Reuben Jones
DE/OLB / West Virginia
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Reuben Jones: Right now, I am 6’2, 250 and I haven’t run a forty-yard dash. I should be in the 4.6 or 4.7 range right now.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your overall experience at the College Gridiron Showcase in Texas?
Reuben Jones: It went great. I wanted to compete and show the scouts that I was going to run to the ball. I wanted to show my good get off and my ability to bend the edge. It was a business trip, and I treated it like that. I was sitting down with the coaches and eating. There was an article published that I stood out after the last day of practice. I had a sack and a strip sack during the scrimmage. I got in one play at MLB and made a five-yard TFL. A bunch of teams talked to me.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Reuben Jones: I am currently at West Virginia. My agent was talking to me about going down to MJP in Texas and working on agility drills for the pro day.
Alex Khvatov: When is your Pro Day?
Reuben Jones: March 25th. I want to show my effort, speed and agility. I want to show my get off the ball. Whatever I run during drills, I want teams to understand that I will play the same way on the field.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Reuben Jones: I had 33 D-I offers. I had Michigan State, Louisville, UCF, USF, Florida State, Florida and Miami. I went to an all-star game at Louisville with Lamar Jackson. I took my visit with him. I went to Nebraska. It was the first time I was out of the state of Florida. They beat Miami during my visit. I committed to Nebraska, but Bo Pelini got fired. I wasn’t feeling the new coaching staff. Then I went to Michigan.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Michigan?
Reuben Jones: I went to Michigan because of coach Durkin. He was recruiting me when he was at Florida. Then he went to Michigan and he was still recruiting me. Coach Harbaugh and Greg Mattison came to see me. I ended up at Michigan. I was getting first string reps at LB my freshman year. I got hurt second week or third week of the season. I was just standing by my coach at practice and getting mental reps for about four or five weeks. I had to take a redshirt year. Coach Durkin left and he ran a 3-4 defense. Coach Brown ran a different defense. I went from DE to MLB and back to DE during my redshirt freshman year.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Reuben Jones: Bring a high effort and motor. I get to the ball. I won’t take plays off. I can catch you on the backside. I bring the work ethic. You can’t compete with me. I will never stop.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Reuben Jones: Right now, just opening up my stride and getting my drops right. Opening up my hips and working on stopping and turning. I am doing yoga and it is helping with my flexibility. I am getting more comfortable at LB.
Alex Khvatov: You have made the switch to LB, how is the transition going during your training?
Reuben Jones: It is going really well. I see myself as an OLB. I can set an edge and put my hand in the dirt. I want to play different LB positions. I am listening to my old coaches on how to do different drills. I can play MLB and Sam LB.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your overall career?
Reuben Jones: I played in about six or seven games my redshirt freshman year. I played the same amount as a redshirt sophomore. During my redshirt junior year, I played six or seven game again. I would be in for first down and second down. They would be sporadic plays. I would get 12 or 15 snaps a game. I received 18 snaps against Nebraska, I had a TFL and I ran down a guy. It was an effort play. I graded out as the highest player on defense that game. I didn’t play at all the next game even though I practiced with the first team all week. I started to think about transferring. My mom had me when she was 14 years old. It was important for me to get a degree at Michigan before I left.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you decide to transfer to West Virginia for your final season?
Reuben Jones: Coach Ryan was a GA at West Virginia. He was a DL graduate assistant when I was at Michigan. He knew about me. He hit me up when he knew that I entered the transfer portal. I was actually close to going to Toledo. But I changed my mind. I wanted to go to a bigger conference and compete in the Big 12.
Alex Khvatov: Tell me about your senior year at West Virginia.
Reuben Jones: It went decent. I had two sacks the first game. I also had to take on a bigger leadership role. We had miscommunication between players on defense early in the season. The guys would get down on themselves. We had a lot of freshmen. I had to get guys going in practice. It was my responsibility to get the defense right. It was a difficult defense to learn because they had different terminology and techniques than what I was used to at Michigan. I did the best that I could. I was stunting and looping a lot. I played 3-tech and 4i-tech. I had 4.5 sacks, 33 tackles and 6 TFL’s.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Reuben Jones: How I played last game against TCU. We were trying to get that fifth win. We wanted to win the game. It was important to us. My coach let me play on the edge. I got a sack and I was getting hits on the QB. It felt really good. The feeling after the game when I stood on the field. The fans were screaming my name.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a DL?
Reuben Jones: His get off and his hands. Those two things are important. You also have to bend and get around the corner.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Reuben Jones: Khalil Mack, hands down. I was his film from college to the NFL film. I love how he moves. We are almost the same size. It is crazy how he makes those plays.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Reuben Jones: The Whole D-line. They will be nasty next year. Darius Stills, Dante Steels and Jeffery Pooler. At LB, Josh Chandler should have the best season next year. RB Tykee Smith was a freshman All-American.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced?
Reuben Jones: The best OL was Colton McKivitz. I went against him in practice. We battled every day. At Michigan, it was Mason Cole.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Reuben Jones: I want to provide for my family. I also have the love for the game. When you get a sack, people are screaming your name and you can’t exchange that experience for anything else. Making a big play is exciting.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Reuben Jones: I like to cook. I get on the grill and cook some pasta or some chicken. I hang out with my dog. I read up on real estate. I want to invest in real estate. I play video games with my boys.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Reuben Jones: Coaching in CFB. I can be good at it.
Alex Khvatov: What one word best describes you?
Reuben Jones: Tough.
