ASU Football: Jones set for leadership role as starter and captain

(Photo via Matt Venezia/WCSN)

It was only a matter of time before the decision would be made.

On Thursday, Arizona State Football head coach Herm Edwards announced that redshirt junior quarterback Emory Jones would be the starting quarterback for the upcoming 2022 season, which was perhaps expected considering he is the most experienced quarterback on the roster.

Yet, Jones didn’t feel like a weight was lifted off his shoulder upon hearing the news, as the Florida transfer already came to Tempe with a starter mindset.

“Right now it’s not more pressure but it makes me want to lock in even more,” Jones said. “Be more detailed about everything I do, stay on top of my guys even more, [and] make sure they’re doing everything they need to do so we can be successful.”

With Jones’ confidence from the jump, the “QB1” designation wasn’t as meaningful to him as a different distinction he was granted Thursday, when he was also named a team captain.

“I actually [have] never been a captain as a starter,” said Jones, who joins senior fullback Case Hatch, senior offensive lineman LaDarius Henderson, senior linebackers Kyle Soelle and Merlin Robertson, and senior defensive end Michael Matus (honorary captain) as team captains. “I’m just excited. My mom, my family [are] excited. Those are the results of me working hard, coming here and being engaged, being attentive every single day and having the same energy – lifting guys up.”

The sentiment that Jones inspires his teammates isn’t just personal reflection. Henderson calls him an “encourager,” being able to recognize when the Sun Devils’ standard isn’t being met and when “to keep us going in the huddle.” Likewise, redshirt junior wide receiver Cam Johnson uses the word “uplifter” to best describe him.

“He’s an energy guy,” Johnson said. “He’s always going to give you energy, he’s never going to take it away from you. Even when you make a mistake or something, he’s always the first one to pick you up.”

The kind words from his teammates show how Jones has quickly made an impact in such a short time with the program, with his four-year tenure at Florida having prepared him to immediately step into a leadership role.

“It’s a great feeling for those guys to talk so highly of me,” Jones said. “But I mean, I had a guy that I was sitting behind like I mentioned like [current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback] Kyle Trask that showed me how to be a leader. [Current Atlanta Falcons quarterback] Feleipe Franks showed me how to be a leader. … Just watching those guys at Florida and me being the young guy then, and just seeing where they end up, things they do and how they did it. It’s all been taught and learned.”

It can’t be overlooked that Jones has risen so rapidly to this level. When he arrived on campus a few months ago, Jones admitted he was quiet, putting his head down and showing everyone how hard he works. Now, he’s blossomed into a vocal, team-first leader.

“He’s always bringing kids up,” Hatch said. “I remember when he got called to be captain, I congratulated him and the whole time I was trying to say, ‘Hey, congratulations man.’ He was like, ‘No, congrats to you [on] making captain.’” I was like, ‘No dude – this is your first year coming to ASU and becoming a captain, starting quarterback.’ But it’s just that he’s very selfless when it comes to leadership.”

Beyond his leadership qualities, it’s clear why Jones was given the starting nod. Among the six rostered quarterbacks, he is by far the most mobile option who can create opportunities downfield. While the announcement might not change much for Jones, it helps solidify the offensive unit less than two weeks before ASU’s first game against Northern Arizona on Sept. 1.

“It just allows us to get better chemistry,” Johnson said. “We know who the guy is, we know who we need to work extra with. You can’t really explain the impact that it has.”

Like Johnson, it motivates Jones to push harder with preseason practices winding down. As the Georgia native continues to acclimate himself with his new team, his newly awarded titles reflect on perhaps his strongest trait: leadership.

He appears to be taking a moment to appreciate that.

“Now I’m at the point to where they look up to me,” Jones said. “They see me as a leader. They see me as a guy that [can] come in and work and have the energy every day. So when they get around me they want to live up and hold up that standard.”