Early Years
Jones was born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised by his mother, Deborah Jones, and his grandmother, Christine Jones. His father was killed in a robbery in 1991 at the age of 26. As a child growing up in the Sandtown neighborhood of Atlanta, he was coached by longtime Sandtown coach Gary Jones. When Jones was a freshman at West Virginia University, his grandmother died of cancer; Jones missed the only game of his three-year college career to attend her funeral. On the day of the NFL Draft, Jones wore a t-shirt that featured his grandmother's picture.
Jones attended Westlake High School, in Atlanta, Georgia. Westlake High School was considered a football powerhouse; in 2005, the school had the most alumni in the NFL with six players. In football, Jones played in the Georgia-Florida all-star game, and was selected as the conference "Player of the Year" following his senior year after totaling 120 tackles, six interceptions and 1,850 rushing yards.
In addition to his accomplishments in football, Jones also earned All-American honors in basketball and track. His basketball team won two state championships.
Read more about this topic: Adam Jones (American Football)
Famous quotes containing the words early years, early and/or years:
“Parents ... are sometimes a bit of a disappointment to their children. They don’t fulfil the promise of their early years.”
—Anthony Powell (b. 1905)
“Foolish prater, What dost thou
So early at my window do?
Cruel bird, thou’st ta’en away
A dream out of my arms to-day;
A dream that ne’er must equall’d be
By all that waking eyes may see.
Thou this damage to repair
Nothing half so sweet and fair,
Nothing half so good, canst bring,
Tho’ men say thou bring’st the Spring.”
—Abraham Cowley (1618–1667)
“It’s no go the Government grants, it’s no go the elections, Sit on your arse for fifty years and hang your hat on a pension.”
—Louis MacNeice (1907–1963)