Leading from behind

“I need to make sure I’m doing everything to the best of my ability.” “We need to create this culture of how we do things [and] make sure everything is spot on.” -Aaron Jones

Meeting Aaron Jones in person would leave one surprised that such a quiet, well-spoken young player is a buccaneering, everywhere-at-once force on the field. Jones chooses his words carefully, not for the sake of concealment but because he wants his responses to be as clear and well-thought out as possible.

Jones is just entering his sophomore year and has already made himself an integral part of Georgia State men’s soccer. Jones plays nominally as a defender, but his marauding runs from left back have become a staple of Georgia State’s attacking play.

Jones hails from Great Yarmouth, a small coastal town in England. He left his high school at the age of 16 to pursue a professional soccer career in England. He joined the youth academy of a team about an hour and a half away from Yarmouth.

“At sixteen I left school to train with a professional club called Ipswich Town and I had a two-year scholarship there,” Jones said. “I didn’t actually do any education there. It was completely football. I was trying to go into the pro-game in England.”

Ipswich currently plays in the second˗tier professional league in England.

After completing his scholarship, Jones was told there would not be a place for him at Ipswich moving forward. Jones made the bold step of coming to the United States for college and continue his growth as a player. It’s a move he is enjoying, especially being in America.

“Once the opportunity came to go to America and have studying and soccer hand-in-hand, I

jumped at it because I’ve always been fairly academic,” Jones said. “I had done well in my high school and just chose to pursue a professional career in soccer, but it didn’t really work out how I wanted it to. I’m enjoying being back in education, furthering myself as a person, as well in my chosen sport.”

In his first season at Georgia State, Jones made himself an integral part of Georgia State’s game and has found himself quickly moving into a leadership role in the team.

Freshman Stats:

#17 Aaron Jones
Defender
5’8″
165 lbs.
19 starts
1,753 minutes played
1 goal, 5 assists

“I think the major difference for me was at Ipswich I always had people who were older than me and more experienced than me. So, I had people to look up to,” Jones said. “Now as a sophomore, I’m starting to take that role. People are looking to me to see what they can do better and it’s strange for me because it’s almost like a role reversal.”

It’s a role that Jones embraces though and his initiative has been noticed by the coaching staff. Jones was appointed vice-captain at the beginning of the season and has rewarded Head Coach Brett Surrency’s faith with a string of impressive performances.

“So far this year, my form has been up and down, but I would definitely say I can see improvements in my game that I’ve been pleased with,” he said. “My role has evolved in the team and it’s changed, and I’ve enjoyed having that responsibility on me.”

Jones has quickly become one of the Panthers’ most potent attacking weapons, providing excellent crossing service from wide areas and in set piece situations. Jones has already scored twice this season from free kicks against North Florida and South Carolina. He’s also known for the occasional “screamer.”

Jones is majoring in business and is already planning for the future both for himself and what he wants to help the men’s soccer program at Georgia State become.

“I do think about [the future] frequently. I don’t think there are many people who don’t think about their future,” Jones said. “Coming to America has really broadened my mindset. I’m more open to other things.”

“I need to make sure I’m doing everything to the best of my ability,” said Jones “We need to create this culture of how we do things [and] make sure everything is spot on.”

Jones is the type of player that a program can build a defense around, but he’s not letting that pressure get to him anytime soon.