NFL
Former OSU, De La Salle star Jones drafted by Seahawks
Mike Boehm knew Jamarco Jones was special the first time he saw the future De La Salle lineman play football in eighth grade.
“He was a big body,” said Boehm, De La Salle’s football coach. “He had long arms, was very strong, and he had good technique for a young kid. The more you got to know him, the more you realized he was bound for greatness.”
Now Jones is bound for the NFL.
After a star-studded career at De La Salle and Ohio State, the Seattle Seahawks selected the 6-4, 299-pound offensive tackle Saturday in the fifth round — 168th overall — of the NFL draft.
Three other local players reportedly have signed free-agent contracts after going undrafted: Western Michigan running back Jarvion Franklin, an Andrew grad, with the Pittsburgh Steelers; Minnesota defensive lineman Steve Richardson, a Mount Carmel grad, with the Los Angeles Chargers; and Notre Dame linebacker Nyles Morgan, a Crete-Monee graduate, with the Bears.
A two-time All-Big Ten selection, Jones started to make a name for himself among Division I college programs during his sophomore season at De La Salle, according to Boehm.
“That’s when he blew up with all the offers,” Boehm said. “He could have gone to just about any school in the Big Ten. He was fundamentally sound. Plus, he was focused and handled his business on and off the field. I give his mom a lot of credit for that. She kept him on task.”
That task included the classroom, where Jones shined, according to Boehm.
“He had well over a 4.0 GPA,” Boehm said. “He was an honors student. He took his studies very seriously.”
Jones was also popular among his fellow students at De La Salle.
“He hung around with all the different groups of kids,” Boehm said. “He was easy to get along with. He fit in with everyone. He was very humble and had a great personality. He was an awesome kid.”
Jones made an impact right away at Ohio State, playing 10 games as a freshman on a Buckeyes team that won the national championship. He played in all 13 games both as a sophomore and junior, and 14 games as a senior for the Big Ten champions.
“Jamarco kept on the same path at Ohio State that he was on at De La Salle,” Boehm said. “I’m so happy for him. He worked hard to get a shot to play in the NFL. He’s someone our students can look up to.”
Morgan had 243 tackles, including 16.5 for loss, and six sacks for Notre Dame. The 6-1, 235-pound linebacker was a standout on defense for 2012 Class 6A state champion Crete-Monee.
Franklin totaled 4,867 yards and 52 touchdowns as a four-year starter at running back for Western Michigan. He rushed for 1,265 yards and 15 TDs his senior season at Andrew.
Richardson, a 5-11, 300-pound defensive lineman, had 103 tackles, including 29 for loss, and 12.5 sacks at Minnesota. He helped Mount Carmel win back-to-back state championships in 2012 and 2013.
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