Sophomore Safety Josh Jones had a very successful freshman season last year.  He was second in the ACC in interceptions (4), and 4th nationally among all freshmen.  Jones finished 5th on the team in tackles (56) and 2nd in pass breakups (7).  He was even an honorable mention for CFN’s Freshmen All-American team.  It’s also worth noting that he accomplished all of this while only starting in 8 out of the 12 games that he played in.  Despite all of the success, Jones felt that he wasn’t very consistent last year.

“I’m not using being young as an excuse.  I played a little inconsistent last year,” said Jones. “One game I would be on, and then the next game I wouldn’t.  This year’s all about consistency.  Every game I want to be me, bring energy, and be a force.”

What type of force does Jones want to be?  Simple.  He wants to be one of the best.

“I’m working on a lot of things so that I can be a force in the ACC…one of the best safeties in the ACC,” said Jones. “That’s what I plan on being.”

Jones comes into this year with a lot more confidence, and one of the ways that was built was through watching the upperclassmen in the secondary.

“I watched how the guys with experience prepared for games.  I watched them practice,” said Jones. “I had to learn a lot about how to practice last year.  I pick their brains, and watch how they do things.”

The secondary that will take the field this season is the second most experienced secondary in the ACC.  Hakim Jones, Juston Burris, Jack Tocho, and Jones have played in 113 games combined, with 83 of those beings starts.  Jones believes that he is a part of one of the best secondaries in the conference.

“I feel like we are one of the best secondaries in the ACC.  We’ve got size.  We’ve got speed.  All you can ask for,” said Jones. “All of our starting defensive backs are 6’0″ and above and 200+ pounds.  We just have to keep working together and growing, and we’re going to be one of the best secondaries in the ACC, if not the best.”

Some players set goals to do better than they did the year before.  Some players want to improve in specific areas of their game.  Others just want to be the best.  Josh Jones is one of those guys.

“I’m 100x more confident coming into this season.  I’m more comfortable,” said Jones. “I have that swagger to me, where I want to be the best, and I’m not going to settle for less.”