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Former Penguin Jones makes it big with Buffalo
By Joe Scalzo
Youngstown
A familiar face was pacing Youngstown State’s sidelines on Saturday, surrounded by a bunch of unfamiliar ones.
In his first game back since his senior season in 2009, former Penguin and current Buffalo Bills receiver Donald Jones admitted he didn’t recognize many of the players and coaches, including bearded quarterback Marc Kanetsky, who connected with him on a touchdown pass against North Dakota State in Jones’ final game.
“It’s crazy because when I saw him with the full beard, I didn’t even realize who he was,” Jones said, chuckling. “But you know, it’s good to be back and it was good to talk to the team [Friday night].
“I just told them about everything, from being in the league to my whole journey and how hard it is to get up here [in the NFL].”
A Plainfield, N.J., native, Jones spent his final two college seasons with YSU after transferring from Lackawanna (Pa.) Community College. He went undrafted in 2010 but made the Bills as an undrafted free agent.
After a solid rookie season, Jones broke into the starting lineup this fall, catching 16 passes for 174 yards and a TD in five games before injuring his left ankle against the Eagles earlier this month.
He was expected to miss 4-6 weeks but said the treatment is ahead of schedule.
“I’ll see how it feels this week going into the Jets game and keep moving forward,” said Jones, whose Bills team had a bye this weekend. “I’ve only really missed one game in my whole football career up until this year, so to be sitting for three or four games is tough for me.
“Hopefully the team stays on the winning track without me.”
At 4-2, the Bills have been one of the surprise teams in the NFL.
“Nobody really expects the Bills ever to win, so it’s good to be turning things around,” he said. “We’re shocking the world but it’s not really a shock to us. We knew the guys we had on this team. Everybody’s young and trying to make a name for themselves.”
Jones set YSU’s single-season record for receptions in 2009 with 77, gaining 790 yards with six TDs to earn first-team all-conference honors. But the Penguins went just 10-13 in his two seasons and Coach Jon Heacock resigned following the NDSU game.
Penguins coach Eric Wolford replaced the entire coaching staff afterward and has turned over most of the roster in his two seasons.
“Unfortunately we didn’t have the best seasons when I was here,” said Jones, who said Heacock sends him congratulatory texts after almost every game. “For me, my best memories are from being with the guys on the team and just playing around in the locker room, stuff like that.”
Jones now plays with Chaney High graduate Brad Smith, who he knew before Smith signed with the Bills this summer.
“He’s a cool guy,” Jones said of Smith. “Very quiet, humble. Great guy.
“He just makes plays on the field.”
Kanetsky made his only career start against North Dakota State, throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jones in the first quarter before getting pulled in favor of Brandon Summers.
Kanetsky often brags that his only college TD pass was to a future NFL player. When asked if he brags that he once caught a TD pass from Kanetsky, Jones started laughing and said, “No, man. I don’t even remember that.
“That’s crazy. That’s funny.”