Versatility isn’t a term often associated with 6-4, 295 pounders. Then again, few defensive tackles possess the coveted package of speed and quickness of Bastrop senior D.D. Jones.

Besides teaming with Josh Downs to form perhaps the best defensive tackle combination in the state, Jones has filled in at defensive end when necessary and is a vital part of the Rams’ “Rhino” (short yardage) package.

“D.D. has had a good year, especially when you consider everything I’ve asked him to do,” Bastrop coach Brad Bradshaw said. “We’ve had to move him to several spots. He’s played in several packages and done an outstanding job in all of them.”

There are two reasons Jones has been asked to fill multiple roles. Clearly, he has the physical capability. Then there’s the finer point of the game. Jones has a firm grasp of the mental aspect of football.

“D.D. understands the game mentally,” Bradshaw said. “He’s an enjoyable young man to coach. He wants to learn, not only to help our team win but so he will be prepared when he goes to the next level.”

For Jones, the next step is Michigan as he verbally committed over the summer.

Refusing to rest on his laurels, Jones has put together a spectacular senior season with 58 tackles, 10 tackles for negative yardage, two sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Understandably, other schools have continued to show interest, including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Although Jones says he’s firmly committed to the Wolverines, he is more focused on the present goal of helping the Rams win a fourth straight state championship.

“I’ll  worry about all that at the end of the season,” said Jones on the subject of recruiting.

Bradshaw believes Jones has only scraped the surface of his potential. Like his brother, Deddrick Jones, who is now a starting defensive end at Southern Mississippi as a redshirt freshman, Bradshaw says D.D. will benefit from additional time in the weight room.

“D.D. has natural strength. All that’s holding him back is weight room strength,” Bradshaw said. “Just like his brother, he’ll have to get weight room strength before he can achieve at the next level. They’re both big, talented, tough and coachable. Once D.D. gets the weight room strength he needs, he’ll have a chance to be a dominant player.”

Jones has been plenty dominant as a high school senior. In fact, his effectiveness hasn’t been limited to the defensive side.

“I hate to say it, but the good thing about D.D. is that if he doesn’t pick up the speed to go with his strength to become an upper echelon defensive lineman at the next level, he’ll be a dominant offensive guard,” Bradshaw said. “He has really added a lot to our team with his blocking. He doesn’t need any help. He doesn’t know our whole blocking scheme because he doesn’t get to practice on offense that much, but his man’s not going to make the play.”

Don’t be misled by the above comments. Bradshaw fully expects Jones to play on the defensive front in college.

“D.D. has the toughness, which is the greatest feature you can have playing up front,” Bradshaw said. “He’s not one that’s going to whine about getting double teamed when he gets to the next level. He understands that his role is to keep the linebackers clean.”

Jones has the tenacity to match his toughness.

“Very seldom do you see people his size that will actually leave their feet to make a play,” Bradshaw said. “He’ll throw his body around.”

Jones, who aggravated his surgically repaired knee in a first round playoff game against LaGrange, was back as a disruptive force in Friday’s 40-7 quarterfinal victory at Zachary last Friday.

“Cold weather makes my knee ache,” said Jones, who underwent surgery in late December. “I was feeling a lot better Friday night.”

That was obvious from Zachary’s second play from scrimmage when Jones caused and recovered a fumble to give the Rams a short field at the 33. It was the first of six Zachary turnovers (four fumbles, two interceptions).

“I think their quarterback was trying to pull the ball out and the fullback was trying to take the handoff at the same time,” Jones said. “Watching them on film, they had basically dominated every defensive line they played. I don’t think they were used to seeing defensive linemen get in their backfield that fast.

“We knew they were a good team so we had to go out and execute. We felt like we had to get four turnovers to win the game and we ended up getting six. Overall, I thought we did a pretty good job.”

Jones was in on another big play later in the first half. On fourth-and-goal from the 4, Jones and linebacker Tai (Speedy) Alford combined to stop a pitch to the right side at the 1 to preserve an 8-0 lead.

Bastrop then embarked on a nine-play, 99-yard drive to open up a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

“I thought that gave us a big advantage when we stopped them at the 1-yardline and the offense marched down the field and scored,” Jones said.

Another key point in the game came late in the final stages of the first half. After Zachary scored to reduce the deficit to 20-7 with 2:01 remaining before intermission, the Rams answered to go up 26-7 just 19 seconds before halftime.

“I believe (the touchdown right before the half) took a little life out of them and made us play harder,” Jones said. “Any time the offense scores, it just makes us play harder and try to get the ball back.”

Despite missing two starting linebackers Friday night, the Rams were able to stifle the Broncos’ potent triple option attack.

“We had some young guys come in at linebacker and play hard,” Jones said. “Alex Jones (no relation) came in and played well and Devin Richards did a good job.”

In Friday’s semifinal round, the Rams will be tested by a Belle Chasse offense which has put up an average of 41.4 points per game.

“Belle Chasse is a good football team,” Jones said. “We just have to go out, execute, carry out our assignments and hope for the best outcome.”

Regardless of the outcome, 30 seniors will play in their final game at Ram Stadium on Friday night. Jones has already envisioned the perfect ending for Friday night.

“Me and Speedy were talking on the way back after the (Zachary) game,” Jones said. “We were saying we have to win our last home game. Then they should let everybody storm the field. That would be a real special moment for us.”

Of course, a perfect ending on Friday would be a step towards Jones’ ultimate perfect ending to his high school career — the opportunity to hoist the state championship trophy in the Louisiana Superdome on Saturday, Dec. 13.