Name: Emanuel Jones
School: Concordia St. Paul/Northwest Missouri State
Position: RB/KR
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 214
Q: What goals did you accomplish heading into your final collegiate season?
After an unexpected transfer situation, I decided to use my last year of eligibility at Concordia St. Paul. I was enrolled 2 days before the first game of the season. Due to the situation, the goals that I set and accomplished were getting acclimated to the team and coaching staff as quickly as possible, learning and adjusting to the playbook as quickly as possible, and to become an immediate contributor on both offense and special teams as fast as possible as well. Also, to use my God given ability and knowledge I have gained to help improve Concordia St. Paul as a team and program.
Q: What would your coaches say about the type of player you are?
My coaches would say that I am a very passionate player and a natural leader. I believe they would say that I am a versatile player who can take coaching and apply it to game situations well on the fly. They would say that I truly care about my teammates, have a profound love for the game, and I am a player who has the ability to make a lot of explosive plays. I’m a guy that battles and won’t ever give up. And lastly, I believe my strength coach would say I am a hard worker off the field as well.
Q: When you are studying film, what do you focus on to improve your game?
When I am studying film, I really focus on defensive tendencies as a whole and as individuals. As a whole, I look at what fronts they run and how frequently they do so. I do the same for blitz’s and blitz frequencies. Also, how they align to our (or other teams that are similar) different formations, what they like to do on certain downs or down and distances, and when and how often the D-lines runs their games. I also work to understand when and what coverages they get into. As individuals, I study to find the defense’s strengths and weaknesses on the field. How the linebackers blitz (if they like to dance and make a move or bull rush), and in the secondary I work to find if they are part of the blitz package and how they as individuals tackle.
Q: What separates you from the other players at your position?
My versatility at the RB position, awareness, and ability to to take and apply coaching is what separates me from other players at my position. I have the ability to run inside zone, the speed to run outside zone, and the speed and ability to catch and run routes out the backfield or even line up in the slot and take advantage of match ups on the field. Also, able to step up in pass protection and block on the edges as well. I’ve been around great football minds and learned a lot about the game. I can learn and retain information quickly as well.
Q: How will you train and prepare this offseason for the draft or other pro opportunities?
I am staying in Minnesota to finish my degree, so I am training in the twin cities with trainer Deventri Jordan at Game Face Training. We have already began training for the FBS All-American Tropical Bowl, and when I am back from Florida, we will begin to train for pro day and combine opportunities, and hopefully the opportunity at the professional level.
Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?
My strengths on and off the field will be a true focus on wanting to become the best player and teammate I can possibly be. Also, the versatility I’ll be able to bring to a team by creating winning match ups at the RB position and being able to produce on special teams as well. I’ve learned to take everything one rep at a time, one practice at a time, and one day at a time, and be sure to be 100% when I’m doing so. That aspect of me would stand out.
Q: What is your final pitch or sell to NFL and other pro league scouts?
If you gave me the chance, heard my story, and saw me on the field and the desire I had to be great and make others great around me, I believe you would want to give me an opportunity to be apart of your organization. Regardless of the situation, I find a way to make the situation positive and there is no giving up in me and never has been. I will make someone’s team better than it was before.
