BOULDER – Halfway through the 2019 season, Akil Jones took over as Colorado’s second starting inside linebacker next to Nate Landman.
“Nate’s like a brother really,” Jones told reporters Friday. “We just click out there on the field.”
The relationship extends beyond the field, too.
“It’s just a brotherhood that we’ve built over the years,” Jones said. “We’ve been in fall camp together, we go out together, we eat together, we’re always talking. And that’s really how it is with most of the ‘backers.”
Relationships are important to Jones; he bleached his hair blond recently to pay homage to former Buffs linebacker Rick Gamboa. Gamboa used to go blond before every football season.
Things will be easier for Jones this year, as the defensive line in front of them has gotten bigger, stronger and more experienced. Jones said he’s been able to see its growth so far in practice.
“I’m blessed,” Jones said. “I’m truly blessed becasue these dudes have been getting after it. (We’re) not over here having to talk to them, making sure they know what to do. They know what to do and they’re going. I don’t want it to sound like I get to kick back and relax and just watch but it is fun to feel like I get to have a load taken off of me.”
If Jones did kick back, there’s a good chance he wouldn’t hold on to his starting job. Jon Van Diest, who won the starting job out of camp last year, is still around and there’s a group of young linebackers who are hungry for playing time.
“I think Marvin ham. Quinn Perry, John Van Diest, even some of the younger dudes; every day we come out to compete like nothing’s on paper and nothing’s written down in ink,” Jones said. “Everyday you’ve got to come out and show out. Otherwise they just put the next man in and really it’s nothing against you or anything. It’s just that you just have to perform. We can’t just have a bad day.”
As of now, the starting job is still in Jones’ hands and his bond with Landman should help it stay there.
“We put our blood, sweat and tears into that,” Jones said. “We both know what we want to get out of it and really it’s just something we’re both work toward.”
