ESPN.com - Introducing the class: Walker Jones

ESPN.com: Alabama Crimson Tide

Monday, January 7, 2013
Introducing the class: Walker Jones

By Greg Ostendorf

Editor's note: This is a series introducing Alabama's 2013 recruiting class that will run through signing day.

When Walker Jones committed to the University of Alabama, it came as no surprise to most fans. After all, his two older brothers -- Barrett and Harrison -- both play for the Crimson Tide. However, Walker went through the recruiting process with an open mind and looked at all the interested suitors before giving his commitment to Alabama over the summer. Now he’s set to continue the Jones’ legacy at the Capstone.

Q: What made you commit to Alabama?

A: The first thing is they’re a winning program, one of the top programs in the nation, and they have a chance to make it three out of our national championships. Honestly, football is a lot more fun when you win, so that was definitely a deciding factor. I felt like it fit my academic goals with a strong med school. Also, I just felt comfortable there around the people and around the coaches, and I’m really excited to have the opportunity.

Q: What’s life been like since your commitment?

A: It’s been great. It was good to get the burden off my back, just to have a good senior season which we made it to the state championship, so that was fun. It’s been good. Everybody’s been supportive. Even the other coaches that I called when I committed, they were supportive of me and wished me the best.

Q: When did you first meet Coach Saban? What was that like?

A: Harrison and Barrett both met him back when he was at LSU. It was probably Barrett’s junior year when I met him. The first time I went into his office was junior day, and he offered me. It was incredible. It had been my dream for a long time to get an offer from Alabama. When that happened, he sat me down and said, ‘We’re not recruiting you for who your brothers are, but it’s for who you are and who we think you can be for our program.’ That was real exciting.

Q: What’s your favorite Alabama memory to this point?

A: The most pumped I’ve ever been was either when we blocked the field goal against Tennessee in ’09 or the touchdown T.J. Yeldon scored at LSU to win the game. Those were probably my two best memories just as far as pure emotion goes, but the the happiest I’ve ever been after a win was when we meet Tim Tebow in ’09. I love Tim Tebow, but that was a really good team, and I felt like that was probably one of the best games I’ve ever seen Alabama play.

Q: What’s your goal when you get to Alabama?

A: It’s a little lofty to say I’m going to start my first year, but I want to. If that happens, I’ll obviously be thrilled, but with C.J. Mosley and Trey DePriest, those type of guys, the opportunity is probably not going to come. I’ve kind of made my immediate goal to contribute on special teams and wherever else I can. I can get in the system, learn the defense, and I’ll have a year to learn from guys like C.J. who was an All-American this year.

Q: Do you have a favorite play or memory from high school?

A: That one’s easy. In the semifinals, we played a team who we played the first game of the year -- St. George’s. We actually got beat the first game, 10-6. Then we played them again, and we went into double overtime. We scored. They got the ball back and had to score a touchdown, and I tipped a pass and we intercepted it and won the game. That was probably, not probably, that was definitely my best memory of high school.

Favorite food: Lasagna or spaghetti

Dream car: Chevy Tahoe (White)

Number at Alabama: 33

Favorite NFL player: Patrick Willis or Aldon Smith

Dream vacation: Scuba dive off the Great Barrier Reef

Hobby: I play tennis and golf.

Music before a game: Dubstep (Nero or Skrillex)