Dilin Jones set to be a difference maker at Wisconsin
OLNEY, Md. (BVM) 鈥� The 2022 football season served as the perfect platform for Our Lady Good Counsel running back Dilin Jones to fully announce his arrival on the prep football scene.听
While opposing teams and college recruiters took notice of the breakout year, Jones鈥� coaches knew just what the-then junior back had in store for the Falcons鈥� 8-3 campaign.
鈥淓ven as a sophomore, we knew we had somebody who was just different,鈥� Good Counsel coach Andy Stefanelli said of his time with Jones. 鈥淗e was showing us even at that point, as a 10th grader, the explosiveness, his drive and determination. He was really mature beyond his years.鈥�
Stefanelli鈥檚 time with Jones goes way back after the Falcons鈥� coaching staff got a chance to coach his eighth-grade team in the area鈥檚 All-Star Game. They quickly decided that he was 鈥渢he one鈥� after seeing some of the special things he could do on the field.听
Since that day, the running back鈥檚 drive to get better has been a trait that鈥檚 stood out during his time with the school. After factoring him into the team鈥檚 game plans over the past few years, the recent campaign ended up as the spot where it all came together, using the past offseasons to both bulk up and get faster.
Jones was named the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Player of the Year following more than 1,300 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns in Good Counsel鈥檚 2022 campaign.
鈥淗e’s like a self-starter,鈥� Stefanelli said. 鈥淵ou just give him a little guidance, but he’s going to work hard no matter whether you tell him to or not.鈥�
Blessed to be named 1st team All-Conference and WCAC Player of the year.
— Dilin Jones (@DilinJones)
That mindset goes hand-in-hand with the senior鈥檚 busy schedule. He takes a couple of days off after the football season before hopping right into wrestling for the winter, and later, track in the spring. The chance to stay active during his time away from football has translated to plenty of different facets on the football field, whether that be with his wrestling technique in blocking or his improved speed from the spring sport.听
While the additional work has kept him conditioned on the field, finding time to take college visits had to be put on the back burner for Jones during his recruiting cycle. With plenty of schools after him, Jones decided on just a few visits before officially landing on a commitment to Wisconsin.听
鈥淗e went out to Wisconsin and just fell in love with the place,鈥� Stefanelli said. 鈥淗e liked the coaching staff and again, the coaches that were recruiting him, I think were patient, understood that he was interested, but was busy. And they played it right.鈥�
Future Wisconsin Badger Dilin Jones scores in the end zone for Good Counsel 馃敟 I
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext)
The chance to play for the Badgers makes for a perfect fit for the 5-foot-11 running back who will look to head one of the first recruiting classes under new head coach Luke Fickell. Jones, who鈥檚 currently ranked as one of the top 10 running backs in the country according to , slots in as Wisconsin鈥檚 top-ranked commitment from the Class of 2024.听
鈥淚 think he’ll fit in well there,鈥� Stefanelli said. 鈥淚 think [Luke Fickell and coach Colin Hitschler] saw how he would fit into what they want to do, and obviously, coming in with a new staff, had a vision of where they want the program to be. I think they feel he’s going to be a big part of that. So I think it’s a good fit.
鈥淚 think maybe with Wisconsin, he just knew. He knows what he likes. And he’s not into all the other stuff. It’s refreshing because a lot of kids now, it’s easy to get caught up in all the hype, social media, the attention they get. And it can really be distracting. And he’s been able to stay grounded through the whole process.鈥�
100% COMMITTED 馃Α 鈥硷笍
— Dilin Jones (@DilinJones)
With both Badgers starters Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi nearing the possible ends of their collegiate careers, Jones could slot into Fickle鈥檚 long-term plans rather quickly. While that opportunity awaits him in the near future, the senior running back is ready for his final go at Good Counsel, where the team looks to build off its playoff appearance in 2022.
Already a few games into his last season, the message heading into his final year was simple.
鈥淛ust keep doing what you’re doing because he did that going into his junior year, obviously, it worked out,鈥� Stefanelli said.
