OSU's Richetti Jones Bouncing Back from Long Road of Recovery

Originally Published: Sep 24, 2009 1:42 PM CDT

Chad McKee
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- Richetti Jones arrived from Dallas Lincoln High School as one the most heralded recruits in the class of 2007.

He was an Army All-American defensive end and consensus top 100 player in the country. The last two years, however have not been easy for the athlete.

“I broke my hip my senior year of high school and I have to recover from that,” Jones said. “It was a long road.”

Cowboys Head Coach Mike Gundy understood Jones’ recovery was difficult for the incoming freshman stand-out.

“His name gets brought up a lot, obviously, because he was so highly recruited in highs school and had the very serious hip injury,” Gundy said. “The injury he had was a very traumatic injury for an athlete.”

Jones red shirted in 2007 and was limited to nine games and only five tackles last season.

“I don’t want to be a ‘has been.’ I don’t want to just be a lot of hype,” Jones said. “’Oh Richetti Jones, he was good in high school, but never did nothing for Oklahoma State.’ I don’t want to be that guy.”

The Cowboys’ game against Rice University may have proven to be Jones’ break-out game. He saw more playing time after Jeremiah Price was injured.

Jones responded with two tackles and a quarterback hurry and recorded his first two career quarterback sacks.

His reaction was priceless.

“Yes!” Jones said. “Thank you God, I finally have a sack.”

The coaching staff said they never doubted Jones’ talent.

“We’ve known what he’s capable of all along,” said OSU Defensive Coordinator Bill Young. “He is a very talented you guy, just needs more experience and needs more work in practice, and he’s getting all those.”

Jones realizes his hip injury changed his play, but he’s focusing on how to move on from the recovery period and develop into a stronger player.

“I’m as good as I’m going to be. I’ll never think I’ll be back to that same guy I was coming out of high school,” Jones said. “I’m going to be a new guy. I have to roll with the punches and keep going.”

The Cowboys face Grambling State Saturday at 6 p.m.