John Tyler’s Braylon Jones is the ETSN.fm 2013 East Texas Football Super Team Defensive Newcomer of the Year

In addition to his size and strength, something else was guiding John Tyler defensive tackle Braylon Jones' super sophomore season.

"His attention to detail," said John Tyler coach Ricklan Holmes of Jones. "He wanted to do everything the coaches wanted him to do. Very seldom do you find kids that want to do exactly what the coaches tell them to."

John Tyler DL Braylon Jones. (Courtesy JT Football)

It all came together in Jones' first varsity campaign as the Lions' big man up front was voted Defensive Newcomer of the Year on the ETSN.fm 2013 East Texas Football Super Team. He follows Gladewater's Daylon Mack, who earned the honor last season.

Jones (6-3, 275) was the latest in a long line of D-line playmakers for John Tyler, finishing with 61 tackles, eight for loss, 2 1/2 sacks, and one fumble recovery last fall.

"He had the season that I expected him to have," Holmes said. "I expected him to come out and play hard, be a playmaker on the defensive side of the ball from Game 1 all the way to Game 11. He's a hard-working kid, he's going to listen and he's very coachable, and it showed on the field."

Jones' level of play extends far beyond measurable statistics.

"Size and strength are his biggest asset," Holmes said. "He's a big kid and his size and strength improved from what it was last season. With him getting a lot stronger now, he's going to be even more dominant next year than he was this year."

College coaches have begun to take notice, and while Jones does not hold an offer, it seems as if it will be only a matter of time.

"To me Braylon is what I call a real five-star kid," Holmes said. "Real five-star guys play the game really well and also know the game."