W&M's Jalen Jones leads FCS in PBUs. Here's why, per coach Mike London.
After dealing one ace defensive back to college football, Chesapeake’s Deep Creek High School made it a pair.
Ras-I Dowling graduated from Deep Creek, was a four-year regular at the University of Virginia 2007-10, and then played in the NFL for the Patriots and Raiders. Dowling became a William & Mary assistant coach, which brought him in contact with Deep Creek defensive back Jalen Jones.
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W&M cornerback Jalen Jones was a consensus FCS All-American following last season after leading the nation in passes defended (22), pass breakups (20) and passes defended per game (1.8), with two interceptions.
"Track was actually my No. 1 pursuit. I didn't really think I was going to play football in college," said Jones. "But the development of my relationship with coach Dowling really got me to reconsider. He was a really big role model to me, as well. He was the only one who showed true belief in me at the time."
Jones walked on to W&M football and redshirted as a true freshman. The 6-foot 190-pounder on Tuesday was named first-team preseason FCS All-American by Stats Perform, continuing Jones’ list of honors. The cornerback was a consensus FCS All-American following last season after leading the nation in passes defended (22), pass breakups (20) and passes defended per game (1.8).
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Jones
“Jalen’s done a really good job of taking the coaching, the technique parts of it, and adding it to his game,” Tribe coach Mike London said of Jones, a four-year starter. “The (pass breakups) and addressing those issues with going up and tying to knock the ball down, he’s gotten really good at that.
“It’s a tribute to him and coach Dowling in terms of teaching and taking the teaching to heart, and then executing it on the field.”
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Dowling
Dowling is in his seventh year on the W&M staff, and is the Tribe's co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach. He played for London at Virginia, where London was coach 2010-15.
In 2019 at Deep Creek, Jones was a state champion long jumper and a state runner-up in the triple-jump. He explored participating in college track at Virginia Tech and other schools. At the urging of Dowling, Jones came to W&M and was named the 2022 CAA Football defensive rookie of the year as a redshirt freshman.
"In the beginning, I just wanted to be a sponge," Jones said. "I wanted to learn as much as I could. I wanted to be involved as much as I could, whether that be on the scout team, special teams, all of that. I just wanted to be some sort of help for the team."
Jones is one of nine children in his family (eight boys, one girl).
London begins his seventh year as coach of the Tribe, who kick off their season at Furman on Aug. 30. This will be William & Mary's final season as a member of CAA Football. The Tribe becomes a Patriot League member for football only in 2026.
Named to the FCS preseason second team was University of Richmond redshirt junior linebacker Carter Glassmyer (Central York, Pennsylvania), who led the CAA Football champion Spiders in tackles last season. Glassmyer, 6-1 and 201 pounds, spent two years at Saint Francis before transferring to Richmond.
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The Spiders, who have advanced to the FCS playoffs each of the last three years as CAA Football members, are now members of the Patriot League for football only. UR starts its season, and Patriot League competition, Aug. 30 at Lehigh.
William & Mary placed two players on the FCS preseason third team, 6-4, 305-pound graduate center Ryan McKenna (Doylestown, Pennsylvania), a four-year starter, and 6-6, 230-pound senior tight end Trey McDonald (Kinnelon, New Jersey).
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The University of Richmond hosted conference rival William & Mary at Robins Stadium, Saturday 11/19/2022. William and Mary players celebrate winning their conference championship.
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The University of Richmond hosted conference rival William & Mary at Robins Stadium, Saturday 11/19/2022. William & Mary coach Mike London greets his offense after they scored.
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The University of Richmond hosted conference rival William & Mary at Robins Stadium, Saturday 11/19/2022. William and Mary players celebrate with their fans after winning the game.
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The University of Richmond hosted conference rival William & Mary at Robins Stadium, Saturday 11/19/2022. William & Mary quarterback Darius Wilson #11 slips the tackle of Richmond’s #44 Jeremiah Grant to score late in the game. .
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The University of Richmond hosted conference rival William & Mary at Robins Stadium, Saturday 11/19/2022. William and Mary players Zyquan Bessant #0 and Colby Sorsdal #64 embrace after their team's win.
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The University of Richmond hosted conference rival William & Mary at Robins Stadium, Saturday 11/19/2022. Richmond players take the field before the game.
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William & Mary’s DreSean Kendrick scrambled for yardage as Richmond’s Phil O’Connor closed in Saturday at Robins Stadium.
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The University of Richmond hosted conference rival William & Mary at Robins Stadium, Saturday 11/19/2022. William & Mary players and coaches observe a moment of silence in honor of deceased UVA football players prior to the game.
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The University of Richmond hosted conference rival William & Mary at Robins Stadium, Saturday 11/19/2022. William & Mary receiver DeSean Kendrick #5 gains yards before being tackled by Richmond's Philip O'Connor #10.
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The University of Richmond hosted conference rival William & Mary at Robins Stadium, Saturday 11/19/2022. Richmond players and coaches observe a moment of silence in honor of deceased UVA football players prior to the game.
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The University of Richmond hosted conference rival William & Mary at Robins Stadium, Saturday 11/19/2022. Richmond's #14 Jakob Herres pulls in a touchdown in front of #24 Jaedon Joyner.
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The University of Richmond hosted conference rival William & Mary at Robins Stadium, Saturday 11/19/2022. William & Mary quarterback Darius Wilsom #11 scores to give his team the lead just before the half.