Jackson State: Breaking down quarterbacks Derrick Ponder, Jalon Jones

When the Jackson State football team began fall camp, Tigers head coach John Hendrick, along with his coaching staff and fans were eager to begin the 2019 football season.

Beyond the excitement to return to the gridiron, the biggest story line coming out of the Tigers fall camp has been who will be starting quarterback when JSU faces Bethune-Cookman University in the 15th annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge in Atlanta.

After the first practice of camp on Aug. 3, Hendrick said "any of the four" quarterbacks in the battle could be named the starter. With two weeks of practice and two scrimmages between the offense and the defense, the quarterback race has been narrowed to two in junior quarterback Derrick Ponder and freshman quarterback Jalon Jones.

Quarterback Derrick Ponder

Ponder started at quarterback in the 2018 season and threw for a total of 423 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions through three games against Southern Miss, Florida A&M and Alabama A&M.

Ponder's best performance came in game two of the season against FAMU where he threw for 270 yards and his only touchdown. It was not until he threw for 91 yards and an interception on 8-of-19 passing against Alabama A&M that he would lose the starting job to then senior quarterback Jarrad Hayes.

Those performances from Ponder came in the "Air Raid" offensive system under former offensive coordinator Hal Mumme. The Bells, Texas, native will be in a new system in 2019, one that focuses on moving the ball and consistently getting first downs through a combination of passing and running the football.

Even more, with Hendrick becoming the Tigers' head coach, he was able to bring in quarterbacks coach T.C. Taylor – a former Tigers quarterback and wide receiver – and offensive coordinator Ron Dickerson Jr. to facilitate the growth of the quarterback position in 2019.

"Coach Taylor is awesome and he pushes us on the little things and does not let anything slide," Ponder said.

"Dickerson is a high energy guy and an offensive genius."

The junior quarterback is one step closer to earning another chance at the starting spot, one that he does not take for granted.

"We're making days count, working on communication, getting the timing down with receivers and working on the little details," Ponder said.

Taylor said he believes Ponder now understands the demands of the quarterback position at JSU.

"It was a lot on him last year coming from junior college and jumping on this level," Taylor said. "The thing I tell Derrick is that we have enough talent around him, don't go out there and make a bonehead play. Execute in only what he has to do in the offense and distribute the ball to the pieces around him."

Quarterback Jalon Jones

Jones became a member of the Tigers football team in May after the freshman quarterback had previously enrolled at Florida in January but entered the transfer portal at the end of April. 

Since the news broke that Jones would be in a Tigers uniform, the four-star talent has shown glimpses of what he can do in throwing the long ball, putting tight spirals on the intermediate ball and moving in and out of the pocket with ease from defensive linemen.

Jones, who is 18, is pretty special, according to Taylor.

"This is a kid at 6-4, 215 pounds that can flat-foot fly," Taylor said. "When things break down, he can use his legs to break the pocket, and a lot of SWAC quarterbacks have had a lot of success in the past doing those things."

Beyond his athleticism, however, Jones has developed his leadership skills on the team.

"He's done a good job in making his teammates believe in what he's doing. He's been vocal and that is surprising an an early age," Taylor said.

While Ponder and Jones are vying to be the starter, the two have a friendship on and off the field, one that also sees the two constantly helping to make each other better.

"They are two different young men, but they have the same goal in mind and that's to be the general out there on the field," Dickerson said.

"They work together. One might ask, 'Why did you make that throw?' and 'What did you see?' They are the first ones in the classroom. On any given day, either of these guys can be the starter."

As for which quarterback gets the starting job, that remains to be seen. Hendrick, however, said he will start the best guy who puts the team in the best position to win football games and specifically focusing on the Tigers' season opener against Bethune Cookman.

"With a defense like BCU that can rush the passer, you need to get the ball out of your hand, route timing, all of that becomes important," Hendrick said.

"Being quarterback is leadership and decision making. The biggest thing the quarterback has to realize is that he does not have to win it. Use the people around you to help you win."

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Contact Wilton Jackson at 601-961-7241 or jwilton@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter.