Jacquez Jones, DeAndre Square want to enhance pass coverage

When Jon Sumrall left Kentucky to become the new head football coach at Troy, the former alum did not leave the cupboard bare at inside linebacker. New defensive assistant Mike Stoops is inheriting room that has a ton of quality options.

Leading that group will be a pair of super seniors — Jacquez Jones and DeAndre Square.

Both linebackers are entering their fifth season in college football, and each has played a ton of snaps. The duo will enter the season with over 500 combined career tackles with 36 tackles for loss. Kentucky has two proven commodities with the veterans, but each is hoping to improve in a specific area of their game as they use the extra year of eligibility.

Both are leaning on Stoops to help each grow in pass coverage.

“He worked with a lot of DBs in his time as a defensive coordinator, and I feel like he’s going to help my game in a different way in the pass coverage — which is something I really want to work on becoming a better pass defender,” said DeAndre Square. “So, I feel like he’s going to help me a lot in that area.”

“That’s really my main goal this spring is to be better in space,” said Jacquez Jones. “These past few days, it’s the best I’ve played in coverage so far. It’s just how can I continue to build on it each day.”

When looking back on the 2021 season, two of the biggest individual defensive plays were made by Jones and Square in pass coverage. Jones ended the Florida game with a fourth down pass breakup in the red zone, and Square collected a diving interception to lock up a win against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl.

"Blitz coming Corker just misses him, and he throws into the middle of the field. Did he come up with it… INTERCEPTION DeAndre Square may have sealed the deal for Kentucky on a diving interception on one good leg!" @tomleachKY's call of @d_square10's interception pic.twitter.com/lGU8iPbDcT

— UK Sports Network (@UKSportsNetwork) January 2, 2022

However, more is needed at the position. The SEC is filled with RPO-heavy offenses and spinoffs of the Art Briles power spread attack. Kentucky is going to face pass-heavy teams a lot in 2022. When looking ahead to the NFL, the ability to drop and make plays in both man and zone coverage is very valuable for off-ball linebackers.

Both Jones and Square are looking to grow in coverage to help Kentucky get to the next level.

“We all know we can stop the run, but in today’s game and at the next level it’s how can you play in space and can you cover tight ends and backs,” said Jones.