Top Gun: Markell Jones is 2014 IndyStar Mr. Football
COLUMBUS, Ind. — You might think the state's all-time single season rushing leader would feel most comfortable traveling by land.
No way. No bus, train or car for Markell Jones. He wants to follow in the footsteps of his father, Jym Jones, and become a pilot.
"I fly with him all the time," Markell Jones said. "Not solo yet, but that will be coming soon."
Jones' football career has already taken flight. After helping Columbus East to a Class 4A state championship as a junior and rushing for a state-record 3,536 yards as a senior, Jones has been named the 2014 IndyStar Mr. Football winner.
The 5-10, 205-pound Purdue recruit received 48 votes from a panel of Indiana Football Coaches Association members to outdistance Warren Central safety Mykelti Williams (seven votes), Ben Davis quarterback Kyle Castner (two) and Penn tight end Inoke Moala (two).
Jones is the second winner from Columbus East in the past four years. Quarterback Gunner Kiel, a quarterback at the University of Cincinnati, won it in 2011. Columbus East is the fifth school with multiple winners since Mr. Football was first awarded in 1992, joining Warren Central (three winners), Bloomington South (two), Cathedral (two) and Martinsville (two).
Like Kiel, Jones' talent was obvious at an early age. Even as a fifth grader in the Columbus Diesel Youth Football program and later at Columbus Central Middle School, opponents knew Jones was coming. Not many figured out a way to slow him down.
"We saw it all," Columbus East coach Bob Gaddis said. "I think that's what made what he accomplished so impressive. Everybody knew what we were going to do the last two years. It was no secret."
As a freshman in 2011, with Kiel as quarterback and talented Andrew Wilson the starting running back, Jones made an impact on defense. Playing linebacker, he was second on the team in tackles. He saw a little time at running back, rushing for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Gaddis knew he had to get Jones on the field in some capacity.
"We saw him always around the ball and making plays," said Gaddis, who just completed his 14th year at Columbus East and 36th season overall. "We decided to try him at linebacker. In practice we got him some reps at running back because we knew that's where he would end up."
But what came next surprised even Jones.
As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,610 yards and 23 touchdowns to lead Columbus East to a 13-1 record and appearance in a 4A semistate against Cathedral. The following year in 2013, with Cathedral bumped up to 5A, the Olympians ran the table with a 15-0 record.
Jones rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-27 win over Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger in the 4A title game. That performance was something of a statewide coming out party for Jones, who finished his junior year with 2,653 rushing yards and 43 TDs.
It was the first championship game appearance for Columbus East since the 1979 team won the Class 3A title.
"It was the only time I've been on the field for the 'victory formation,'" Jones said. "That was pretty satisfying."
As a senior, Jones was simply far better than his competition. He rushed for 290 yards or more in six games. He rushed for five touchdowns or more in six games. He averaged – averaged – 11.3 yards per carry. In a 70-7 win over Jennings County, he rushed for 257 yards and five touchdowns – on nine attempts.
Jones' dominance manifested itself in odd ways, at least to him. After games, it wasn't unusual for fans of opposing teams approach him and ask for a photo or autograph. On many occasions, he was out of the game by early in the third quarter, or would just play defense.
"I think that's how you continue to stay a good team is to have young guys play a lot," Jones said. "I was happy to see those guys out there and had a good time cheering them on."
Gaddis wasn't even aware Jones was approaching the single-season record until halftime of Columbus East's 42-14 win over Evansville Reitz in the regional. Gaddis put him in for a series so he could break the previous record of 3,366 set by New Haven's Cory Jacquay in 2001.
It could be a short-lived record, Jones notes. Winchester's Kiante Enis rushed for 3,189 yards in just 12 games as a junior.
"I'm afraid Kiante Enis is going to break it next year," Jones said with a laugh. "I'll be watching him closely. Hopefully he has another great season. But I can tell the grandkids someday that I had the record.
