Emory Jones opens up on winning starting QB job at Arizona State
On Thursday, Arizona State announced that Florida transfer Emory Jones had won the starting quarterback job. After being the only guy in the competition not to go through spring ball with the team, Jones beat out Paul Tyson and Trenton Bourguet for the right to lead the team in its Sept. 1 season-opener against Northern Arizona.
“It’s a great feeling,” Jones told reporters on Friday, per Sun Devil Source’s Chris Karpman. “It’s just an honor to represent this university.”
Emory Jones in his first presser as ASU’s QB starter and captain:
“It’s a great feeling. It’s just an honor to represent this university.” pic.twitter.com/TEtqPz6XyB
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) August 19, 2022
Head coach Herm Edwards said on Thursday that Jones was the guy who best exhibited that playmaker ability they were looking for. Edwards said Jones can make “unannounced plays” when things break down or he has to go off-script. Jones’ teammates have praised his professional approach to the competition, and Edwards said the group as a whole got better throughout the summer and start of fall camp.
Jones will be picking up the reins from Jayden Daniels, a three-year starter at ASU who elected to transfer to LSU earlier this offseason. Jones arrived in May after being a regular starter for the Gators. For his career in Gainesville, he threw for 3,347 yards and ran for another 1,273 yards. He found the end zone a combined 36 times. Jones took over from Kyle Trask after the Gators’ eight-win campaign in 2020 and led the group to six wins amidst a whole heap of drama.
At Arizona State, he has a shot for a fresh start.
Here’s more of what he had to say on Friday:
Emory Jones on how things have changed with teammates from the start of camp to now: “It’s kind of hard being a new guy coming in,” he said. “Now, I’m at the point where they look up to me and view me as a leader.”
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) August 19, 2022
Emory Jones said his comfort and vocalness with the team have improved the most since he arrived at ASU.
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) August 19, 2022
Emory Jones said how he prepares and his poise in being comfortable with the game plan are the areas where he will aim to improve his draft stock.
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) August 19, 2022
Emory Jones attributes his leadership skills to many players that he learned from and played with at Florida.
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) August 19, 2022
Emory Jones says he learned a lot about being a leader from Felipe Franks and Kyle Trask, whom he played behind at Florida
— Michelle Gardner (@MGardnerSports) August 19, 2022
Emory Jones said his mindset was to be the starter when he decided on ASU. He mentioned his confidence in himself was a big factor in proving to his teammates and the coaching staff he could lead the offense.
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) August 19, 2022
Emory Jones said being named a captain as a newcomer to ASU was big for him because he had never been a captain as a starter before.
— DevilsDigest.com (@DevilsDigest) August 19, 2022
