‘Put it all together’: UAB’s Luke Jones laying early claim to vacant LG position

By Evan Dudley
Every now and then an offensive lineman comes along that defies stereotypes.
Luke Jones is that lineman.
Despite his 6-foot-5, 310-pound frame and penchant for moving men from one spot to another, Jones is kind of a nerd. A computer nerd to be more specific.
“I’ve been around it my whole life,” Jones said. “My father was really big into computers and we would even build our own. I took a few AP classes in high school and even some coding. I’m excited about starting my major classes.”
When not interfacing digitally, Jones is interfacing with defensive linemen in fall camp while attempting to solidify his grasp on the left guard position for UAB’s revamped offensive line that lost five starters from a season ago.
“It’s a good opportunity because you got five new guys, who worked their butts off all summer, from May to now, and I’m excited about it,” UAB offensive line coach Eddie Gordon said. “Luke is a really good athlete and he’s one of the strongest guys in the room. So putting those two things together -- very nimble, understands pass-block very well, good on pulls and covering guys up in the run game.”
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A member of Bill Clark’s final recruiting class in 2022, the Sugar Hill, Georgia native was a 3-star prospect, according to both major recruiting services, and found his way to Birmingham based on the word of one his coaches and an invite to a summer camp.
“I first heard about the school from my outside linebackers coach in high school,” Jones said. “They invited me to the camp down here and it was actually there that I was offered by Coach (Bill) Clark and Coach (Richard) Owens, who was here at the time. I came back for the visit, fell in love with the place and didn’t even need to look anywhere else.”
Jones did not see the field in his first year with the program but opened fall camp as first-team left guard -- a role that he will continue to battle for sole possession throughout preseason practice. His effort and rapid development notwithstanding, the opportunity came at a price when redshirt junior Zaire Flournoy was lost for the season due to an injury suffered in the spring.
“He’s a fantastic member of our team, especially our offensive line unit,” Jones said. “He’s at every practice encouraging us, giving us tips and holding us accountable if we ever slack off.”
Not content to sulk on the sidelines, Flournoy took a proactive approach and shared his wisdom with his colleagues.
“He still has an iPad full of notes, even though he’s not taking reps,” Gordon said. “He’s talking to those guys during practice, making sure they’re on top of their deals, and a great asset to me as a coach and a great overall teammate.”
Flournoy was expected to take over left guard early in spring and Quez Yates was moved to the position temporarily until the conclusion of practice. With the latter back at right guard to start fall camp, Jones assumes the role but will face plenty of challengers to retain his hold on the position.
“He’s had a really good summer coming out of spring,” Gordon said. “He gained a lot of confidence and already has a lot of ability, we just put it all together. He’s very strong, very smart, but he’s still young sometimes. He’s going to be really good for us this fall.”
Along with gaining knowledge from Gordon and Flournoy, Jones benefits from working beside Brady Wilson, who started seven total games and three at center. Although not technically classified as a returning starter, at the center position, Wilson is a crucial anchor for the least experienced unit on the team.
“He’s got so much knowledge for football and he’s got a love for the game,” Jones said. “It spreads out to the rest of us. I’ve really enjoyed being his left guard and learning from what he’s got.”
Even with all the coaching and teammate advice, Jones is still a year removed from playing in an actual game but reaps the benefits of facing a defensive front filled with veterans and hungry freshmen. Ultimately, the success of the UAB offense rests upon the offensive line as the Blazers restocked their roster with a considerable amount of potential at the skill positions.
“I haven’t been able to play football since high school and really hoping to get into it this year,” Jones said. “Our offense has been looking fantastic. We’ve got so many weapons at running back and receiver and Zeno at quarterback. I think our offense is going to be a real strong suit for us this year.”