T Dawand Jones (5.12.23)

What was your reaction to having a linemate from Ohio State join you and what can you tell us about Luke? 

It was so dope. We shared a great bond at Ohio State. Just heard his name called in the sixth round, it was like, ‘let’s go!’ It was an ecstatic moment, having a center from college, going up to the next level. Probably in practice, we will be calling plays and we’ll be on the same page. It’s just the bond, honestly. I appreciate that. It was a good night.

 

What do you like about his game that you think will translate well here?

Just right of the ball, being physical. That’s what he loves to do. He’s smart. He’s a master of the game. Once you’re smart, you really got the game in your bag.

 

Do big people run in your family? 

Yes, they do.

 

Who else is tall in your family?

I wouldn’t say anybody is tall, but my family is a bigger-type family. I’m probably the tallest of everybody. The next tallest person, is probably 6-4. It’s not really that tall, compared to me. They see me every day, every other family event. Nothing to it.

 

Is your dad or big brother tall?

No, no one is really big, I’m telling you. If you look at my family, you would just be like, ‘how did you get so big?‘

 

What was your reaction to the reports about the NBA stuff? 

It was just a crazy tweet. I just had to just take it in. The question was just different during the interviews. I just feel like it just wasn’t the real truth. I’m not going to speak on it, but it just wasn’t right, in my opinion, to just leak something that wasn’t right.

 

Do you feel like you have to prove that you love the NFL and you love football?  

I definitely feel like I did that a lot in college, to prove that I love football. I got that question asked in almost every interview—‘do I love football?’ I told almost every team to turn on the tape and you can just see it on my film. I play with that anger and aggression. It just comes from the heart. You just don’t want anyone to touch the quarterback and that’s my main goal.

 

How difficult was it for you to really project a positive response every time you were asked about basketball? 

It got annoying, but my agent prepared me for it. I worked with a couple of GMs, they told me that they were going to ask the same question. It doesn’t matter where you go. They are going to ask you ‘what is your passion and how much do you love football?’ I was just waiting for it every time, and that’s when that tweet came out. It just kind of caught me off guard. I talked about it in almost every meeting, that I love football. I would basically give my shirt off my back for football, and I just feel like it just didn’t get across. I feel like it finally got across when I tweeted.

 

Did you get many reps at left tackle at Ohio State? 

My first two years and my first start as a tackle was at left tackle during the Michigan State game in 2020.

 

Why did you finish college playing right tackle?

The following year, it just presented itself and they had Nick on the left and coach just wanted me on the right.

 

Did coach Callahan tell you that you were going to train at left and right tackle? 

Yes, sir. 

 

Can you talk about how difficult is the transition from one level to the next and mentally not letting it kind of overwhelm you?

I would just say I’m more so in my head than anything. I’m always trying to be a perfectionist. It’s just something I craft myself on, just not messing up, just relax, take your time. Even today, first day, coach Callahan was like, ‘first day.’ Just knowing myself, I want to get it and be ahead and be more advanced than everybody else. Just playing the game and just being my competitive nature.

 

How important was it for you to change the perception about you wanting to be a basketball player?

I thought about it. I was just sitting there and I was like–I’m not going to just sit there and not say nothing. I feel like I didn’t go overboard. I just said it wasn’t true. I feel like I handled it like a man. A couple of other people just told me, ‘you handled it really well.’ It’s going to be haters and stuff like that, but you just got to make sure you manage it to the best of your ability.

 

How close did you come to taking that basketball path?

I came probably two percent close. Coach Cindy up the road at Kent State, he offered me. He told me he had to give up a scholarship and I said I’ll take a chance for myself and I’ll play football. That Monday. I got offered by Mississippi State. It worked out for the best for me. Went to Ohio State and now I’m here.

 

How fun was it to dominate in basketball? 

Pretty fun. Played against a good group of guys. John Michael, Trace Jackson Davis, Dale Davis’ son. He’s Mr. Basketball, so it was a battle every time going against those guys.

 

You had to be a pretty fierce rim protector I would imagine? 

That is really not my suit. I’m more back to the basket. I’m trying to square a ball. I’m probably walled up, I would I say. I’m not trying to block the shot. 

 

 Are you where you want to be right now weight-wise?

I’m not where I want to be, but I’m on track. I’m just losing weight every week–two pounds is this what I need to do every week to be better.

 

You played against David Bell in high school basketball, didn’t you?

Correct. 

 

What do you remember about that? Does he have upper hand?

He does have the upper hand. He’s beat me, I think, almost every time I played him. The time I was going to play him, he didn’t get to make it.  I do got him up on the championships. I got mine first, I will say that.

 

Is David Bell a hooper?

Yeah. We both have basketball and football state championships.

 

Who is the better individual player between you and David? 

Where’d you say I was going earlier? Kent State.

 

How motivated are you going in the fourth round? 

I just got to put my head down and work. It was shocking, in my opinion. You got to control what you can control, honestly.

 

How have you been able to maintain your athleticism? 

Just working on your footwork, ladders or anything. I still just go do post-work, just so my feet are moving in different directions. Honestly, that’s just really it–footwork.

 

Obviously, you took advantage of your opportunity to Ohio State. Do you kind of view this in a similar way in that this is going to be my livelihood going forward and it’s up to me do what I can do? 

It kind of feels like my freshman year over again. You know what I mean? Just the next step is just all football. There’s no school. You go home. You’re going to do football.  I love it and I just can’t wait, honestly.

 

But what did you study at Ohio State? 

Human development, family science and a minor in communications.

 

Do you have a degree?

No, I didn’t get it, but close. I’m probably a semester away.

 

 

# # #

 

***Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***