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Akron is hoping two radical position changes will pay off this season
By Heather Crowley
Posted: 9/4/08, 12:45 AM EST Section: Sports
Andre Jones has a motto for the 2008 season: take no plays off.
He means it literally. Akron's senior safety-turned-wide receiver is seeing action on offense, defense and special teams for the Zips this year.
It's rare for a college football coach to take a veteran player and throw him on the other side of the ball. Akron head coach J.D. Brookhart did exactly that with two of his team's best returning players - seniors Jones and Bryan Williams.
Williams, the team's leading returning rusher, is now playing safety while Jones, a three-year free safety who had 79 tackles and three interceptions last year, is now at receiver.
"It's still just football, and they are both football guys," Brookhart said. "You had all spring camp and fall camp to make that transition so I wasn't too concerned. There will be some growing pains as there were last week. By the time we get to league play, hopefully they will be impact players on both sides of the ball."
Syracuse (0-1) will host Akron (0-1) in the Orange's home opener Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Jones anticipates playing on both sides of the ball against SU, just like he did last week against Wisconsin.
"This week they have me playing a little bit of strong safety, cornerback and wide receiver," Jones said. "When the game comes I guess I am starting on offense, and when the defense goes out I will be right back in there again."
Wisconsin took care of business against the Zips, 38-17. Still, Williams and Jones were given their first game time at their new positions.
Only one pass went Jones' way early in the first quarter, but he soon saw action at his old position. By the second quarter Jones was back at safety. He forced and recovered Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill's goal line fumble to stymie a Badger scoring threat.
Jones also returned a kickoff for 31 yards - the longest of the Zips' seven returns. At Wisconsin, Jones made the rounds from offense to defense to special teams and recorded stats in all but his "official" wide receiver position.
He means it literally. Akron's senior safety-turned-wide receiver is seeing action on offense, defense and special teams for the Zips this year.
It's rare for a college football coach to take a veteran player and throw him on the other side of the ball. Akron head coach J.D. Brookhart did exactly that with two of his team's best returning players - seniors Jones and Bryan Williams.
Williams, the team's leading returning rusher, is now playing safety while Jones, a three-year free safety who had 79 tackles and three interceptions last year, is now at receiver.
"It's still just football, and they are both football guys," Brookhart said. "You had all spring camp and fall camp to make that transition so I wasn't too concerned. There will be some growing pains as there were last week. By the time we get to league play, hopefully they will be impact players on both sides of the ball."
Syracuse (0-1) will host Akron (0-1) in the Orange's home opener Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. Jones anticipates playing on both sides of the ball against SU, just like he did last week against Wisconsin.
"This week they have me playing a little bit of strong safety, cornerback and wide receiver," Jones said. "When the game comes I guess I am starting on offense, and when the defense goes out I will be right back in there again."
Wisconsin took care of business against the Zips, 38-17. Still, Williams and Jones were given their first game time at their new positions.
Only one pass went Jones' way early in the first quarter, but he soon saw action at his old position. By the second quarter Jones was back at safety. He forced and recovered Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill's goal line fumble to stymie a Badger scoring threat.
Jones also returned a kickoff for 31 yards - the longest of the Zips' seven returns. At Wisconsin, Jones made the rounds from offense to defense to special teams and recorded stats in all but his "official" wide receiver position.
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