By BILL BURRUS
Sports Editor
Greenwood’s Le’Trey Jones has been told all his life he was too small to excel in football, but he just kept proving those folks wrong.
Before a standout career as a defensive back at Greenwood High School, there were those who counted Jones out because of his diminutive frame, but he went on to become an all-conference and All-Commonwealth performer.
Following his senior season in 2010, when he had an eye-popping 136 tackles, Jones heard the same old thing — “you’re too small for the next level” — but again he proved folks wrong.
“College scouts were worried about my size, but I never worried about it. I may have been small, but I hit and played like a big guy,” Jones said.
Mississippi Valley State took a chance on the 5-foot-8, 165-pound strong safety. He redshirted his first year in Itta Bena and then started his final three seasons for the Delta Devils.
“I played with a chip on my shoulder in college. I knew people doubted me, and I set out to prove them wrong,” he said.
Even though he was listed at 5-9 this past season, Jones chuckles when he says, “I am really 5-8. Been that height since I finished high school.”
But he did add about 30 pounds of muscle in his first couple of seasons at MVSU, and that — along with a high football IQ — allowed him to excel in his 5-8 frame.
After leading Valley in tackles the last two seasons, it is Jones who is getting the last laugh at those who doubted him. The former GHS star has been invited to play in the FCS Senior Scout Bowl, started last year to gain exposure for the top players in Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA).
The game is set for Saturday in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
“I was actually surprised when I got the invite, but I certainly plan to make the most of this chance to prove myself because I certainly want to pursue football at the next level no matter where it is,” said Jones, who had 75 tackles in 2015, including eight tackles for loss.
Scouts from the CFL, Arena Football League and NFL will attend workouts and the all-star game to find talent that may be flying under the radar. According to the bowls website, 34 percent of last year’s players signed NFL contracts while 61 percent signed some sort of pro contract.
“I just have to go out there and do what I do and not worry about trying to impress scouts,” Jones said.
His former high school coach, Clinton Gatewood, hasn’t been at all surprised to see Jones overcome a lack of size.
“His heart, determination and aggressiveness are the biggest reasons for his success,” said Gatewood, who coached Jones only during his senior season. “He’s always had to start from the bottom, but he always winds up on top. He has always been a great leader. He still comes back in the summers to help our guys in the weight room.
“If he gets a chance somewhere, he will make someone a helluva football player.”
Individually, Jones has had great success on the field but has had a rough go of it from a winning standpoint. In three years at GHS and five at Valley, he’s been a part of just one winning season — his final year at GHS when the Bulldogs went 10-2 en route to a Region 3-4A championship.
At Valley, the closest thing to a winning season was a 5-6 campaign in 2012. The Delta Devils were a dreadful 6-37 during Jones’ other years in Itta Bena.
“There were a lot of tough times. It hurts to lose that much, but I always kept my head up and kept pushing myself and my teammates to get better,” Jones said. “There were a lot of life lessons learned during all that.”
Jones’ final game at Valley was a heartbreaking 25-19 overtime Senior Day loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, but he did cap off his Delta Devil career in style with a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown. He also had seven tackles, including one tackle for loss.
“Jones had a great, great game in his last one for us,” Valley coach Rick Comegy said following the Nov. 2 loss. “He will be sorely missed. I really wish I could have sent him and all our other great seniors out with a win.”
With his playing days at Valley in the rearview mirror, Jones is looking to the future and hoping for one more chance to prove folks wrong.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
