(Jeff Houchin Photography)
By LARRY VAUGHT
Midway of the first quarter of Saturday’s game against Tennessee, Kentucky linebacker Jordan Jones, UK’s leading tackler last year who returned to action last week after missing four games with an injury, had something happen. He took his helmet off on the sideline and stayed away from other defensive players while standing with backup quarterbacks Drew Barker and Luke Wright.
Assistant coach Vince Marrow talked to Jones, but he made no move to find his helmet or be involved with the defense when it was on the field or after players came off the field.
However, on UK’s next series he was back on the field in his normal position and had five tackles, including four solo stops and two tackles for losses on Tennessee’s next two possessions. He finished the first half with nine tackles and had 13 in the game, including seven solo stops.
Stoops said they were “checking him out” in the first quarter even though the coach was not sure what for. Jones later said that he hurt his head “a little bit” early in the game.
“I don’t know, I really get so caught up in the coaching the game when he’s out, they’re out, when they’re in, they’re in. You can tell there’s a bunch of guys shuffled in and out of there today and getting banged up. But he came back and I just saw him show up back out there and I liked it,” Stoops said.
Jones said being bowl eligible early was huge for the team.
“This year we have four games left and we’re bowl eligible. That’s awesome. We still have so much time to build,” Jones, who had not done an interview all season, said.
He said he learned plenty during the four weeks he was out with a shoulder injury suffered against Eastern Kentucky.
“To be back healthy and able to play is just awesome,” Jones said. “I learned this is all I want. Football is all I’ve got. I am going to give everyone in this program everything I have got. I always practice 100 percent but now I know this is my life.”
He also apologized for spitting toward the crowd at Southern Mississippi in UK’s opening game this season.
“I never got really a chance to apologize either,” Jones said. “I’m sorry for that. That’s not who I am. I just let the emotions get the best of me. The first game, first real game of the season, I just let the emotions get the best of me for sure.”
