D.J. Jones' Wikipedia entry states that the San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle was born in Greenville, South Carolina. He revealed on KNBR on Thursday that he was actually born in Dallas, Texas. Like so many in the area, his father grew up a fan of the Dallas Cowboys. He even barbecued for the team in the '90s before moving to South Carolina.
Jones' father, by the way, is "Big Dave" Jones, who owns a catering business headlined by his barbecue sauces.
D.J. Jones was asked which players he admired growing up, and the first name out of his mouth was Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith. Does that mean the 300-plus-pound defensive lineman once had dreams of carrying the football as a running back?
"I wish," Jones responded on the Murph and Mac show. "Yeah, give me the ball. I would love to. Yeah, give me the rock. I'll put it in there. Getting behind Juice (fullback Kyle Juszczyk), I'll get in the end zone. That's my guy."
Well, there you go. Maybe head coach Kyle Shanahan can draw up something with Jones in the backfield during goal-line situations. Wouldn't that be a sight? Good luck dragging the massive defensive tackle down behind the line of scrimmage.
Jones is used to being underestimated even when lining up on defense across from offensive lineman. Most look at him and don't realize he has a track background.
"They'd always think I was the slow one," Jones told Matt Barrows of The Athletic this week. "They'd take the victory walk-up — big barrel chest — and they'd think, 'Oh, he's no good.' And I'd take off on 'em."
You can listen to the entire KNBR interview with Jones below.
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