🏈 Cyrus Jones Makes No Watch Lists, Vows to Prove Them Wrong

[Snout Spout]

A frustrated Cyrus Jones called his father, Cyrus Jones Sr., shortly after the watch list for the Jim Thorpe watch list was released in July.

Forty-two defensive backs recognized. Alabama's senior cornerback wasn't one of them, even after being named second-team All-SEC last season despite playing the entire year through a torn hip labrum that required surgery following the season.

Jones told his dad, "People still don't respect me," later stating confidently, "I guarantee people are going to respect me by the end of this year if they don't already."

Entering his third year as a starting cornerback for the Tide, Jones still feels overlooked and underappreciated nationally, beliefs that make the already fiery and competitive Baltimore native even more motivated heading into this season.

While Jones was recently named preseason first-team All-SEC, he was not among the 88 players named to the watch list for the Bronco Nagurski Award or one of the 80 selected to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award in addition to being left off the watch list for the Thorpe Award.

The Bronco Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik awards recognize the top defensive player in the country. The Thorpe Award is given to the nation's best defensive back.

"As a coach and a former player, I know some people either have that competitive spirit or they don't," Jones Sr., a high school basketball coach in Baltimore, told AL.com. "He's one of those kids who actually has it. He was definitely upset [at being left off the watch lists], and that's not the first time that he's been upset for not being recognized for all the hard work and dedication that he puts into the game. ...

"He said this is another situation where people are overlooking his talent. But as I always tell him, 'That's motivation. Use that as motivation. Don't let it discourage you. Don't let it get you down. But keep that in the back of your head that that's someone else and other people who didn't feel you're one of the best.'"

It's probably 3x that long. Decent article. Says Saban told him he wants to see him fight for the ball in the air more and be more physical, etc.

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/i...cyrus_jones_feels_o.html#incart_story_package

 

[BlackPawnMartyr]

Go prove them wrong young man.

 

[TerryP]

Cyrus, much like Ragland, was under-appreciated last year.

 

[2Stater]

Apparently, he plans on turning around this year.

 

[CrimsonBoz]

Apparently, he plans on turning around this year.

Bahahahahahahah

 

[CrimsonBoz]

On a serious note, Cyrus works extremely hard. He is fighting genetics at this point but is a very good corner in every sense.

 

[Crimson Legend]

I'm not a fan of short corners.

 

[Gideon Swashbuckler]

Thorpe
Bet the mortgage.