On the Plains with Justin Jones: ‘Putting it on the line'

Work, hard work. That’s a phrase every Auburn person has ingrained in their mind. 

It’s a phrase that epitomizes senior running back Justin Jones. 

Coming to Auburn as a walk-on from Bessemer, Alabama, Jones started his collegiate career at UAB. It wasn't until a phone call from his father, Edwin Jones, that a thought of playing at Auburn would ever be a possibility.

“My dad is a police officer and was a part of the escort for the Birmingham Bowl in 2021,” Jones said. “He called me one day and was like, ‘Justin, I think you can play here. I think you would be a good fit.’ I’ve always wanted to play in the SEC but knew there were some guys up there that can play. I’ve dreamed of playing at Auburn for so long and everything just worked out for me to make the move.”

Of the 48 people trying out for a spot, Jones was one of eight who made the team. He’s been contributing ever since. 

Jones was named offensive scout team player of the year in 2022. He started on special teams in every game in 2023. And he became a reserve running back and special teams contributor in 2024. Because of that growth and hard work, Jones was named a Burlsworth Trophy nominee last year, an award given to the nation’s top walk-on. 

“I’m a lot happier now that I’m at Auburn and am contributing,” Jones said. “I have goals that I want to achieve and I know that as long as I keep this path, I should be fine.”

That gridiron path started out before Justin was even in kindergarten.

“I’ve been playing football since I was 4 years old and it was full contact already at that point,” Jones said. “My dad put me in football and at that time, I didn’t have a choice. But the more I started playing, the more it grew on me.”

Jones kicked off his early football career on the offensive line but eventually got the courage to ask for the rock.

“I used to be a center, but started playing running back when I was 6,” he said. “I asked my coach for the ball, and I scored. As I got into peewee football, my dad said that he’d buy me a video game every time I scored. So, in one game, I scored six times.”

The drive and work ethic, along with some extra motivation and his family’s background in law enforcement as both his dad and his brother Jordan serve their communities, has helped Jones embrace the many roles a running back takes on in a game.

“My favorite thing about the position is the relationship I have with the quarterback,” Jones said. “I like blocking for him because I feel like I’m protecting a family member. So even though I’m the running back, I like being the closest to the QB to make sure he doesn’t get hit. It’s a sense of being his guardian.”

But there is more about being a running back that Jones loves. The competition he gets from his teammates in the running back room makes the hard work even more worth it.

“It’s always a competition,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what kind of competition it is, it’s always a competition. But I’ve learned a lot from the younger guys like DA (Damari Alston) and Jeremiah (Cobb) on how to take moves and add them to my bag of tricks. Or learning more about blocking from Sean Jackson when he was here because he was really good at that.

“It’s a great learning experience being in that room with them. It’s a great workplace and we’re all working hard for the same thing.”

Taking the leap and making a change to come to Auburn has not only shaped Jones into the football player he is today, it’s also helped him grow as a person and become a better teammate.

“Auburn has helped me grow to understand people with different backgrounds,” Jones said. “There are all different types of athletes, different types of families represented, different ethnic groups and cultures. It’s helped me become a better leader because of it. Helped me learn how to speak to people and has helped me grow a lot closer to my teammates.”

With his final collegiate season on the Plains on the horizon, Justin is excited for Auburn’s potential. He’s also looking forward to helping the group he’s really grown to care for – the walk-ons. 

“I’m working hard to get my shoulder back and finish my last season healthy,” Jones said. “I hope to get more carries this year and be a good leader on special teams. I’d like to help Reed (Hughes) out on special teams, and I’ve learned a lot from him on how to lead. It takes a village, and I would like to help the walk-ons find their place. You don’t see a lot of walk-ons these days really getting the glory, but they are putting it on the line and going to give it their all so I’m going to try my hardest to help them out and be a leader for them.”

Coming to Auburn was a big step for the kid from Bessemer who has traveled the long road to get here. Starting out at Bessemer Academy to a year at the Naval Academy Preparatory School to two years at UAB and now in his fourth year at Auburn, he’s ready to see what’s next. 

“That is a lot of football,” Jones said on his path to his senior season. “The younger guys keep telling me it’s time for me to start a family. But I’m excited to move on after this year and see what I’m able to do at the next level. I know I can be good, whether it’s at running back or on special teams. I know I can be a guy for one of those NFL teams. I’ve worked really hard to get here.”

The communications major graduated in August 2024 and has high expectations to make it in the NFL next year. When his time with the sport comes to an end, Jones wants to capitalize on the love of video games he first picked up as a 6-year-old scoring machine.

“I want to do eSports broadcasting at some point,” Jones said. “I’m still a big gamer. I love to play video games and I’ve always wanted to figure out how to keep that in my life so I think that would be really cool.”

The long path to Auburn has been filled with change accompanied by hard work to get to where he is today. Justin Jones thinks fondly of those who helped him along the way.

“First I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Jones said. “My mom and dad also because they are the reason I’ve even made it this far. They definitely guided me in the right path. And my brother and sisters. They are why I am who I am today and I’m so thankful.”