Sharper, larger Jones contending for starting safety job

By Ryan Greene

Thursday, April 16, 2009 | 2:10 a.m.

Back in July, when Chris Jones decided to switch from quarterback to safety for the Rebels, no one needed more convincing than his mother, Cheryl, that it was the right move.

A standout signal-caller and track star at Shadow Ridge High, he knew that his quickest route to seeing playing time was not by trying to surpass Omar Clayton and Mike Clausen on the QB depth chart.

Instead, Mike Sanford's defense needed help at safety, so Jones went ahead and made the grown-up decision on his own.

Nine months later, a lot has happened.

He was thrust into action sooner than expected thanks to a rash of injuries ahead of him in the ranks during the 2008 campaign, he had some eye-opening moments, then put on about 20 pounds of muscle in the following months. He's now competing for a starting spot in the UNLV secondary.

Now what does mom think?

"She's still kinda iffy about it," he said with a laugh. "She's like 'I think you should still play quarterback.' My grandma, she still thinks I'll go back to quarterback."

At this point, there's no going back, nor should there be a reason to.

"He's gotten a lot better," said UNLV defensive coordinator and safeties coach Dennis Therrell. "He's stronger, and of course when you're stronger, you play much more physical and you're quicker. He can already run fast. The thing we needed him to improve was his quickness.

"Acceleration was the biggest thing, going in short bursts. Before, he was kind of gangly, lanky and running."

Jones went to work with Rebels strength and conditioning coach John Grieco, and heading into Friday night's annual spring game, has catapulted himself to the top of the depth chart at strong safety.

That's miles from where Jones felt like he was in the second week of the '08 campaign season, when he was unexpectedly tossed into action in the second half against eventual Mountain West Conference and Sugar Bowl champion Utah.

It was an encounter with 5-foot-11, 230-pound Utes running back Matt Asiata that told him right away that hesitation wouldn't get him too far at the Division-I level. Heck, until nearly that moment, he thought a redshirt was a more likely possibility than actually seeing the field.

"They just said 'Chris, go in,' and I had no clue, I had my helmet off," he recalled. "I kind of just ran in, I went up and Asiata, the big, huge guy, I dove after him and he just stiff-armed me. After that, I knew I had to step my game up if I want a chance at playing."

Over 11 games, Jones produced 22 tackles in a part-time role.

Despite the position switch, he said leaving UNLV was never an option.

UNLV -- and UNLV football, in particular -- is in Jones's blood. His late father, Kirk, started at running back next to Randall Cunningham on the Rebels' 1984 squad, which claimed a conference title and made a bowl appearance. Mom ran track at UNLV and was a member of a three-time All-American 4X100 relay team from 1987-89.

But going into year two, he said he's far more prepared to feel like he belongs when his name gets called.

"I think I know (the defensive scheme) 100 percent better," he said. "The way that it's been explained to me, mainly the playbook and coach Therrell showing us the different techniques. I actually take that in, and I work on that because I know. I trust the guy. He's a good coach, he always has been a good coach.

"I'm gonna be fighting for the spot until I'm out of here."

Only now, he's more equipped for it physically.

The difference in Jones's physique -- most notably in the upper body -- is obvious. Last year, he looked how you'd expect a first-year quarterback/track star-turned safety to look.

In high school, even though Jones played on both sides of the ball, keeping extra weight on was always an issue going into each season. He's bulk up, but plenty of it would slough right off come time for track competition.

At the moment, he's up about 190 pounds, hoping ultimately to get near the 200 mark.

Now, he actually has a bit of potential intimidation to him.

"If they look out there and see some really scrawny guy, they're like 'Oh, yeah, we've gotta go to him,'" Jones said. "If they see a more bulky guy, they'll be more hesitant going towards me."

Coaches have repeatedly praised Jones so far this spring, and he's even donned the honorary 'black jersey' once for his performance out at Rebel Park.

Everyone's taken notice.

But has mom?

"She always says she doesn't see it," he said of his new physique. "I think she does, but she's just saying that to push me more. She's always been like that. I'll walk in the house and say 'Mom, I getting any bigger?' and she'll say 'No, you still look skinny.'"