It was more than just his name that earned Christion Jones a job with the Chris Jones-coached Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The younger Jones was signed by the Roughriders on July 17 and spent the first two weeks of his time in the CFL on their practice roster. He played in his first game with Saskatchewan on Aug. 5, returning one punt for 26 yards and two kickoffs for 47 yards in a 30-15 loss to the host B.C. Lions.
That showing earned Jones another shot to make an impression. He’ll make his second career appearance in a CFL game Sunday, when the Roughriders entertain the Lions at Mosaic Stadium. Game time is 6 p.m.
“All we’re looking for as players is an opportunity,” Jones said Saturday. “That (showing in Vancouver) comes from what we’ve been practising and having confidence — which I have — and being able to make plays with the great group of guys who play on special teams.”
Chris Jones has been impressed with the CFL newcomer since the returner arrived in Regina.
“He reminds me of when (Chad Owens) first got to the league,” the Roughriders’ head coach-GM said in reference to the returner who currently is on Saskatchewan’s six-game injured list.
“He’s confident catching the ball. The first guy really doesn’t matter; he’s going to make the first guy miss. He’s not timid at all and he has great spot quickness. He’s quicker than he is fast.”
Christion Jones, 24, hails from Adamsville, Ala.
The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder was a receiver at the University of Alabama, but he did most of his damage on special teams. He recorded 66 punt returns for 719 yards with three touchdowns and 68 kickoff returns for 1,727 yards and two majors over four seasons with the Crimson Tide.
Jones wasn’t selected in the 2015 NFL draft, but he signed as a free agent with the Miami Dolphins. He was waived in the final round of cuts after getting hurt in the Dolphins’ final pre-season game of 2015.
He re-signed with the Dolphins in March of 2016, but was released during the off-season. He then signed with the Toronto Argonauts and went to their training camp, but was released after suffering a hamstring injury.
“I’ve been in different places and I’ve had a lot of ups and downs,” Jones said. “I look back on those downfalls to keep me level-headed while I’m here.”
That said, he almost didn’t get here. Thoughts of retirement went through his mind before he got another opportunity.
“I couldn’t live without football and I knew I was going to have a lot of regrets if I gave it up,” Jones said. “It was a very vulnerable time for me. I wanted to quit and I wanted to give it up, but I had the right support group in my ear to change my mind.
“It also made me see the bigger picture while I was hurt and rehabbing. I told myself that I was going to get back to this point.”
The Roughriders called Jones in early July and invited him in for a workout. That foot in the door was all he needed.
“I was in a situation where I was supposed to be in one place and it didn’t work out, so when Coach Jones called me, I was ready to go,” Jones said. “Things were kind of cloudy with my agent, but when I got that phone call, there was nothing going to hold me back.”
Chris Jones has seen a lot of players come to the CFL from SEC schools like Alabama and many of them have had the wrong attitude. They believe that they’re going to dominate the CFL because of their college pedigree — and then they find out there are good players in the league.
Christion Jones hasn’t shown that kind of arrogance.
“He has been very good,” Chris Jones said. “He has been out (of football for) a year, so when you’re sitting on the street for a year and you have time to sit there and reflect and go, ‘Y’know, I’m not playing,’ a lot of times the hunger is greater than anything else.
“All I’ve done to work with him is say, ‘Hey, do the right things and make sure you’re tucking that football away and look it in when you catch it.’ He has been well-coached.”
You might say.
Christion Jones’ head coach at Alabama was Nick Saban, who has guided the Crimson Tide to seven SEC titles and five national championships. Jones shared in two of those national title victories, winning it all in 2011 and ’12.
Saban has a reputation as an intense, demanding coach, but Jones said Saban has a side that many outside the program don’t see. Jones likened Saban’s style to “a fatherhood” that teaches players lessons that extend beyond the game.
That helps to explain Jones’ practice of visiting nursing homes in the Birmingham area in the off-season. The former health studies major said Saban planted the seed by suggesting his players get involved in their communities — and Jones decided to participate.
“(Playing for Saban) is an awesome experience,” he said. “It has affected my life after (college) football as well with the morals of being disciplined and having respect for everyone.
“Hard work pays off and some of that is starting to show now for me in Saskatchewan.”
