| Antwon Jones |
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Veteran senior defensive lineman joins Brad Williams, Lance Legree and Anthony Weaver to provide Irish with major returning experience at defensive tackle position as Irish move to four-man defensive front in '99 . . . probably will work at right tackle with Weaver and Legree in '99 . . . proved to be major factor on '98 Notre Dame defensive line that had to replace graduated starters Melvin Dansby and Corey Bennett . . . helped Irish in '97 at both nose guard and end then worked exclusively at nose guard with Legree in '98 . . . plays hard, possesses plenty of potential and Irish coaches hope they'll see more of his play-making ability . . . quality pass-rusher whose gains in weight and strength have helped . . . has been on verge of winning starting job at nose guard each of last two seasons . . . fifth-year player who was granted extra season of eligibility since he did not play as rookie in '95.
AS A JUNIOR: Starter at nose guard for Irish in three of first five games in '98 . . . split time with Lance Legree at noseguard spot . . . played in all 12 games in '98 . . . started '98 opener vs. Michigan . . . had three tackles plus a stop for loss in solid effort (26 plays) vs. Purdue . . . started again vs. Stanford and Arizona State . . . had five tackles off the bench vs. Army . . . made three tackles in reserve role in '99 Gator Bowl vs. Georgia Tech.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Spent '97 campaign as reserve Irish defensive lineman, playing as nose guard and end . . . played in 11 games, including '97 Independence Bowl vs. LSU, missing only Georgia Tech and West Virginia contests . . . had three solo tackles vs. Purdue . . . contributed two stops and a tackle for loss vs. Michigan State . . . made first career start vs. Pittsburgh at nose guard . . . worked at end beginning vs. Boston College.
AS A FRESHMAN: Played in six games in '96 as nose guard . . . saw game action vs. Purdue, Washington, Navy, Boston College, Pittsburgh and Rutgers . . . served as backup nose guard behind regular Alton Maiden . . . listed fourth in the country in '96 among emerging stars on the defensive line by Lindy's. . . . did not see game action as rookie in '95 as reserve defensive lineman.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Named to prep All-America teams by SuperPrep and Prep Football Report . . . ranked as seventh best defensive lineman nationally by SuperPrep . . . chosen Prep Football Report All-Midwest Defensive Player of the year . . . rated one of top 100 players nationally by Chicago Sun-Times . . . named to Detroit Free-Press Best in the Midwest team, ranking 12th among Midwest-area players . . . named Associated Press Southwest Ohio defensive player of the year and shared Ohio defensive player of the year award . . . earned two letters in football as defensive lineman, tight end and kicker at Piqua High School in Piqua, Ohio . . . had 18 sacks and 31 tackles for losses as senior in '94 . . . caught nine passes for 110 yards as tight end . . . career totals included 41 sacks, 60 tackles for losses, nine fumbles caused, five fumbles recovered . . . earned all-state honors as senior in '94 . . . two-time all-conference and all-Southwest Ohio selection . . . helped his team to 12-1 record and Ohio state finals in '94 . . . selected for Ohio North-South and Ohio-Pennsylvania Big 33 all-star games . . . earned one letter in basketball, three in track . . . captain of football, basketball and track teams as senior and also captained track team as junior . . . has run 11.3 100 meters, 23.5 200 meters . . . full name is Antwon Tremaine Jones . . . born 11-13-76 in Piqua, Ohio . . . younger of two brothers . . . enrolled in College of Arts and Letters with major in art studies.
G-GS Time Solo Asst. Tot. TL-Yds. Sacks
1996 6-0 16:19 3 3 6 1-2 0-0
1997 10-1 46:49 9 2 11 1-2 0-0
1998 11-3 109:07 7 18 25 2-3 1-11
TOTAL 27-4 172:15 19 23 42 4-7 1-11
The Antwon Jones File
- The Irish offensive player who will surprise people this year is David Givens
- The Irish defensive players who will surprise people this year are Ronnie Nicks and Lamont Bryant
- The sports teams I followed when I was younger were The Cleveland Browns and Detroit Pistons
- A word to describe me on the field is Crazy
- A word to describe me off the field is Calm
- Other than Notre Dame Stadium, my favorite college stadium in which to play football is Ohio Stadium
- The area I would like to improve as a football player is Pass rush
- If I could play another position on the other side of the ball it would be Fullback
- My greatest personal athletic moment was Making the opening tackle against Michigan for a loss
- The most stimulating class I ever took at Notre Dame was Taught by Professor Richard Pierce
- If I could compete against any Notre Dame athlete (non-football), it would be Troy Murphy (men's basketball)
- The people who have helped me the most since I've been at Notre Dame are Mom, Dad, Grandparents, Tim Reves, Hannry Lucas and the Gilliams
- The top three teams in college football this year will be Notre Dame, Florida State and Ohio State
