Seeing safety Brian Jones talking with a reporter after practice Tuesday, defensive coordinator Jay Bateman yelled his thoughts about Jones across the field on the way into the Fisher Football Training Complex.
"That's a future great one right there," Bateman said. "You're talking to a future great one right there."
Ball State needs the future to become the present in a hurry for Jones this week. In the season's first four games, Jones, a redshirt freshman, played primarily on special teams before injuries to seniors Sean Baker and Josh Howard forced Jones to play extensively on defense in Saturday's 62-6 loss at No. 3 Oklahoma.
Neither Howard nor Baker practiced Tuesday, and Baker had his left arm in a sling to protect his sprained shoulder. Because of the injuries, Jones is practicing this week with the expectation he will make the first start of his career this week against Temple on Homecoming.
"It's going to be an amazing experience," Jones said. "I'm ready to embrace the challenge."
Like many of Ball State's defensive backs, Jones found himself rushed into play against Oklahoma. Both of the Cardinals' starting safeties left the game in the first half with injuries, while junior cornerback Armand Dehaney suffered a concussion on the Sooners' first offensive play. Junior backup cornerback Andre Dawson also suffered an ankle injury and junior All-Mid-American Conference cornerback Jason Pinkston sat out his second straight game with a hamstring injury.
But Jones felt like he was ready for the opportunity after spending his redshirt season getting stronger and learning how to play the position at the college level.
"It was bad that a couple of safeties took a fall, but in football you have to step up and do your job," Jones said. "I was lucky enough to learn as much as I can from Sean Baker last year and this year, so I was pretty much up to beat on the plays and everything."
Jones made the most of his opportunity, recording six tackles. His play caught the eye of coach Pete Lembo, who said after the game that Jones "did some things well."
Jones said he found out he was going to get to play defense when he came off the field after a play on special teams. Bateman was waiting on the sideline to tell Jones that he would need to fill in for his injured teammates.
It was the situation Jones had spent more than a year preparing for since arriving at Ball State. But he knew he was ready for the chance thanks to Bateman's constant support and willingness to broadcast his beliefs across Scheumann Stadium to the press.
"It boosts my confidence up all the way," Jones said. "He tells me that all the time."
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