Orlando Jones’ junior year was halted by injury as he got hurt on the first carry of the game against Courtland High School (Va.) which the Riverbend Bears of Fredericksburg, Virginia, lost to 7-6. After that, he missed a few games and saw limited action after that, according to his head football coach Joseph DeMarco.
Jones had 228 total yards against Chancellor High School (Va.), Riverbend’s first game of the season last year. He finished the season with 672 total yards and is closing in on 2,000 career rushing yards, DeMarco said.
Orlando Jones is not ranked by any of the major recruiting services (247Sports, Scout, Rivals) but he has received scholarship offers from Kentucky Christian University and Bryant University. He realized he had the talent to play football in his freshman year at Riverbend. He was 225-230 pounds coming in and needed to get his weight down and his speed up to be more competitive.
“Orlando has really changed his body type. He played last year at 222 pounds and is down to 208. He is way more explosive and quicker. Reminds me of when Rocky lost weight and chased chickens in his rematch against Clubber Lang in Rocky 3,” DeMarco said.
The 5’10, 208 pound, running back and linebacker comes from Woodbridge, Virginia and his mother made him want to take football more seriously because as a single mom she struggled a lot. His recruiting process, Orlando Jones said, was slow at first but it picked up once he received those two offers. A sigh of relief for the 2017 recruit. See his junior highlights here.
He has high interest in Coastal Carolina University because they have been recruiting him the hardest. Pittsburgh, Temple, and UVA are also suitors of his. He plans to make his commitment decision either the last week of the 2016 season (10/28 vs Hylton Bulldogs) or after this season.
Orlando Jones on film, has a nice blend of power, speed, and elusiveness but he believes the best part of his game is his football IQ and his ability to stay composed and make great plays. He did say he has to work more on his speed, making defenders miss and using his hands.
DeMarco said that college coaches love Jones’s downhill running ability and how the first tackler rarely brings him down. DeMarco wants to see him lead more during practice.
“He needs to be the sheriff this year.”
When Orlando Jones hangs up his cleats for the last time at Riverbend High School, his coach is going to remember him for the intensity he brings every time he puts his pads on. DeMarco said Jones is one of the most serious football players he has ever coached.
“He wants to get to the next level and works every day to get there.”
Orlando Jones has one more year to make a name for himself but more importantly, stay healthy and perform.