One to Watch Interview with 2022 Sierra Canyon CB/SR D’Shawn Jones Jr.

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Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

Great coaches in any sport and at every level have a sneaky way of preparing their players for success on the field. The timeline for that success can range and typically depends on when the proverbial light bulb turns on seeing physical talents match the understanding and know-how of the game. For Class of 2022 Sierra Canyon corner/slot receiver D’Shawn Jones, the understanding was a build up through the first four games of the 2019 season by head coach Jon Ellinghouse. Now, Jones is a two-way player for the No. 16 ranked team in California (MaxPreps) starting on offense.

Year after year, Sierra Canyon wins, and that comes with player development and instruction within the schemes. Jones was a raw talent over the offseason getting extra training in with Formula 4 Speed on and off their 7v7 roster. The growth now has the rising 5-10, 165-pound, athlete as a “one to watch” talent in the Los Angeles area with 13 tackles, seven solo, five passes broken up with two picks and five receptions for 93 yards in an expanding role on offense.

The Trailblazers are 10-1 on the year going against Division 1/2 competition with a second-round playoff game against Vista Murrieta on Friday. For an update on his season and a look at Sierra Canyon in the postseason, I got an exclusive interview in with Mr. Jones.

Interview

D’Shawn, playing in a key role for a big-time California high school football program like Sierra Canyon, how has it gone?

“It is going great. I am blessed with an opportunity to play for the team and with the great teammates that I have.”

As the season has gone on and your opportunities have increased, how are you seeing your confidence in your talents take off?

“My confidence has definitely grown. In my first game, I did not have that confidence. After I got those pics, my confidence went through the roof.”

How did you prepare for the season over the offseason?

“I gained at least 20 pounds of muscle. I did not know how to run with that, so I ran track in the offseason to get more comfortable with the weight. I played with Formula 4 Speed. They help you with what you need to improve upon.”

What did you work on with Formula 4 Speed in the offseason?

“I worked on my DB skills mainly.”

How did that training help you?

“It helped a lot. I got more comfortable with my backpedal, keeping it longer, and with reading in the three steps.”

Where all are you lining up on the field this season with the Trailblazers?

“Since the Paraclete game, I have started at receiver. On defense, I am rotating in at corner covering the left side of the field.”

Nice. With the work put in over the offseason through this year’s schedule, where are you showing the improvements on defense?

“My recognition of plays has improved. I am better recognizing what is coming towards me with routes, and a lot of that is because of film. We watch a lot of film at school and I watch a lot on my off-time. We do tackling sessions in practice. We have four stations for three minutes each. That has helped me with my tackling. I was not as confident in that to start the season. As I did it more and more in practice, I got more confident in my tackling.”

And on offense?

“My game has improved tremendously. My freshman year I could not catch a ball to save my life. We do what we call “Every Day Drills”, that has helped me and has made me more comfortable catching the ball.”

Was there a game this season where all started clicking for you and everything came together?

“The St. Paul game. We worked against that wheel route the whole week of practice and I saw it on film. Once I saw that wheel in the game, I knew that was my ball. That was a turning point in my season.”

The team took care of Santa Margarita (35-21) in the opening round of the playoffs. How did the Trailblazers look in the victory?

“In the first half, as a defense, we made a lot of mistakes. We played sloppy and broke coverages, but we picked it up.”

Vista Murrieta (8-3) is next. What are you expecting from the Broncos after they topped Notre Dame 24-21 last week?

“They are a tough team. Their quarterback (Robert Coleman) might be the best we have seen all season No. 2 on their team (WR – Tyreese Shakir) we have to watch out for him. We have to be on top of our game and we will win.”

Any last words before we close out the interview?

“Yes. I want to give a shout out to my coaching staff, all the coaches. They have believed in me this season, and that has played a big part in my season knowing that I have people behind me that support what I do.”

D’Shawn, it was great covering ground with you today on your skills and the Trailblazers. Good luck to you and the team going forward.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: Sierra Canyon HS/Jones family; D’Shawn Jones Jr.