NFL Draft Diamonds Free Agent Interview: Shicorreus “Smash” Jones, Defensive Lineman

Hello, I am @jrberendzen on Twitter and this is one of my free agent interviews where I ask very deserving free agents questions about the players themselves and about what a team would get in these players. All of these players should get picked up by NFL, CFL, and XFL teams and get a shot at being a career football player. So I hope you all read this interview with Smash and follow his journey on Twitter!

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

• I was always a kid that had a lot of energy, so my mom ended up signing me up when I was 5, then as I got older, football became my outlet. Football also taught me a lot about discipline which was something that helped me even outside of sports. I also loved the excitement of it. I remember going to my first high school game in middle school and seeing the crowd, how intense it was, just made me even more hungry to be just like the players I was watching. Plus I always wanted to retire my mother early and football could do that as long as I did my part.

What is your typical training routine?

• My typical training routine is I go to the gym 3-5 days out of the week. The first few days are my heavy lifting in which I alternate between, lower body, upper body, and core workouts, and the other two are more so recovery days. I’ll usually spend roughly a hour or two in the gym. Then I’ll head to the field to get field work in for another hour. I have trainers that I meet with as well depending on our schedules.

If there was a billboard with 5 of your traits on it which 5 traits would be up there?

• 1. Ambitious 2. Hard-Working 3. Natural Leader 4. Self-Discipline 5. Team-Player/Respectful

What type of energy do you bring onto the football field?

• I’m very competitive. And I like my teammates to be just as competitive if not more. I feel like I’m a natural leader but I like to let my play speak louder than my words. I play with passion because I know how quickly one play could turn into your last play so I play every down as if it’s my last down of football.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day who and why?

• Aaron Donald easily. I love the way he plays. He also opened the door for a lot of interior linemen who weren’t 6’3 and up. I try to take parts of his game and incorporate them into my style of play. What he’s done in his 8 seasons is something that motivates me as well.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

• Honestly, I want my story and my journey to be motivation for others. The path I’ve taken is not the typical path and it’s definitely a harder path but I’ve been keeping my faith first and opportunities have been opening up for me. The main thing I want people to take away from me as a player is no matter how hard life gets or how many obstacles you face, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. That’s what keeps me going. I also want to be known as one of the best when it’s all said and done regardless of the league i end up in. I want them to always think “ wow, he never gave up” kind of like the impact Brandon Burlsworth had while he was at Arkansas. He had every odd stacked against him, but yet he prevailed before his tragedy. May he rest in peace.

What do you think are the keys to success on the football field?

• 1. FILM is probably the main thing I would say would provide a player success. Being able to pick up on your opponent’s tendencies is something that could be game changing. 2. Being attentive and having situational awareness. For instance in the super bowl on that fourth down play, once AD saw that he had the 1-on-1 with the guard, it was a wrap. And I feel like anybody that watches football should know that you don’t leave Aaron Donald 1-on-1 with anyone on a crucial down. 3. Being a team player. Playing interior defensive line isn’t always glamorous. There will be times where you doing your job enabled someone else to make the play and you have to be ok with that. 4. I would say being coachable is definitely an important key to success. I was always taught that you have to learn how to follow before you can lead. 5. Lastly I feel that another key to having success on the field, is simply playing with the passion that made you fall in love with the game to begin with. Regardless of what level someone plays at, if they’re giving their all each play, it’s going to show.

What should we know about Smash Jones the person?

• He’s humble. I probably could write a book on all the obstacles and adversity I’ve faced. One of which led me to walk away from football in order to put myself in a better situation. I’m a hard worker. My personality is infectious. I know how to work a room. I’m very big on family and trust. I’ve overcame so much, and yet I’m still fighting and grinding. I know how it feels to have the game taken away without having control so now I make sure that I perform at the best of my ability at all times so that I won’t have to worry about me not being able to make it due to anything that I’m lacking. I think any GM for any team would appreciate a player like that. I’m hungry, driven honestly.

What do you love about the game of football?

• The opportunities it provides us. A lot of guys don’t make it out from where I’m from. The ones that did, were the ones that played football or other sports. Regardless of how close or far we were, it gave us the opportunity to see the world outside of where we were from. I also love how football is the one of the few sports where you can have different players from different areas and we all have to come together to accomplish our goal. Everybody has to play up to their best ability and I feel like that translates into the real world outside of sports. Football encourages players to put their best foot forward and it tests you mentally and physically. And I like that challenge.

What would a team get in a player like you?

• A hard worker. I strive for perfection. I’m willing to play whatever and do whatever to help do my part in ensuring our overall teams success.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

• I pray about it and ask God for guidance. Normally, I’ll evaluate the circumstances and come up with the best possible solutions and move accordingly. I try not to dwell on what’s not going right and focus on what is doing well. It’s like I can’t allow myself to sit there and truly get in a funk about it because if I do, it will take away from me doing what I need to do to get out of it. I’m a firm believer in God gives his hardest battles to his toughest soldiers, so I look at every obstacle as a test and it’s up to me on whether I overcome them or not.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

• Winning the D2 national championship at Valdosta State is definitely my favorite moment. Even though I couldn’t physically be there due to me dealing with having the flu and strep throat, it was the fact that we had overcame so much including going 5-4 the season before to going 14-0 and winning the natty. It was a surreal experience. Another favorite moment of mine was definitely me getting my first college sack my sophomore year. I remember that game like it was yesterday.