Jarvis Jones helping Georgia's outside linebackers

Georgia student assistant Jarvis Jones, a two-time All-American for the Bulldogs during the 2011-12 seasons, helps freshman outside linebacker Nolan Smith (4) during a drill earlier this month. / Georgia photo/Tony Walsh
Georgia student assistant Jarvis Jones, a two-time All-American for the Bulldogs during the 2011-12 seasons, helps freshman outside linebacker Nolan Smith (4) during a drill earlier this month. / Georgia photo/Tony Walsh

Georgia's young but promising outside linebackers are being helped by someone who was wreaking havoc for the Bulldogs not that long ago.

Jarvis Jones, an All-American outside linebacker during the 2011-12 seasons, is back at Georgia as a student assistant under first-year defensive coordinator Dan Lanning. Jones has been with the Bulldogs for much of this summer and will turn 30 years old midway through the 2019 season.

"We never really knew he was coming," junior outside linebacker Walter Grant said in a recent news conference. "He was just here, and he's been helping us ever since."

Jones began his college career at Southern California before transferring to Athens and sitting out the 2010 season. He led the Southeastern Conference with 19.5 tackles for loss in 2011 and set a Georgia single-season sack record in 2012 with 14.5.

The Pittsburgh Steelers used the 17th overall pick in the 2013 draft to select Jones, who wound up compiling 129 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, four forced fumbles and two interceptions in 50 career games. The Steelers chose not to use a fifth-year option on Jones, who landed with the Arizona Cardinals briefly in 2017 before being released.

Kirby Smart credits running backs coach Dell McGee for bringing Jones aboard.

"I was not aware that he was done with football, and Dell said he was going to be back here in school," Smart said following Saturday's second scrimmage. "It was an awesome opportunity. I've been fortunate to have Kevin Butler and Chris Samuels and some other really special players to come back to work as undergrads.

"Jarvis is here every day. A lot of times you get those guys who can't be all in, but Jarvis is all in. He is in there to learn. He helps set the tempo and helps set the standard in the outside linebacker room. He demands excellence."

The Bulldogs returned to practice Monday with a light workout after taking Sunday off.

Grant is the veteran of Georgia's outside linebackers with 30 career tackles and eight career starts. Redshirt freshman Azeez Ojulari has been working at the first-team spot opposite Grant, and the position also includes touted newcomers Jermaine Johnson and Nolan Smith.

Johnson was the nation's No. 1 junior-college prospect in the 2019 signing class, while Smith was the nation's No. 1 high-school recruit. Redshirt sophomore Robert Beal and sophomore Adam Anderson are also former five-star prospects at the position guided by Lanning with help from Jones.

"Jarvis played the position, and he knows what it takes to play it," Smart said. "We have talented players at that position group, but a lot of those guys don't have any experience. Here's a guy who did it in the NFL and did it here at a high level."

Said Ojulari: "It's a blessing to have Jarvis Jones around. He was a great player here."

Anderson takes leave

Arkansas State announced Monday that football coach Blake Anderson is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the Red Wolves to be with his wife, Wendy, who has been battling breast cancer.

Georgia is hosting Arkansas State on Sept. 14.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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