Syracuse Football: Mikel Jones, off to exquisite start, leads by example

Syracuse football junior linebacker Mikel Jones is off to a tremendous start in the 2021 campaign.

At linebacker…he stands 6-foot-1, weighs in at 220 pounds out of Miami, Florida, and leads the defense on and off the field…ladies and gentlemen I present to you the Dean of our Orange Defense…the hero Orange fans needed…the leader that makes me a believer…the offense cracking, linebacking, intensively attacking, play hacking, wheeling and dealing tackling machine son of a gun…Mikel Jones!!!!

Recently in a 2-minute drill with Brian Higgins before the Rutgers game, Mikel was asked his favorite pizza topping, to which he responded pepperoni. When asked if that’s all he liked, he stated that if he had to pick only one thing it would be barbecue chicken.

I can’t help but think that if I were Wildcat Pizza Pub or Dinosaur BBQ, this is a guy I’d want representing my brand. He not only has 21 tackles in two games already this season (currently ranked 9th in the nation in tackles) and is the current ACC Linebacker of the Week, but he’s also the guy Head Coach Dino Babers has talked about in multiple conversations about his leadership skills with other players as well.

Does anyone remember last year when he got that interception against NC State after teammate “Iffy” Melifonwu laid into the receiver popping the ball out into Mikel’s hands? Despite the team’s record last season, the guy had 69 tackles, a sack and 3 other interceptions as well in 2020.

Of his 11 tackles last week, 2.5 of those were for a loss (a career-best) and you have to believe that with experience, he’s only going to be better and he will likely see more awards bestowed upon him at this rate. Syracuse football has had many great linebackers including Keith Bullock, Jim Collins, Doug Hogue, and Zaire Franklin with Mikel Jones quickly working his name up the list.

Syracuse football linebacker Mikel Jones is a leader on and off the field.

Mikel is the kind of guy who not only wants to make the big play but is also a team guy. He’s the guy who wants to win and make the players around him successful as well. He’s that leader who wants to be the best but is genuinely happier when the team wins and lifts up those around him and that exemplifies a leader.

One only needs to hear what others on the team have to say about him when asked about him or peruse his Twitter feed to see how supportive he is of his teammates, as well as his desire to help this team win.

I’ve watched, listened to or read as many press conferences or profiles on players possible over the last month or so and when Mikel’s name is brought up, you can see the respect he has among his teammates. The linebacker group is very young and hopefully is learning from him as much as possible.

I was going to Google the word leader but I didn’t need to because, with a guy like Mikel Jones on the Syracuse football team, there is already a perfect example of the word. I’d love to have him be a part of this team for as long as possible but with his leadership and statistics, one has to believe it’s only a matter of time before NFL scouts start putting his name on their draft boards (if they aren’t already).

His legacy has yet to be defined seeing as how he still has a lot of games left to play in Orange since he’s only a junior but his name will be one fans will remember talking about for years to come and telling their kids they remember watching him and his intensity on the field. I for one can tell you that watching him, Duce Chestnut and Sean Tucker especially so far this season has been so enjoyable and I’m looking forward to big seasons from them all.

Thank you Mikel Jones for choosing Syracuse University and giving fans like me the thrill of rooting for you wearing the jersey of the team I love so much and being an example I can turn to my son and say “that’s how you play the game…that’s our leader.”

Let’s Go Orange!!!!