Many times the work athletes do on the field overshadows the things they do in the classroom and behind the scenes.
But Noxubee County High School linebacker Javancy Jones has his priorities in order. From an early age, his parents stressed he needed to make good grades before he was allowed to participate in sports.
“To them, academics come first and then football,” Jones said. “For me to keep playing football I had to keep my academics up. I love to play football, so I had to love my academics.”
Jones is a leading candidate to be the valedictorian of his senior class. He owns a 4.14 grade-point average and has earned a qualifying score of 21 on the ACT in his first attempt. The ACT is a high school achievement and national college admissions examination that includes subject area tests in English, math, reading, and science.
Harvard University, Princeton University, Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University have shown interest in Jones, which proves his capability in the classroom and on the field. He also has started to focus on his major in college.
“My plans are to become a physical therapist,” Jones said. “There are some other things that have been catching my eye, but I’m sticking with physical therapy to keep me around football.”
Those renown academic institutions aren’t the only schools interested in Jones. The University of Alabama, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the University of Memphis, Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi also have contacted him.
Jones also recently received his first scholarship offer from Arkansas State University.
“When you’re out there and see everybody interested and they’re not offering you wonder what do you have to do to do better,” Jones said. “When (Arkansas State) offered me I saw I had improved on something. Now I’m trying to get more because that’s only one (offer), and I’ve got to do better.”
The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder was a standout at MSU’s camp in June.
“I really didn’t do the combine part with the 40(-yard dash) and all that because I had a bruised rib,” Jones said. “But I worked out there with coach (Geoff) Collins. It was fun out there with him because he just wants you to come out there and compete. As long as you compete, give 100 percent, and don’t give up he’s happy.”
Jones has a few ties to the MSU team. Linebacker Deontae Skinner, Jones’ former teammate at Noxubee County High, and tight end Brandon Hill, a former standout at West Lowndes High, are friends who have given him some advice.
“I’ve talked to (Skinner) a lot lately and asked him how it is to be a Bulldog,” Jones said. “But I’ve also been talking to Brandon Hill. He’s like a brother to me. We work on some of the drills they do so I can get better.”
Last season, Jones had 87 tackles (40 solo, 47 assists), 17 sacks, one interception, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection while helping the Tigers to a 10-3 record and into the second round of the Class 4A North State playoffs.
Jones has measured with a 27-inch vertical and did 18 bench press repetitions at 225 pounds.
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