Starting Lineup: Ryker Jones a ‘heat-seeking missile’ on Wyomissing defense
To recognize the top players in Berks football MikeDragoSports.com has selected the “Starting Lineup,” a preseason All-Berks team that includes the top linemen, backs, receivers, linebackers and specialists.
Players were selected based on past performance, expected performance this season and college potential. Two-way players were given special consideration. One player will be introduced each day, in random order (the players are not ranked).
Former NFL lineman and recruiting expert Ross Tucker offers comments on some of the selections.
Ryker Jones, Wyomissing
| 6-0 | 190 | Senior | HB/OLB/P |
BACKSTORY: Even on a team with a couple of future Penn State linemen on the roster Ryker Jones turned heads during his junior season. He was arguably the best player on the best defensive unit in the 37-team Lancaster-Lebanon League, delivering big hits from sideline to sideline.
“He’s as good a hitter as we’ve ever had,” said Wyomissing coach Bob Wolfrum. “He really explodes on people. (College coaches) are always looking for the guys who when they hit you, you go backwards. And that certainly is the case with him.”
After putting together an All-State season Jones was on the radar of a lot of college programs but his recruitment was put in jeopardy when he suffered a torn ACL and sprained MCL in Wyomissing’s final game, a 20-17 loss to Neumann-Goretti in the PIAA Class 3A semifinals.
Jones had one offer to that point, from Army. He feared that, facing a nine-month rehab and unable to compete in spring and summer college showcases, he wouldn’t have any other college playing options.
Nothing could’ve been further from the truth. Jones is such a physical force – and a strong student – that the offers kept coming: From Lehigh, Penn, Columbia, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Duquesne and others. He committed to Princeton in April.
“Once they did find out (about the injury) a lot of them were fine with it,” Jones said. “They said, ‘We trust that you’ll come back stronger.’ ”
That remains to be seen: Jones hasn’t taken part in any contact drills through football camp and is expected to miss several games at the beginning of the season.
He’s confident, though, that’ll he be back soon and as good as ever. He is doing cone drills to enhance his cutting and change-of-direction abilities.
“I feel great,” he said last week. “I feel strong. If there was a game tomorrow I’d play in it, if they’d let me. I’m right there. The surgeon told me I’m on the 1-yard line, so I’m very close.”
Once he returns to form Jones will be one of the best all-around players in the entire league. He’s moving back to outside linebacker this season after playing an inside spot last season.
No matter where he lines up on D he has the ability to impact the game with his sideline-to-sideline speed and physical play.
“Ryker’s a heckuva defensive football player,” said Wolfrum. “He’s got really good speed and he’ll figure things out as the game goes on. He can make plays in the box but has that speed to chase things down to the sidelines.”
The Spartans are so deep at halfback that Jones might not see much time there, even though he is, as Wolfrum says, a “home run hitter” with the chance to take anything to the house.
He’s sure, however, to be in the backfield when the Spartans face goal-line and short-yardage situations. Good as he is with the ball in his arms he’s even better leading a play; he’s a devastating blocker and especially valuable down close when the yards are tough to come by.
“What he can do on an elite level is block,” said Wolfrum. “He really is a physical football player. It doesn’t matter if he’s on offense or defense, he’s gonna deliver a boom on contact.”
Jones led the team with 84 tackles last season — 35 more than anyone else. He was named Body Zone Physical Therapy Defensive Player of the Week three times — no one else was named more than once. He was a first-team all-league pick at linebacker in Section 4.
He was just as good on offense, averaging 7.8 yards per carry in limited duty.
Jones is one of Berks’ best baseball players, as well. He batted a team-leading .382 as a sophomore with a team-high 15 RBIs in 18 games. He had a 1.015 OPS and .545 slugging percentage.. He missed his junior season because of the injury.
ROLE: Starting outside linebacker; will see time at halfback, especially in goal-line situations. Might handle punting duties, as well.
COLLEGE PROSPECTS: Committed to Princeton.
TUCKER’S TAKE: “One of the best, most physical, tacklers in Wyomissing history. Has proven to be a home-run hitter at times at running back and should get more carries this year, but his calling card has been his explosiveness and ferocity on the defensive side of the ball. At times he looks like a heat-seeking missile. His recovery from a torn ACL in state semifinals will have a big impact on the Spartans season.”
Starting Lineup
| Caleb Brewer | Wyomissing | OT/DT |
| Edison Case | Wilson | WR/S/KR |
| Dominic Giuffre | Schuylkill Valley | RB/OLB |
| Ryker Jones | Wyomissing | HB/OLB/P |
| Michael Miller | Muhlenberg | RB/OLB/KR |
| Nathan Pashley | Exeter | QB/WR/S/P/KR |
| Mason Semmel | Hamburg | HB/TE/DT |
| Hunter Svoboda | Fleetwood | OT |
| Ean Winchester | Twin Valley | HB/TE/DT |
| Zack Zandier | Exeter | TE/DE |
