Jeremiah Jones’ Nebraska journey took a sharp turn this summer, and the early returns already have him looking like a player with a real role on defense.
A year ago, Jones was still a freshman wide receiver, catching a six-yard pass in Nebraska’s 66-0 win over Akron. That was his only appearance of the season. On Saturday, after playing in his second game as a Husker - this time at defensive end - he was in the Hawks Championship Center signing footballs and jerseys for young Nebraska fans.
"It felt good," Jones told Husker247 Saturday. "This is the first time really playing this position since high school, so it was a different feeling, but it felt good."
Jones moved full time from offense to defense in June, shifting from wide receiver to defensive end and spending extra time with the coaching staff to get comfortable in the new spot. The switch wasn’t a total reinvention. In high school, the Kentucky native played defense and put up 117 tackles, 11 sacks and 18 tackles for loss as a senior.
He also arrived at Nebraska as a prospect who could fit in a few different places. Some schools viewed him as a defensive end or outside linebacker. Others saw him as a tight end or wide receiver.
Even before the full-time move, Nebraska had tried him in pass-rushing roles on the scout team. The decision to make it permanent came when the team returned for summer workouts.
"I think, I really trusted my coach," Jones said. "The whole plan for me was for me to come over there and impact the ball - impact the team, really. Offense it was really slow for me, but defense I really got into it fast and I think I'm making an impact, a big impact.
"Meeting with my coaches extra, it took a lot of sacrifice. I'm three months into this.
I started with it back when we came back for our OTAs. It wasn't really easy, but meeting with my coaches extra really got me going."
Jones also pointed to the help he’s gotten from the defensive end room, especially veterans Anthony Jones Jr., Cam Lenhardt and Williams Nwaneri.
That work earned him a spot on Nebraska’s first depth chart before the opener against Ohio, and it wasn’t just for show. Jones was already part of the team’s "Cheetah" package on third down, and against Ohio he played 15 snaps, mostly in those pass-rush situations, and finished with one tackle in the win.
"I put in a lot of pain in the weight room. I got my frame bigger," Jones said.
"My strong suit is my speed, so bringing that speed to the line, that gives me an advantage as well. I think third down is really we're coming in and rushing the passer and trying to make plays."
Jones said he knows the learning curve is still there. He’s only had three months on defense at the college level, and really just one full month of practice, but he plans to keep grinding and improving.
Nebraska believes the payoff could be significant. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Jones is still adding to his frame, and Matt Rhule likes what he sees.
"Jeremiah is going to be a great defensive player. He's got intensity, physicality, great burst, he just needs to play," Matt Rhule said. "I think the sky is the limit for him, he just needs to grind it out."
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Recruiting analyst Tim Verghese has said Florida State is making real efforts, but so far there has not been much traction behind the scenes. Demontagnac did not make the visit he had been expected to take, while Aliu has already been to Tallahassee and still remains committed to Nebraska, which is the kind of development the Huskers can live with for now. Florida States staff connection to former Nebraska coaches only adds another layer here, but the bigger question is whether the Seminoles can turn interest into something more serious before this recruiting fight settles down. [Read more 🡒]