When Keandre Jones committed to Ohio State, it was a day that solidified the Buckeyes' 2016 class.
Jones, Dwayne Haskins and Binjimen Victor all committed to play for Urban Meyer on Jan. 18, 2016, giving Ohio State a top-five recruiting class. However, through the first two seasons on campus, only Victor has made a significant impact.
That is all likely to change in 2018, as both Maryland natives Jones and Haskins are competing for starting jobs with the Buckeyes.
Jones has collected 19 tackles through two seasons at Ohio State, but after sitting for the majority of the last two seasons, Jones said he feels like the game is slowing down for him, which will allow him to make an immediate impact in 2018.
"The game has definitely slowed down for me. I have been here two years and experienced different positions," Jones said. "I have experience now and I am more confident. You play faster. You are ready to step up and be that guy.”
It likely hasn't been Jones' lack of ability getting him on the field the last two years. He has sat behind the likes of Jerome Baker and Chris Worley in 2016 and 2017, two players who will in all likelihood be playing on Sundays this fall.
Those two seasons playing behind veteran teammates helped him develop, though, Jones said, as he prepares to battle for his first starting role in college football.
"Just being more aggressive and more confident in my abilities. Having the older guys here really helped," Jones said. "Just paying attention to how they came out to practice and their demeanor. I’m more prepared after two years."
Jones is battling with the likes of Malik Harrison, Pete Werner and even Baron Browning at times for reps at both strongside and weakside linebacker in a unit that Meyer has called one of the strongest on the team so far this spring.
"It's a positive right now. Actually moved Malik Harrison to WILL for a little bit to try that out, Keandre at SAM. That's one of our better units as far as getting better," Meyer said Monday. "They're getting better. Really talented guys."
With that kind of competition, Jones earning a starting job is far from set in stone. For now, however, Jones said he is focused on taking a one practice at a time approach.
"Honestly I just focus on the now, being prepared and staying in the moment," Jones said. "Don’t focus too much on the future. Just come out to practice every day and be prepared to play like I have been the last two years and learning."
Jones has embraced the battle for a starting role this season, and said Wednesday that the competition within the program is simply part of the culture that Meyer has established in Columbus.
"At Ohio State, that is all we do is compete," he said. "You want to win every rep and win everything you do, whether it is on the field or off the field."
