University of Regina Rams offensive lineman and Weyburnite, Brett Jones, has been named Canada West conference's outstanding student-athlete as well as Canada West's top lineman.
Jones is Canada West's nominee for the Russ Jackson Award (given to the top student-athlete in the CIS) for the second consecutive season and will also be the conference's nominee for the J.P. Metras Trophy, which is awarded to the top lineman in the nation.
Jones, a unanimous selection as a 2012 Canada West all-star, was also a first-team All-Canadian last season. He is an exceptionally versatile football player, being heavily used at both centre and left guard this season while starting every game on the offensive line for the Rams. He's also been utilized as a defensive tackle in short-yardage situations throughout the season.
The No. 9-ranked prospect for the 2013 CFL Draft, Jones' on-field accomplishments may even be overshadowed by his off-field achievements. Jones has an impressive grade point average as a petroleum engineering systems major, has been an Academic All-Canadian each year at the U of R, and carries a full course load every semester including fall. He has been awarded two Academic Silver Scholarships and an Academic Gold Scholarship - which is awarded to the top 1% of U of R students in the academic year - and has also been invited to apply for a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University in England.
Jones is also active in the community, volunteering as a coach for minor football camps and in a summer touch football league run by Football Saskatchewan. He provided free football camps in several rural communities across the province this summer, convincing many of his teammates to travel hundreds of kilometres on a weekend to teach football skills. He also voluntarily tutors primary his teammates, but also others in his classes across campus.
"Brett is an exceptional person, which has translated into him being an exceptional leader on and off the field," Rams head coach Frank McCrystal. "He plays both center and guard on offence and is a short yardage defensive tackle. He is the academic mentor for many of our players, and rallies his teammates to volunteer in the community."
The Rams fell to the Calgary Dinos for the 2012 Canada West championship - the Hardy Cup last Saturday in Calgary.
