Now we're talking. RTT#7 Gerald Jones' initial profile:
We really should have known. Quote from last year's Getting to Know Gerald Jones post:
Hyperbole?
My first thought upon reading that quote? Wild exaggeration from a coach trying to get one of his players into a big time program. You’ll often hear coaches compare an opponent’s best player to some superstar immediately after a loss to that team. Makes ‘em feel better, see? You’ll often hear recruiting gurus opine that a recruit is the next [fill in the blank.] Hyperbole draws attention, soothes battered egos, and justifies subscriptions. It’s not to be taken literally.
And then I saw [the videos.]
. . . .
That, my friends, is what ESPN calls a "scary athlete," with "possibly the best set of feet . . . in this class." Jones is explosive and quick, and he can start and stop like a fly. If you skipped the videos, you may be skeptical when you hear that his classmates call him SportsCenter, but if you watched the footage, you know. Dude’s got moves.
Okay, so is Gerald Jones the next Reggie Bush?
Not really. Reggie Bush can’t pass.
Gerald Jones had a hamstring injury early in 2007 and missed five of the first six games, including losses to Cal and Florida. He didn't really start playing until the Alabama game, and he was strictly a receiver for that game and the game against Steve Spurrier the following week. It was only against Louisiana-Lafayette that the coaching staff put Gerald under center and thereby really began to appreciate the talent they had at their disposal.
|
Games
Played |
Rushing
|
Total
Offense |
Receiving
|
Pts
|
||||||||
|
Rushes
|
Gain
|
Loss
|
Net
|
TDs
|
Plays
|
Yds
|
No
|
Yds
|
TD
|
TTL
TDs |
||
|
9
|
8
|
63
|
5
|
58
|
2
|
8
|
58
|
11
|
111
|
1
|
3
|
18
|
| Opp. |
Rushing
|
Total
Offense |
Receiving
|
Pts
|
||||||||||
|
#
|
Gain
|
Loss
|
Net
|
TDs
|
Plays
|
Yds
|
No
|
Yds
|
TD
|
TTL
TDs |
||||
| California |
31-45
|
No
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Southern Miss. |
39-19
|
Yes
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Florida |
20-59
|
No
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Arkansas St. |
48-27
|
No
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Georgia |
35-14
|
No
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Mississippi St. |
33-21
|
No
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Alabama |
17-41
|
Yes
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
27
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| South Carolina |
27-24
|
Yes
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
20
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| La.-Lafayette |
59-7
|
Yes
|
2
|
20
|
0
|
20
|
1
|
2
|
20
|
2
|
10
|
0
|
1
|
6
|
| Arkansas |
34-13
|
Yes
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
-2
|
0
|
1
|
-2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Vanderbilt |
25-24
|
Yes
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Kentucky |
52-50
|
Yes
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
20
|
1
|
1
|
6
|
| LSU |
14-21
|
Yes
|
2
|
39
|
0
|
39
|
0
|
2
|
39
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Wisconsin |
21-17
|
Yes
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
1
|
1
|
3
|
1
|
3
|
34
|
0
|
1
|
6
|
|
8
|
63
|
5
|
58
|
2
|
8
|
58
|
11
|
111
|
1
|
3
|
18
|
|||
Jones got himself into a bit of trouble along with Ahmad Paige back in mid-January. He wanted to transfer after that, but he instead matured into a man before our very eyes, issued an apology letter, and decided to stay.
And yes, for this guy, we have highlights:
For those of you wondering why the Austin Rogers and Quintin Hancock touchdowns against Kentucky are in the Gerald Jones highlight video, you have either forgotten or never read the importance of playmakers post.
In the spring game, Jones caught three passes for 47 yards, rushed once for 12 yards, and, yes, even threw the ball once for a 17-yard touchdown.
Which just goes to show you that sometimes, what appears to be hyperbole is just the plain truth.