Wyomissing’s Ryker Jones: ‘You know he’s out there coming for you’

Ryker Jones was 6 years old when Wyomissing won a state football championship in 2012. He was in awe of the Spartans’ best player, linebacker Alex Anzalone, so much so that he was reluctant to approach him after that historic win over Aliquippa.

His father, Corey, shoved him toward the All-State pick for a photo opp, knowing that someday his son would cherish it.

“The next year, when we went in to get our numbers, everybody wanted (No.) 24,” Ryker said of Anzalone’s Wyomissing number. “Twenty-four was taken (when it was my turn to pick), so that’s why I got 25. It was the next-closest.”

A decade years later Jones is the next-closest thing the Spartans have had at linebacker since Anzalone went off to play at the University of Florida, and more recently in the NFL.

Jones has been, as former Spartan Ross Tucker once described him, a “heat-seeking missile” from his spot at inside linebacker, playing sideline to sideline and living for that next big hit.

Wyomissing has had the No. 1 defense in the 37-team Lancaster-Lebanon League for each of the past two seasons and Jones – an All-State pick as a junior and expected to repeat that feat this year – is a primary reason why.

It’s not just the tackles he makes or the way he makes them but the way he lifts up the other 10 guys on the field with him and his teammates on the sideline.

“When he steps onto the field, it raises the intensity of 21 other guys,” said Wyomissing linebackers coach Dave Outland. “If you’re on the other side, you know he’s out there coming for you.

“He’s gonna finish every play by putting somebody on the ground, whether it’s a block, a tackle, a run, he’s going to finish that play to the whistle. He’s gonna bring everything you want in a linebacker.”

Jones will bring that talent to Princeton next season. For now, he is the third annual MikeDragoSports.com Defensive Player of the Year, presented by Body Zone Physical Therapy.

Finalists for the award were Exeter defensive back Nate Pashley, Twin Valley tackle Ean Winchester, Twin Valley linebacker Lucas Myers, and Wyomissing nose guard Caleb Brewer.

Ty Yocum and Lucas Palange, each of Exeter, were selected the past two seasons.

Jones’ performance this season was all the more spectacular because of the circumstances: A year ago at this time his football future was uncertain. He suffered a torn ACL and sprained MCL in his left knee in a state semifinal loss to Neumann-Goretti.

He had surgery in January. It typically takes nine to 12 months to return to the field after such a procedure. The longer end of that timetable would have meant Jones missing his entire senior season.

He was not about to let that happen. He rehabbed with the same ferocity he displays on the field and was back in the starting lineup by Week 4 and for the start of league play.

“Knowing Ryker, you knew he was coming back . . . bigger and stronger and more driven than ever,” Outland said. “With the way Ryker has trained since seventh grade you knew he was going to beat this and beat the timetable.”

Jones made nine first-half tackles in his return against Berks Catholic. He put any questions to rest that afternoon.

“He made a couple plays on the first drive,” said Wyomissing coach Bob Wolfrum, “and when we saw him make a play where he caught a guy from behind, we said: ‘Well, he’s back.’ ”

“Based on his attitude and his work ethic, there was no doubt in my mind he could return to play this year,” said Randy Yocum of Body Zone Physical Therapy, who worked with Jones throughout his rehab.

Jones only got better after that, week by week. Once his full stamina returned he was playing at an even higher level than a year ago. He put that on full display in a PIAA Class 3A quarterfinal against Danville when he broke off an early 79-yard touchdown run. He turned the corner, squared up his shoulders, stuck his foot in the ground and pulled away from the Ironmen defenders.

“You saw (from his first game back) he didn’t lose any speed,” Outland said. “He gained strength (since last year). He gained an understanding of the game. And he gained hunger – and he was hungry as it was. He knew how much time he had left in high school football and he knew how precious it was and he attacked.”

Jones is always in attack mode. Wolfrum has often said he is one of the biggest hitters he’s ever coached.

“He really explodes on people,” Wolfrum said. “He’s a hitter. (College coaches) are always looking for the guys who when they hit you, you go backwards. And that certainly is the case with him.”

Tackling is not the only thing Jones does well on a football field. Fact is, he does everything well.

As a running back he averaged 10.1 yards per carry over his three varsity seasons – quite possibly a program record, or very close to it.

He didn’t get many carries because he is such a devastating blocker. Wolfrum values that in his halfbacks and loved to use Jones as a lead blocker in goal-line and short-yardage situations.

Jones might’ve been the best punter in the league this season but, because of his knee injury, Wolfrum didn’t want to expose him to that. That didn’t keep him from booming punts in practice or sending kickoffs out of the endzone.

“It was like in that ‘Superman’ movie, where Clark Kent is kicking in high school,” Outland said. “The ball went into orbit, and jaws were dropping. He’s a physical talent with the intensity to match, and the work ethic to match. He can do it all.”

“Ryker worked very hard to return to the field, resulting in a very successful season, and has a very bright future at Princeton,” said Yocum, who presented the award to Jones on behalf of Body Zone. “We are very excited to sponsor this award and are committed to supporting high school sports. Our mission is to provide the most advanced sport specific rehab to our athletes allowing them to safely return to their sport as soon as possible.”