Cam Jones: It doesn’t take long to realize he’s ‘All-Everything’ on a football field
The Holy Cross football coaching staff watched three minutes of a Cam Jones highlight tape and knew.
“Yep, we’re all good here,” said Crusaders defensive line coach Nick Della Jacono, who recruits Pennsylvania.
It doesn’t take long to realize how good and complete and rare a football player Jones is. He’s on the field all the time for the Wilson Bulldogs, either as a running back, receiver, cornerback, kick and punt returner — even as long-snapper. He excels at every spot — so much so that he earned all-league first-team honors at four positions.
It didn’t take long for Holy Cross to offer Jones a chance to play for one of the nation’s top FCS programs.
“He has everything we wanted in a young man joining our family,” said Della Jacono. “He fits what we’re looking for.
“He has great grades, he’s tough, competitive, physical, and just loves the game.”
Jones was the top rusher and scorer in Section 1 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League and set a Berks record with five punt return touchdowns in a season, making him an easy choice for Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Year.
He was selected three times for the weekly award, partly because of his skills at running back — he rushed for 999 yards and averaged 9.25 per carry, both tops in Section 1 — partly because of his extraordinary return skills.
He set a Berks record last season with seven return TDs — four on punts, three on kickoffs — and pushed his career total to 12 as a senior. The number would’ve been much higher had six TD returns not been called back last season by penalty.
Even higher had teams not refused — wisely — to kick in his direction this season. Those five punt return TDs? They came on six chances and equaled the total number by Berks’ 13 other Lancaster-Lebanon League entries.
“Cam sees the field better than anyone we’ve ever had,” said Wilson coach Doug Dahms. “He’s a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball.”
“He was a dynamic offensive weapon — that’s the way we describe him, an offensive weapon,” said Della Jacono. “(You can use him at) quarterback, running back, receiver — get the ball to him any which way.
“The piece that really intrigued us was his commitment to special teams. Being arguably one of the best special teams players in the history of the state of Pennsylvania is no small task.
“We truly think he’s going to help us take this program back to the Elite Eight and hopefully to the national championship in a couple years.”
Della Jacono said Jones will play defensive back — he’s versatile enough to be used at corner or either safety spot — and that he’ll have a chance to see time as a kick returner as a freshman.
“We know we’re getting one of the best (players) in the area,” Della Jacono said.
Jones was named Berks Player of the Year by the Berks County Football Coaches Association, as well as Berks Offensive Back of the Year and Berks Defensive Back of the Year. He’s the first to earn both Back of the Year awards in more than 10 years.
Section 1 coaches selected him as the Outstanding Back, Offensive Back of the Year and Defensive Back of the Year and as a first-team pick at running back, kick returner, defensive back and long-snapper.
“Wyomissing Physical Therapy is honored to present the Offensive Player of the Year award to Cam Jones,” said Joe Miller, owner of Wyomissing Physical Therapy. “In an era of sports and sport-position specialization, Cam Jones is a ‘throwback.’ He earned all-league honors at four different positions, an unmatched honor. ‘What didn’t Cam do on the football field?’ That would be a better question.
“However, let’s also talk about Cam Jones the student-athlete from Wilson High School. As much as Cam excelled all over the playing field he equally spread his talents off the field. Cam earned a 3.5 GPA in his advanced studies, he volunteers with the TLC Fore organization in Reading, assisting with the development of Berks County’s youth, he is a volunteer in the Special Education Department at Wilson and volunteered countless hours in Wilson youth sports programs.
“The staff of Wyomissing Physical Therapy congratulates Cam on the award and wishes the Holy Cross commit all the best in his future endeavors.”
As a junior Jones was a dominant force and on his way to becoming one of the most versatile and talented players in program history. He earned All-State honors on the Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 6A All-State team and was an All-Berks pick at defensive back.
Players selected Wyomissing Physical Therapy Offensive Player of the Week:
- Week 1: Gio Cavanna, RB, Muhlenberg
- Week 2: Cam Jones, RB, Wilson
- Week 3: Pierce Mason, RB, Hamburg
- Week 4: Gio Cavanna, RB, Muhlenberg
- Week 5: Josiah Jordan, RB, Berks Catholic
- Week 6: Ruben Rodriguez, WR, Reading High
- Week 7: Cam Jones, RB/KR, Wilson
- Week 8: Dominic Giuffre, RB, Schuylkill Valley
- Week 9: Leland Moore, RB, Hamburg
- Week 10: Cam Jones, RB/KR Wilson
- Week 11: Pierce Mason, RB, Hamburg
- Week 12: Evan Johnson, RB, Twin Valley
- Week 13: Richie Karstien, RB, Exeter
