunity is there for Satterfield to identify the talent, see the skills, and put him in a position to succeed in their system. Those fringe players are the ones with a chip on their shoulder, who help build your program into the national contender it once was. I think the staff got a steal from IU and someone who can be a 3-4 year contributor.

Sweet Tweet:

Get you a little nibble of Aidan Robbins and then hang around for the main course of the day, Mr. Dorian Jones.