In his shining armor on the gridiron, Cody Jones is royal terror to opposing offenses at defensive end. But off the field, he treats everyone he meets like they are royalty.
"He's just a consummate southern gentleman," says Jones' head football coach, Sam Barrs.
Jones says starting for Bleckley County is a dream he has had all his life and something he doesn't take for granted.
Jones adds, "I had a brother who played here all four years, and, I don't know, I just wanted to grow up and play here and be good."
"If my daughter brought him home to me," says Barrs, "and said, 'Daddy, this is who I want to marry,' I'd be a happy daddy, and that's as good of a compliment I can give somebody."
Cody also letters in baseball, but in the off season, he mentors and tutors at-risk kids because he says it's his way of giving back.
"I've logged over 100 hours tutoring over there, working with the kids and stuff," says Jones.
Just this week, the senior was awarded the Atlanta Falcons Captain in the Community Award for his leadership on and off the field, in addition to our of Athlete of the Week accolades, which doesn't surprise those who know him best.
Coach Barrs says, "When you talk the talk and walk the walk, which he does that everyday, and there is no fake to it. Bottom line is people respect him and you get that from him right away."
Jones still hasn't decided exactly where he wants to go to college or what he plans to study when he graduates next spring, but one thing the scholar with the 4.0 G.P.A. does know is that he's not giving up.
"The freshman look up to you, and you may want to skip a rep in practice or skip a rep in the weightroom, but you got those guys looking at you and you can't do it," Jones says emphatically, "They are holding you accountable, and you got to be afraid to let your team down."