Browns OT Dawand Jones Glad to Keep Buckeye Connection, Says he Does Indeed Love Football

Cleveland picked a mammoth of a tackle in the 2023 NFL Draft, one that is excited to put the work in to get to where he wants to be.

Author:
Brandon Little
Publish date:
May 13, 2023 1:34 PM EDT

In this story:

Cleveland Browns

When OT Dawand Jones was selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, he had no idea he would be bringing along one of his college teammates from Ohio State. Cleveland Browns went on to select C Luke Wypler, reuniting the two in the same state they played their college ball.

“It was so dope. We shared a great bond at Ohio State,” explained Jones. “(When I) just heard his name called in the sixth round, it was like, ‘let’s go!’ It was an ecstatic moment, having a center from college, going up to the next level.”

Now, the two will be battling to be depth for the Browns at the moment. But both of their ceilings if reached, could have them starting together in the NFL, like they did with the Buckeyes.

“Probably in practice, we will be calling plays and we’ll be on the same page. It’s just the bond, honestly. I appreciate that. It was a good night,” Jones said after Wypler was selected.

Jones fell much further than any draft expert would have anticipated. He was seen as a fridge round one guy, but surely to be selected in the second round. Some questioned his love for the game of football and if he would stay committed to it.

“I definitely feel like I did that a lot in college, to prove that I love football. I got that question asked in almost every interview—‘do I love football?’ I told almost every team to turn on the tape and you can just see it on my film,” Jones said. “I play with that anger and aggression. It just comes from the heart. You just don’t want anyone to touch the quarterback and that’s my main goal.”

Jones is an athlete that has a Division I basketball offer from Kent State University at 6-foot-8 and 370 pounds. His footwork, athleticism, and overall motor are all surprising if you’ve never seen him work before.

Now, Jones is cemented as a football player and that’s his professional life. The Browns are operating with Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin at the tackle spots for at least the foreseeable future, so Jones won’t have to be thrown into the fire.

He will have the time to continue working on his craft with the best offensive line coach in the game, Bill Callahan.

“Just working on your footwork, ladders, or anything. I still just go do post-work, just so my feet are moving in different directions. Honestly, that’s just really it–footwork,” Jones said on one thing he will be working on.

Now that he’s a member ofthea Browns, he realizes this is now his life, football. And to be successful in it, he’s going to have to become a pro. He’s new to this so that could take some time as far as preparing like a pro and acting as one all the time.

It kind of feels like my freshman year over again,” admitted Jones. “You know what I mean? Just the next step is just all football. There’s no school. You go home. You’re going to do football. I love it and I just can’t wait, honestly.”

Jones has the right attitude heading into things and if it works out, perhaps the Browns got the steak of the draft in the fourth round.

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