Jim Jones enters his 13th season as the offensive line coach at Northwest as part of a second stint with the Rangers.
A native of Chicago, Jones has helped develop 40 offensive linemen who have moved on to the four-year level after Northwest, including 34 to NCAA Division I programs. Some of his most notable signees have been Cameron Pascal (Memphis), Jay Mickle (ULM), Second Team JCGridiron.com All-American Vance Van Every (Ohio), 2019 MACJC Offensive Line MVP and First Team NJCAA All-American center Ashton Gist (Charlotte), two-time NJCAA All-American and current Seattle Seahawk Damien Lewis (LSU), Donald Hawkins (Texas), Terry Johnson (Louisiana), Terrance Malone (Arkansas) and Chase Johnson (Arkansas State).
Northwest has ranked in the Top 25 in the NJCAA in rushing in all but two of Jones' 13 seasons and has rushed for 2,000 yards in six of the last nine seasons. Quarderman Sloan and Tywun Walters, both Division I signees, became the first running back duo to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season in 2016.
Last season, the Northwest offensive line paved the way for 1,629Â rushing yards, led by 631 yards from D'mariun Perteet, who ranked in the top 20 in the NJCAA for rushing yards. Three linemen received All-MACCC honors following the season: Melvin Collins, Jr., Dylan Spencer and Cameron Pascal.
In 2022, the Rangers rushed for 2,096 total yards, ranking fourth in the nation and first in the MACCC. Jamarien Bracey and Cayden Betts both rushed for 600+ yards apiece, while Xavier Davis and Cam Young chipped in 288 and 260 yards of their own, respectively. However, the robust rushing attack was largely due to a powerful offensive front, led by ULM signee and NJCAA Second Team All-American Jay Mickle.
Including Mickle, four of Jones' offensive linemen signed with FBS programs: Matt Williams (ULM), Jamarr Davis (Buffalo) and Jalen Nettles (UAB). Additionally, Jakobe McLaurin and David Duvall also signed Division I, joining the rosters of Eastern Kentucky and McNeese State, respectively.
In 2021, the Rangers bounced back for 2,531 rushing yards in 12 games, led by 1,286 yards from Williams. Northwest also passed for over 3,000 yards, thanks to the efforts of Samford signee Michael Hiers. Three of Jones' linemen were named All-MACCC (Vance Van Every, Austin Wilson and Davion Carter) and several found homes at the Division I level for the upcoming season, including Carter (Memphis), Van Every (Ohio) and Ethan Bumgarner (Southern Miss).
The Rangers' streak of 2,000 rushing yards was snapped due to a COVID-shortened 2020 season, but Northwest still rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in six games, finishing with 937 net yards. Veteran running back and all-conference selection Jaquerrious Williams led the way with 463 rushing yards and five touchdowns, followed by 266 yards and a pair of scores from Jamie Shaw, Jr.
Jones' offensive line was outstanding in 2017, allowing just nine sacks in 832 plays from scrimmage and paving the way for the NJCAA's fifth ranked total offense (485.5 ypg) and 11th-best scoring offense (37.3 ppg). The Rangers rolled up over 500 yards of offense five times and dropped 66 and 61 points on rival East Mississippi.
The Rangers boasted the MACJC’s leading rusher in 2014 and 2015 in NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year Justin Crawford, a free agent signee of the Atlanta Falcons. Kevin Perkins ranked fifth in the conference in rushing two seasons ago with 884 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Jones spent the 2013 season as the offensive line coach at Pearl River Community College before returning to Northwest.
In his first stint with the Ranger football program from 2010-12, Jones’ offensive line helped pave the way for the nation’s third-ranked offense in 2012 (434.1 ypg), fifth-ranked offense (485.4 ypg) in 2011 and 10th-ranked offense (413.6 ypg) in 2010.Â
The Rangers averaged 198.5 yards on the ground in those three years, rushed for 200 or more in 15 games and eclipsed 500 yards of total offense 11 times. Northwest exploded for a season-high 439 yards rushing in a 66-41 win over Holmes in 2011, the third-most rushing yards in single-game school history.
Backed by a pair of First Team All-MACJC selections and NJCAA First Team All-American Donald Hawkins, the offensive line allowed just four sacks in 2011 in 648 plays from the line of scrimmage and 11 in 709 plays during the 2012 season behind Second Team All-American Austin Douglas.Â
Jones came to Northwest in 2010Â from Lake Forest College where he served as offensive line/tight ends coach, run-game coordinator and athletic recruiter.Â
Prior to Lake Forest, Jones spent two seasons as a graduate assistant with the offensive line at the University of Virginia where the Cavaliers were 14-11 during his two seasons and appeared in the Gator Bowl following the 2007 season. After giving up 33 sacks in 2007 (2.54 sacks/game), the Cavaliers improved significantly by giving up just 16 during the 2008 season (1.33 sacks/game).
Jones played his college ball at Notre Dame from 1996-2000, playing in 24 career games (21 starts) and being recruited by legendary head coach Lou Holtz. He started at left guard his final two seasons for head coach Bob Davie after playing just three games combined over his first three seasons. He played a key role in helping the Fighting Irish rank 14th nationally in rushing and 17th in passing efficiency during the 2000 season.Â
Jones was an All-Independent selection by Collegefootballnews.com at seasons’ end and was selected to play in the Rotary Gridiron Classic All-Star game in Orlando. Jones received his degree in sociology in 2000.
He went on to play in the National Football League for six seasons, spending time with the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins and world champion Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2001-06 seasons. He was twice named the Steelers' Player of the Game during the 2004 season.
Jones was also a three-year letterman on the offensive and defensive lines at Richards High School. He was a First Team All-State pick on both offense and defense by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and Champaign News-Gazette and named to the Super 25 All-Area Team. He was later inducted into the Richards High School Hall of Fame in 2018.
