Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week: Wyo’s Ryker Jones
Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week
It’s become a cliche to say a defensive player goes “sideline to sideline” to make plays, but in Ryker Jones’ case it’s the truth.
Wyomissing’s inside linebacker can run just about any play down, as he did Saturday in a 49-14 win over Hamburg. He made a team-high 11 tackles, which accounted for a fourth of the Spartans’ total against one of District 3’s highest-scoring teams.
“Ryker’s strength is how well he moves,” said Wyomissing coach Bob Wolfrum of the 6-foot, 190-pound junior. “He was sideline to sideline Saturday and he made some impressive plays chasing (Pierce Mason), who I thought was very good.”
Jones, too, is very good. For the second time this season he’s been named Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week.
The Spartans’ top-rated defense always puts a lot of hats on the ball but Jones played a pivotal role in limiting Mason — who set Hamburg’s single-season rushing record in the game — to 66 yards on 16 carries and without a touchdown.
It was Mason’s lowest rushing total of the season, when healthy, and came a week after he went for 268 yard and four touchdowns against Upper Dauphin.
It was also the only game this season in which Mason has had 10 or more carries but didn’t reach the end zone.
Jones played outside linebacker, and in a back-up role, as a sophomore. Wolfrum moved him to the inside this year so that he’s closer to the action, and he has been. He leads the team with 56 tackles — 20 more than anyone else.
“(Playing) linebacker (in our system) is complicated,” Wolfrum said. “We ask them to do more than some places. He’s just gotten better with that (mental) part of the game (this season). He’s always been a player who could run and hit very well.
“He’s as good a hitter as we have — or we’ve ever had. He really explodes on people, and he likes to hit.”
Jones has the size, skill and speed to play literally any position on the field: offense, defense or special teams (he handles punting duties). He’s a running back with breakaway speed but such a good blocker that he plays a key role in Wyomissing’s goal-line package.
“He’s had sonme devastating blocks on people down there,” Wolfrum said.
Wolfrum has often converted running backs into guards; their foot speed is a plus in the Wing-T system where guards often pull, leading backs around the corner. Wolfrum has no doubt Jones could handle that, if needed.
“He would be a great guard,” he said.
There’s little chance of that happening. The Spartans have plenty of big guys to handle front-line duties; besides, Jones will be too valuable in the backfield next season to consider such a move.
Players considered for Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Also nominated this week for Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week:
- Anthony Caccese, T, Exeter
- Kyle Lash, E, Exeter
- Evan Myers, DB, Twin Valley
- Ben Spiri, DB, Twin Valley
- Landon Farrell, LB, Wilson
- Nick Crocona, LB, Wilson
- Logan Hyde, S, Wyomissing
- Matt Kramer, LB, Wyomissing
- Colin Niedrowski, LB, Wyomissing
Selected earlier this season:
- Week 1: Jonathan Martin, LB, Exeter
- Week 2: Nate Capitano, S, Wilson
- Week 3: Ethan Kryman, LB, Daniel Boone
- Week 4: Nate Pashley, S, Exeter
- Week 5: Nafis Blythe, E, Berks Catholic
- Week 6: Nick Weitzel, E, Wilson
- Week 7: Ryker Jones, LB, Wyomissing
- Week 8: Drew Eisenhower, SS, Wyomissing
- Week 9: Mason Marks, DB, Twin Valley
- Week 10: Lucas Palange, LB, Exeter
- Week 11: Mason Semmel, LB, Hamburg
Selected last season as Defensive Player of the Week:
- Week 1: Brett Organtini, LB, Conrad Weiser
- Week 2: Eden Johnson, S, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 3: Josiah Jordan, CB, Berks Catholic
- Week 4: Matt Kramer, LB, Wyomissing
- Week 5: Ryan Souder, LB, Daniel Boone
- Week 6: Nevin Carter, CB, Wyomissing
- Week 7: Nate Goodman, E, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 8: Sam Orzolek, T, Exeter
- Week 9: Cam Jones, CB, Wilson
- Week 10: Aaron Shuker, LB, Muhlenberg
- Week 11: Mitchell Watt, E, Hamburg
- Week 12: Tyler Givens, E, Berks Catholic
- Week 13: Jack Miller, LB, Wyomissing
- Week 14: Ty Yocum, LB, Exeter
