Confidence Fuels Reakwon Jones for Big Final Season

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

Doubt hit Reakwon Jones hard. Of course it did. You go from high school superstar to college hopeful and it takes time and resilience to overcome.

Jones needed it, found it and now, as an Indiana fifth-year senior linebacker, knows this:

He can -- and will -- rock somebody's world this season.

"Confidence is the biggest key," he says. "It will get someone to make a play. You can't play this game without confidence. My freshman and sophomore year, I lost my confidence. Once I figured it out, I got it back. It changed me. I feel better about everything."

Jones should. He's accomplished much, with more to do.

"Reakwon Jones is a young man I have a ton of respect for," head coach Tom Allen says. "He's overcome a lot of adversity."

Case in point -- the phone call last October that staggered Jones like no football player could. He was talking to his mother, Tanya Mitchell, when Hurricane Michael blasted their Panama City, Fla., home. No one was killed, but the house was damaged to the point that his family is still living in an apartment.

It shook him and his family, but didn't break them.

That followed Jones' rough introduction to big-time college football, when he ran into this harsh competitive truth:

He wasn't about to beat out All-American Tegray Scales.

Jones redshirted his first season in Bloomington, but didn't go unnoticed. He won six scout team player of the week awards.

In the next two seasons, he played behind Scales and totaled just nine tackles in limited action. But he learned and developed rather than sulk and whine.

"I came to the practice field feeling like I could make any play they threw at me," Jones said. "That's the type of mindset we need -- all the players. The young guys are coming in with that mindset. They're looking at it that they're ready to go. They're ready to play and make plays."

After Scales graduated following the 2017 season, Jones became a starter last year and made an instant impact with 36 tackles, 4.5 for loss, and twice earned team defensive player-of-the-week honors.

"He had to sit behind Tegray Scales, then got a chance to be the starter last year, did a great job for us, being able to go through some adversity," Allen says. "His family went through a hurricane down in Florida, he lost his home, lost a lot of things. They were able to keep their health, but that was tough for him, so we rallied around him.

"I really appreciate what he's becoming and the man that he's turning into."
What is Jones becoming?

At 6-2 and 237 pounds, he is physically ready to thrive as he wasn't before. He credits director of athletic performance David Ballou for that, and more.

"Coach Ballou was a big part of me getting my confidence back. He pushed us hard. We worked so hard. He got us to trust him and what he was doing. When I got my confidence back in the weight room, I transferred it onto the field.

"I worked hard for him. I'm lifting weights more than I ever lifted. I'm faster than I've ever been. That gave me confidence and reassurance. That's the environment they create for us. They'll put us in situations. They make sure we're confident. They'll challenge us. After that, we have to transfer it to the field.

"After that, you have to trust yourself. That's what I emphasize to the younger guys. Don't lose faith in you. I know it gets tough. It's hard in college. Everyone is good. Trust in your abilities. You're not here for no reason. You're here because we thought you were a good player and that you could help us.

"All you can control is what you can control. Continue to improve. Don't be scared to bring someone with you to go to work."

Inspiration comes from seeing Scales and another former IU linebacker, Chris Covington, get NFL opportunities.

"It's a blessing," Jones says. "I'm so happy for them. I love them like brothers. Just to see them in the NFL, it motivates me. It shows me I can do this. We can do this. I roomed with Chris Covington for three years on the road. We were hanging out all the time.

"Those guys tell me things I need to do, tips on what it's like (in the NFL). It's a blessing to see them living their dream."

IU has big hopes for this season, and strong linebacker play is crucial. Potential is there with Jones and other stalwarts such as Thomas Allen, Micah McFadden and James Miller.

Don't forget Cam Jones, who opened camp at safety before moving to linebacker.

"The leadership is better than it's been since I've been here," Reakwon Jones says. "We've got a lot of guys ready to play. They're hungry to play. They're very competitive. It's very competitive at every position. Guys are fighting to get on the field. That's what it's going to take to beat teams like Ohio State and Michigan, which are great teams."

IU has recruited for this.

"The linebacker room is deeper than it's been in a long time," Jones says. "We have a lot of guys who are extremely athletic. We have a lot of guys who can run. Guys who are strong and fast.

"A lot are young guys. They bring a lot to the table. Every player is unique. We have people who are thumpers; people who can really run and cover; guys who can do both. It's competitive in there. We only play two linebackers at the same time, so guys are competing to get on the field."

Allen, McFadden and Miller got their first college experience last season. The benefits are set to really kick in this season.

"I'm excited to play with them," Jones says. "I've watched them grow this offseason. They've matured so much. They know so much more about the playbook, which is going to help them a lot."

Jones is especially excited to see what's next from 6-3, 219-pound Cam Jones, who brings a unique versatility to the Hoosiers. As a true freshman last season, he had 20 tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass.

"I look at him like a little brother," Reakwon says. "He's extremely gifted athletically. He's a tall guy, a pretty big guy. He's explosive and strong. That's what you see. He's a guy who can hit. He's smart. He knows what to do and how to recognize.

"I've been stressing on the little things. Make sure you see this or that. He listens. He wants to learn. Whenever he has a question, I answer it. Whenever he needs something, I'm there. In the linebacker room, we're really close. We talk daily. We lift together. We're always pushing each other."

That's among the reasons why Jones is so high on the defense.

"It's one of the most athletic defenses Indiana has had a long time. The young guys from last year are a year older and you can see the confidence. They don't ask as many questions. They go out and do it. They do what they're supposed to do. They watch film on their own. They'll call me and ask, 'Hey, how do I get this to work?' That's reassuring to me. They want to work as much as possible."

There's experience to back it up.

"We have guys who have been here at least a year," Jones says. "They've got the playbook down pat. They've been in the big games. That's the great thing about playing so many guys at a young age."

IU added to the linebacker talent with freshmen D.K. Bonhomme and Cameron Williams.

"The younger guys are hungry and competitive," Jones says. "They're eager to learn more than anything. They want to learn the playbook."

Bonhomme, for instance, contacted Jones during spring break while he was still at Clearwater Academy in Florida.

"He messaged me on Instagram that he wanted to learn some plays from the playbook. That's motivating.

"These guys want to change the program. They want to leave their footprint for turning the program around. They're competitive. They want to do things right. It's a blessing to have guys ready to push the older guys. They want to play so bad."

Mostly, though, all the Hoosiers want to do is win, and are achingly close. In the last four seasons they've gone 6-7, 6-7, 5-7 and 5-7.

"It's extremely important," Jones says about a breakthrough season. "It's the reason why I came here. I wanted to change this program. I wanted to be a part of the change when Indiana went to a New Year's bowl. Help create that environment. We have to come out confident. We have the pieces. Stay at it, keep punching, fighting and scrapping."

Indiana University Athletics

Confidence Fuels Reakwon Jones for Big Final Season

Players Mentioned

Thomas Allen

D.K. Bonhomme

Cam Jones

Reakwon Jones

Micah McFadden

James Miller

Cameron Williams

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