University of Georgia Athletics
Player Spotlight: Ben Jones
November 28, 2011 | Football
Nov. 28, 2011
Four years is a long time.
But for some the time goes by all too fast. Ben Jones may see it as the latter, as his four-year career at Georgia is drawing to a close.
"It goes by really fast," Jones said. "Everybody says that if you blink it goes by. I didn't believe them, but it really does. It's been a great four years."
Fortunately for the senior, Georgia will have two extra games tacked on its schedule, as the team will compete in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 3 and a bowl game to follow a few weeks later.
The center has worked hard all season to help the team win the Eastern Division title. His effort has helped fellow teammates earn recognition within the league, including freshman Isaiah Crowell being named SEC Freshman of the Week four times this season. Despite Jones' name not being under the stats columns, the Centreville, Ala., native earned honors of his own with SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week following the New Mexico State and Auburn games, which marks four times he has won the award in his career.
"It's a great honor," Jones said. "You are coming out there everyday and just grind, and to come back and get an award like that means a lot to me. It makes us smile a little bit the next day at practice because people are watching us and taking credit because you come out there and are hitting somebody every play.
"Sometimes your name gets called out on TV for a holding penalty or things like that, so sometimes you don't want your name called out in a game. We love our job, though. We take pride in it. I don't think I would trade it for any position in the world."
Consistency is a strong trait of Jones. Since arriving in 2008, he took the field during the team's first game against Georgia Southern and earned his first start a few games later against Arizona State. In his career, Jones has started in 47 of 51 contests.
His pregame warm-up has also been consistent. Starting back in high school, Jones takes the field barefoot--no matter the weather. After the Dawg Walk, which he does in his cleats, Jones goes to the locker room and removes his socks and shoes before walking back to the field and taking snaps with the quarterback.
"In high school we would always take a nap before we walked the field, and I wouldn't have my shoes on, so I would wake up and walk straight out," Jones said. "I didn't want the hassle of putting my socks and shoes back on, so I just kept it going because we had a good senior year. Once I got here I was like I might as well keep going."
Although it may be his final year, it may be the most memorable of them all. Not because Jones is graduating or helping his team to 10-straight wins after starting off 0-2. Not because of the awards he has won or claiming the Eastern Division title.
It's the meaning behind a simple jersey change--switching from No. 61 to 60. At the age of 10, Jones lost his father. Since that moment, Jones wore 60 on his jersey to honor his dad since that was the number he wore when he played football. Upon coming to Georgia, Jones had to wait until tackle Clint Boling graduated, as he had the number. Jones waited and now wears the No. 60 with pride.
"This year has been very emotional for me just from switching from 61 to 60," Jones said. "I have wanted to wear this number ever since I got here, but I knew I wouldn't get to wear it until my senior year. That was one of the big reasons on why I wanted to come back for my senior year--not just to come back and finish my degree but to honor my dad my senior year.
"I think I have done a great job wearing that number. We have won a championship with it on, and I think I will never forget this year. It will always be in my heart."