A new chapter begins soon for Jones. He'll start classes at Purdue in January, pursuing a degree in professional flight technology. His father is a pilot for longtime Columbus-based Cummins Inc., which designs, manufactures and distributes engines and related products.
Jones recently received the schedule for his first semester at Purdue.
"I'll be in the air right away that first week," he said. "I'm excited for that."
Jones said he'd love to pursue a career as a corporate pilot, like his father. He ruled out nursing, his mother Cari's profession, when he realized he couldn't stand the sight of blood.
Besides, his favorite movie has always been Top Gun.
"My dad has been flying for a long time so he has a lot of friends in the business," Jones said. "So hopefully I could find a good spot. He has a lot of connections. I went to a lot of air shows when I was young, so now that I can do this and having a scholarship to do it is an awesome opportunity. I couldn't pass it up."
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriepat (317) 444-6649.
Mr. Football position award winners
Wide receiver
Keenan Franz, Bloomington South – The 6-2, 180-pound senior caught 74 passes for 977 yards and 16 touchdowns as the Panthers finished 11-2 made it to the Class 5A semistate.
Tight end
Inoke Moala, Penn – The 6-3, 228-pound senior averaged 22 yards per catch as a senior and made seven touchdown catches, along with being a dominant run blocker. Caught 15 career TD passes.
Offensive line
Jared Thomas, Cathedral – The senior Northwestern recruit was named the Phil M. Eskew Mental Attitude Award winner after helping Cathedral to the 5A title. Also a two-year basketball starter.
Quarterback
Kyle Castner, Ben Davis – The three-year starter passed for 3,410 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior to lead the Giants to the Class 6A state title.
Running back
Markell Jones, Columbus East – The senior Purdue recruit set a single-season state record with 3,536 yards and also rushed for 60 touchdowns. He's second on the state list in career rushing with 7,930 yards.
Kicker
Morgan Hagee, Plainfield – The Ball State recruit was 11-for-15 on field goals with a long of 49 yards and also averaged 35.8 yards per punt and placed 20 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Defensive line
Noah Grable, New Palestine – The 6-1, 228-pound defensive end made 90 tackles, including 32 for a loss, and had 12 sacks for the Class 4A state champions.
Linebacker
Asmar Bilal, Ben Davis – The senior Notre Dame recruit made a team-high 155 tackles for the Class 6A state champions, including 13 in the 42-24 win over Carmel in the state title game.
Defensive back
Mykelti Williams, Warren Central – The Star's Super Team Player of the Year was a dynamic player on both sides of the ball, making 74 tackles and seven interceptions as a safety and rushing for 400 yards and eight touchdowns as a part-time quarterback.
Punter
Joe Schopper, Cathedral – The Purdue recruit averaged 37 yards per punt to earn all-state honors.
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IndyStar Mr. Football winners
2014: Markell Jones, Columbus East
2013: Terry McLaurin, Cathedral.
2012: Jaylon Smith, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers.
2011: Gunner Kiel, Columbus East.
2010: Tre Roberson, Lawrence Central.
2009: Daniel Wodicka, West Lafayette.
2008: Morgan Newton, Carmel.
2007: Paul McIntosh, Evansville Reitz.
2006: Darren Evans, Warren Central.
2005: Dexter Taylor, Warren Central.
2004: Jason Werner, Roncalli.
2003: Desmond Tardy, Warren Central.
2002: Clayton Richard, McCutcheon.
2001: James Banks, Ben Davis.
2000: Otis Shannon, Cathedral.
1999: Derrick Ellis, Arlington.
1998: Rex Grossman, Bloomington South.
1997: DuJuan Daniels, Bishop Chatard.
1996: Israel Thompson, Martinsville.
1995: Earl Haniford, Martinsville.
1994: Josh Martini, East Central.
1993: Bo Barzilauskas, Bloomington South.
1992: Alex Smith, Franklin County.