Christion Jones returns a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in the Tide’s win over Ole Miss. (Copyright photo by Jeronimo Nisa of The Decatur Daily)
So when a guy like Christion Jones runs back a kickoff return 99 yards just about untouched for a touchdown, what do his 10 teammates think?
Alabama’s Damion Square found himself in that position Saturday when Jones did it in a 33-14 win over Ole Miss.
“The first thought is to try to run as fast as he does,” Square said, before smiling and adding: “That’s not going to happen.”
He continued, “And then you try to figure out of your block is the block that released him to the end zone. It’s a beautiful thing. You kind of want to celebrate, but it’s everybody’s place to celebrate out there.”
Are there harder hits on a kickoff return or interception return?
“For me, I’d have to say interception,” Square said. “Guys put their head on a swivel on a kick return for the most part, but for the most part on an interception, you’ve got guys who aren’t really used to tackling guys, so I guess the conditions are a little bit bigger. You’ve got O-linemen trying to tackle a defensive back, and that’s just not what they do.”
The one issue about a kickoff return for a touchdown, it means Square and his teammates on defense have to hit the field again.
“That is true,” he said. “It’s big for the team. We’ve got substitutions. If I’m too tired, I let my coach know to take me out for a couple of plays, and then I get back in to do what I do for the team, but it’s not that much of an exhaustion play.”
The Square smiled again, letting his listener know he was about to joke a little bit:
“You go block your guy, try to pick up another block, and Christion covers a lot of yards in a small amount of time, so I might not run all the way to the end zone with him. I might just turn and go on the sideline and get me some Gatorade while he’s finishing it off,” Square said, keeping the low-key smile.
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