BY DON WILLLIAMS l AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

The last three seasons, reliable might have been the best adjective to describe Texas Tech defensive lineman Richard Jones. In the playing rotation since he was a true freshman, ready to fill either of the team’s defensive tackle positions, Jones started the last eight games of the 2008 season after Ra’Jon Henley injured a knee.

Jones has always played a lot. Based on his showing this spring, he might be able to dial it up a notch come his senior year.

Defensive lineman Richard Jones says of his improvement this spring that he's bigger, stronger, more savvy on the field and more devoted off it. "One thing about me this year, I've got Christ on my side," he says.

“He’s making a lot of plays,” defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill said. “I like the way he’s stepping up.”

During three weeks of spring practice, in the Red Raiders’ daily scrimmage periods, Jones usually does something to get noticed, whether it’s a quarterback pressure, a tackle behind the line or, in one instance, intercepting a Taylor Potts pass and covering a short distance for a touchdown.

McNeill readily agreed that Jones has had the best spring of any of the team’s defensive linemen — Jones or tackle Colby Whitlock, McNeill said.

“Richard’s getting better with his technique this spring, and his experience is showing,” McNeill said. “I hold him responsible for a lot of things, and I hold him accountable for leading our defense up front.”

The senior from La Marque said he’s different this spring in a few important ways: He’s bigger, stronger, more savvy on the field and more devoted off it. Jones credits someone other than himself for each improvement.

Since last season, he’s added 15 pounds, packing 285 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame. Jones played last year in the low 270s. Strength and conditioning coach Bennie Wylie gets credit for that.

“Actually Bennie, at workouts now, he’ll make sure I’m working out with him,” Jones said. “He’s made me way stronger than I was. Like, in the morning, I’ll come in and there won’t be a time that I won’t lift with him. He always makes sure I’m with him, and he’s pushing it heavy.”

For sharpening up his on-field game, Jones points to his defensive line coach: “Coach (Charlie) Sadler is doing a nice job of coaching me up on just little bitty things to make me a better player.”

During Monday’s team period, the offense had second-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Jones stopped freshman Harrison Jeffers for a 2-yard loss, and the offense wound up not scoring. Later, he pressured the quarterback closely enough to get a play whistled dead.

In Friday’s scrimmage period, Jones returned an interception for a touchdown. In last Wednesday’s team period, he read a tunnel screen to Detron Lewis and wrapped up the inside receiver for a 4-yard loss, then pierced the pocket for a touch sack a few plays later.

But Jones is careful not to blow his own horn.

“One thing about me this year, I’ve got Christ on my side,” he said. “I give it all to him, and he’s giving me the ability to make plays. That’s the difference maker this year. It’s a big change.

“I was always a believer, but I just started walking in the faith. It’s started to pay off for me.”

Jones mentions multiple people for influencing him in a spiritual direction, including teammates such as Baron Batch and Brian Duncan and former teammates Keyunta Dawson and Manny Ramirez who started a weekly team Bible study.

Even players on other teams, Jones said, have helped get him ready for what he hopes will be a big senior year.

“Most definitely I’m playing better now because of experience and by playing in major games and things like that,” he said. “Being an older guy and being through the Texas games and the (Oklahoma) games, it made me a better player by going up against key players that are better than me.”

To comment on this story:
don.williams@lubbockonline.com 766-8734
jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com 766-8735