Previewing Miami 4-star DT commit Artavius Jones’ senior season: ‘We’ve never had a kid that has the body type or the skillset that he has’

Blountstown (Fla.) four-star Miami commit defensive tackle Artavius Jones had a busy summer between adding roughly 25 pounds, increasing his strength in the weight room and committing to the Hurricanes. But his senior football season is shaping up to be even bigger.

Jones, who is currently listed at 6-foot-2 and 285 pounds, is now weighing in at “about 310 (pounds),” according to Blountstown head coach Greg Jordan. He’d like to see Jones cut his weight down to around 300 pounds this season, but even with his massive frame, he’s still equally effective on the football field.

“Tool-wise, Artavius has the tools to not only be one of the best defensive tackles in the panhandle of Florida but in the State of Florida, I feel like,” Jordan said. “He’s still great. Last year was his first year playing defensive tackle and he got better and better as the year went on, so we expect him to pick up where he left off. He’s a year stronger, won a state championship in weightlifting for us in April last year and he’s 25 pounds heavier. Once we get him in playing shape, the sky is the limit for him.”

Jordan started working with Jones following his sophomore year, although he had only played tight end until that point, but he immediately saw Jones’ potential as a defensive tackle. Jones hadn’t played as much football as some prospects who have trained since their elementary school years, but he’s improved significantly since he started receiving more reps.

Jones was still an effective tight end for Blountstown last year, hauling in eight catches for 142 yards and a touchdown last season while being a phenomenal blocker in Blountstown’s power run offense, but Jordan has no doubt of his effectiveness as a defensive tackle.

“I’ve been here 25 years off and on as a head coach or an assistant, and we’ve never had a kid that has the body type or the skillset that he has,” Jordan said. “I knew post-high school ball that he was going to be an interior defensive lineman probably with his skillset and size, and he’s just continued to blossom. People have see film on him.”

However, Jones is still relatively raw and far from a finished product. Many of his defensive highlights come from an overwhelming bull rush where he manhandles opposing guards and centers, and Jordan understands he’ll need to learn how to work through double teams, which he believes will come with experience at the position. But Jordan knows he still has the tools.

“I’m kind of curious to see the quickness and the lateral movement with the extra weight and how that’s going to affect things,” Jordan said. “I know power-wise, straight ahead it’s going to be a problem for other folks. But I want to see his quickness and his ability to move side to side at 300 pounds.”

CaneSport’s Take

Jones’ movement and agility separates him from most defensive tackles, and while his lateral quickness could use some help, there’s nothing that suggests it can’t be improved with the right coach. If he’s able to convert some of his weight into muscle, his body type could be very college-ready by the time he arrives in Miami.

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