Insider Report: Sophomore DT not trying to keep up with the Joneses

During his first two years on Florida State’s campus, defensive tackle Fredrick Jones was perhaps better known for his bloodlines than for what he did on the line of scrimmage.

The son of former Seminole linebacker Fred Jones -- and nephew of FSU Hall-of-Famer Marvin Jones -- redshirted as a freshman in 2014 and recorded eight tackles in mostly mop-up duty last season.

On Saturday, Jones started in place of junior Derrick Nnadi, who was nursing an ankle injury, and he tied for second on the team with three tackles. He also recorded a tackle for loss.

“It was great -- my first college start,” Jones said. “Made sure I had to hold up, do my job, stay in my lane and just play ball.”

When asked if he would be excited to tell his father and famous uncle about his big day, Jones said he would but quickly added that he isn’t trying to live off of the family name.

“It feels good, but I’m making my own path,” Jones said. “I’m not a linebacker like both of them were. I’m a D-lineman. So I’m making my own path.”

Jones is creating a path for some of his teammates as well. As a lead blocker in the Seminoles’ goal-line packages -- much like DeMarcus Walker did last season and Mario Edwards Jr. did before him -- Jones is getting to make his mark on both sides of the ball.

“Oh, I love that,” Jones said. “It’s a man’s game. You’re on the 1- or 2-yard line. Everybody knows if you don’t score, that means you didn’t get no push. If you score, that means you got a push. There ain’t no trick plays or anything like that. You’ve just got to go.”

Jones actually played some fullback and tight end at Miami Central High School and said he would love to get the ball on offense.

“He talks to me about it all the time,” fullback Freddie Stevenson said with a laugh. “He’s like, ‘Freddie, if I come to offense, I’ll take your spot.”

“Fred actually likes to do it,” Stevenson said of the blocking duties. “Some of those other guys, they were just asked to do it. But Fred actually loves coming on the offense and blocking.”

Though he’s not FSU’s biggest defensive lineman -- Jones is listed at 6-foot-3, 298 pounds -- teammates say he is exceptionally powerful. That strength was on display during one particular play at USF, when he came out of his stance and sent a Bulls offensive lineman flying backward several yards.

“Somebody showed me a video; he put somebody on the ground,” Stevenson said. “Dang, that junk’s crazy. But yeah, he’s been looking good. He flashed last year too, but he’s been more consistent this year.”