Post by rkozak201 on Apr 19, 2008 6:05:26 GMT -5
Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty
Trent Jones: "It's pretty much been that way since high school. Wherever any coach needs me to be I feel as though I have the ability to do that."
Wherever he lines up, Trent Jones is a playmaker for Reading.
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
With several players moving on after last season’s Eastern Conference championship, the Reading Express had a few holes to fill.
Coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski was looking for a solid defensive back, a hard-hitting linebacker, a game-changing kick returner and a backup running back.
Little did he know Trent Jones could fulfill all those needs.
In his first year with the Express, Jones has returned an opening kickoff for a touchdown, taken interceptions and fumble recoveries to the house and recorded a safety on a blitz.
“It’s pretty much been that way since high school,” said Jones, who played seven positions at Peabody High in Pittsburgh. “Wherever any coach needs me to be I feel as though I have the ability to do that.”
Jones’ 6-2, 237-pound frame allows him to deliver crushing blows to quarterbacks or running backs; his speeds enables him to cover the opponents’ top receivers; and his agility stirs the crowd each time he gets in the open field with the football.
About the only thing he hasn’t done since arriving in Reading is leap a tall building in a single bound.
Although he probably won’t do that tonight when the Express (3-2) hosts the Florence Phantoms (1-3) in an American Indoor Football Association game, there’s no predicting what Jones might do.
He was signed by the Express to be a defensive back, moved up to linebacker for a couple of weeks and moved back to D-back two weeks ago after the arrival of linebacker Rob Biernat.
“The kid just loves playing football,” Nowotarski said. “I’m thrilled that he’s here. We have him doing a little bit of everything.”
Jones also can line up in the offensive backfield or at wide receiver the way he did the past two seasons in Johnstown. Wherever he’s playing, Jones goes about his business with the same attitude.
“Everybody gets a chance to make a play,” said Jones, who went to school at Indiana (Pa.) “When your chance comes you’ve got to have the discipline and character to do it.”
With Johnstown not putting a team on the field this year, Jones was looking for someone else to give him a chance. He’s been a perfect fit for an Express team trying to maintain the level of success it has enjoyed in the first two seasons.
In the first two seasons, the Express has won a pair of division titles and reached last year’s AIFA championship game.
“I just wanted to come here and be a part of that.” Jones said. “I think I’m pretty well acclimated to how everybody plays and their personalities as well. Everybody’s kind of like friends now.”
Making friends is important, but impressing the boss is what really counts.
“Trent pretty much does it all for us,” Nowotarski said. “We couldn’t be happier with what he does. He’s a true football player.”
Contact Brian Rippey at 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.