LSU freshman safety Chad Jones makes key strip in fourth quarter

TUSCALOOSA | For all of the attention directed at the LSU players that Nick Saban had recruited, it was a freshman from Baton Rouge, La., that sparked a crucial play for the Tigers in their 41-34 victory on Saturday night against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Safety Chad Jones, just one year removed from high school football, sacked John Parker Wilson and caused a game-changing fumble at the Crimson Tide 3-yard line with just 1:39 remaining in the game.

Before the momentum-shifting play, Alabama and LSU had battled to a 34-34 deadlock and the Crimson Tide was trying to mount its own last-minute heroics.

But on third-and-12 from the Alabama 30-yard line, Jones raced forward to snuff out the Crimson Tide threat and hand the advantage back to his third-ranked Tigers.

“[Defensive coordinator] Bo Pellini gave us the call from the sideline,” Jones said. “We knew what time what it was. It was a big-play opportunity. Our defense just executed.”

What the blitzing Tigers executed resulted in an unblocked Jones targeting Wilson from the snap of the ball.

When the Crimson Tide offensive line parted, Jones darted through the gap and grabbed Wilson. As Jones wrestled him to the ground, the ball popped loose and LSU free safety Curtis Taylor recovered the fumble at the Alabama 3-yard line.

“The hole opened up and I took the hole,” Jones said. “The quarterback was right there when I stepped through there. I grabbed him, and I kind of slung him, hit his arm and the ball came loose.”

It took the Tigers just two plays to score following the turnover, as Jacob Hester carried twice and finished the series with a 1-yard touchdown that gave LSU a 41-34 lead with 1:26 remaining.

The sudden turn of events silenced what had been a raucous sellout crowd of 92,138 fans at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

“I say it was a good 10-12 yards before I made contact,” Jones said. “I had a big shot at him. At first I thought I was going for the kill shot, but then he tried to duck under me so I kind of grabbed him with my arms and just did what I could do to get him to the ground.

“I was surprised when the ball came out. I knew I was taking him down, I knew he was on his way down with the ball, but I didn’t know the ball popped out on the way. When I saw the ball bounce up I tried to get it myself and take it in the end zone. It was all one motion. At least three guys were coming [on the play].”

In his postgame interview, Jones fielded questions about his play with the poise of a senior starter.

“It’s really amazing,” Jones said. “I think I’m the first freshman to do interviews after a game in front of the media, so this is a big opportunity. I love it. I did a few interviews in high school, so I’m basically kind of used to this kind of thing.”