Christian Jones: 'We got rid of all the anchors and now we have straight oars'
At his introductory press conference with the Arizona Cardinals, former Texas Longhorns offensive lineman and 2024 fifth-round pick Christian Jones was asked questions typical from the local media during their first chance to talk with a new player.
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Jones’ soccer background, his excitement to start his professional career, and what he likes about his Arizona teammates already were topics touched on in the Valley of the Sun. Toward the end, Jones was asked about a familiar phrase stemming from his time in burnt orange: is Texas back?
Of course, Jones thought the answer to that question was yes. He started 13 of 14 games during the Longhorns’ run to the College Football Playoff and Big 12 title, missing only the contest against Kansas State. But his answer didn’t begin by discussing on-field aspects. Rather, how Steve Sarkisian has built a strong off-field culture was the primary reason Jones believed Texas was indeed back.
“Honestly, big shout out to Coach Sark, for real,” Jones said. “Coach Sark came in to a ’21 team that really had no culture. All the growing pains and all that to turn it around in such a short time, we got rid of all the anchors and now we have straight oars. Everyone’s on the same mission, doing the same thing. Same mindset. Anyone who is not with it, they can get gone. For real. I think Texas is back, you feel me? Just off of culture alone.”
Of course, culture boosted a talented roster to its 2023 achievements. Jones was one of 11 Longhorns taken in the 2024 NFL Draft along with Byron Murphy, Xavier Worthy, T’Vondre Sweat, Jonathon Brooks, Adonai Mitchell, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Keilan Robinson, Jaylan Ford, Ryan Watts, and Jordan Whittington. Plus, Jett Bush and Ryan Sanborn signed as undrafted free agents, giving Texas 13 players off its 2023 roster to join the professional ranks.
But for Jones, culture is what starts the engine and is what’s likely to keep Texas on a strong trajectory entering the program’s first season in the Southeastern Conference.
“Even hypothetically, on paper, or whatever happens this season, it’s not like what y’all believe, I’m not even worried about it because I know culture always wins,” Jones said. “I’m very excited for the future. I’m very excited to see what the O-line does. I’m excited to see Quinn (Ewers) and how he leads everybody, and the defense too, man. Everybody.”
After struggles across the first few years of his career starting in 2018, continuing in 2019 and 2020, and coming to a head in 2021, Jones credited Sarkisian, strength and conditioning coach Torre Becton, and offensive line coach Kyle Flood for helping him achieve so much in 2022 and 2023, enough to where the Cardinals thought him worthy of a fifth-round pick. In addition, he praised the University of Texas in general and the impact it had not just on his football career, but in his personal life.
“I love coming back there,” Jones said. “That was my dream school and everyone there changed my life. Coach Kyle Flood changed my life. Coach Becton changed my life. Coach Sark changed my life. I’m forever indebted.”
Jones has work to do now as the Cardinals are in the midst of rookie mini camp. But when the Longhorns are playing on Saturdays this fall, Jones will be watching and expecting success.
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“Yeah, I think they’re going to do some good things this year,” Jones said.
