Shedrick Jones is a senior at Ardmore and plays on the offensive line for the Tigers. Jones has been a two year starter at right tackle and is a key member of the Tigers’ front line. Coaches at Ardmore speak highly of Jones and say he is one of the most dependable players on the roster. For Jones, football has been a lifelong passion and is a way for him to build relationships on and off the field.
“I first started playing football when I was four years old,” Jones said. “My favorite aspect of the sport is being on the team because the brotherhood you get with your teammates is something you could never get without playing football in most situations.”
Jones has learned a lot about life from football and many lessons and experiences he will carry with him into the future. Jones said playing with the Tigers has taught him about accountability, not only from an individual perspective, but from a team perspective as well.
“It’s not always about myself,” Jones said. “My decisions can dictate others too through my actions. I have learned to be more positive because being negative just makes it worse every single time no matter the situation.”
Jones knows what qualities he and others need to bring to a productive and successful team: accountability, positivity, selflessness, respectfulness, and leadership. He is appreciative of the support and encouragement he has learned from his coaches, teammates, friends and family over the years and the values they have shared with him.
“My mom is my inspiration,” Jones said. “She has done so much for me as a kid and even now. I look up to her everyday because she has made sure I stayed in sports and never gave up on anything and always made me work hard in whatever I do. I really appreciate all she has done for me.”
As Jones continues his senior year he has set some goals for himself on and off the field.
“My goal for football is to be the best lineman I can be for my team and to go to the playoffs,” Jones said. “Academic wise I want to keep straight A’s all year long to show I’m a good student as well.”
Jones is looking forward to finishing out his senior year on a high note and creating some more terrific memories before graduation. He recalled his favorite athletic memory from his sophomore year which occurred in the state basketball tournament.“I got to play the most minutes of my career at that time on the biggest stage of them all which was the state tournament,” Jones said. “I was the sixth man the first game and I played great -more than what anyone expected from me- and we won that game and coach Jessie even recognized me after the game because I did so good. I got to start the next game, too. We lost but it was a great memory for me overall.”
