TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- It hasn’t always been easy for Hootie Jones.

But whether it was leaving his mother, who is battling Stage 4 Lymphoma, choosing to attend the rival school of his home state university or learning a new position, Jones has done exactly what Nick Saban wants every Alabama player to do -- overcome adversity.

In the Crimson Tide safety’s senior season, he has shown more maturity and confidence than ever before while emerging as a starter on the nation’s top defense. And in doing that, those that know Jones best are bursting with pride for the Monroe, La., product.

“I’m really proud of him for sticking with the program there,” Neville (La.) High School head coach Mickey McCarty told BamaOnLine.com. “Obviously he’s grown a lot in the program there at Alabama and set himself up in a position to have some opportunities for success this year, and he’s obviously getting more playing time and those things.

“He’s persevered through some things and earned his time, and I’m proud of him for having some sticking power there and working his way through that program.”

A LOT ON HIS SHOULDERS

Jessica Carr learned her cancer, which had been in remission for four years, was back and had advanced to Stage 4. This was in early 2015 after the conclusion of Jones’ freshman season at Alabama. He played in seven games as a reserve, recording two tackles.

Not being close to his mother -- Tuscaloosa is just over 300 miles east of Monroe -- was an unsettling reality for Jones. And Carr became unable to attend games without difficulties after Jones’ true freshman season, to the point where her son demanded she stay at home and watch his games in order to preserve her strength -- something he draws from her.

Alabama S Hootie Jones at Vanderbilt.

“He’s got a lot on his shoulders,” McCarty said. “Obviously dealing with everything you deal with as a collegiate athlete and then on top of that, him dealing with some personal matters, and right at the top of that list, of course, is his mother’s illness.

“She’s a rock, herself, and I know that Hootie draws a lot of strength from her and vice versa.”

Carr “is doing good,” Jones said, but still has good days and bad days.

It’s never easy, watching a loved one fight a disease that has affected so many, but Jones has found himself maturing much faster than expected because of what his mother is facing.

“It’s really just helping me, off the field-wise, grow up a little bit more, just be mature for my sister and brother, because they’re younger than me, so they’re going to need me in the future,” Jones told BamaOnLine.com. “I’m just trying to get all the information I need, all the things she can teach me before, like, anything happens.”

As a father to one and a son to an ailing mother, Jones has had to juggle a lot of responsibilities over the last three years, not even including what fills his schedule as a student-athlete at the University of Alabama. But he’s managed both, even earning his degree in three and a half years this past August, which Carr was able to attend to the delight of her son.

“I think Hootie’s got a good head on his shoulders,” McCarty said. “Obviously he’s a college kid that’s gone through some things and is growing and maturing in those deals, but I think a lot of him for sticking it out and hanging with it over there.”

A HARD CHOICE

As a Top100 prospect in the 2014 recruiting cycle, according to the 247Sports Composite, Jones received offers from top programs like Alabama, Ohio State and Oklahoma. And as a native of Monroe, of course LSU was in the hunt with Les Miles as coach.

Jones grew up a fan of the Tigers, and LSU was one of the hats on the table when he made his college announcement at Neville High School on Dec. 2, 2013. But the No. 4 safety and No. 6 recruit from the state of Louisiana ultimately committed to the Crimson Tide.

And Alabama has Carr to thank for her son’s final decision.

Hootie Jones commits to Alabama.

“Honestly, my mother was really a great part in my process,” Jones said. “She was liking Alabama a lot more than me, but eventually I started liking Alabama more and more. I had liked LSU all my life, so it was a hard choice, but at the same time, I feel like I made a great choice.”

Jones is one of 10 Louisiana natives on Alabama’s 2017 roster, continuing a trend for the Tide since Saban took over in 2007. And the 6-foot-2, 215-pound safety has some strong feelings toward Saturday’s game between No. 2 Alabama and No. 19 LSU.



“Man, it’s important to me to go 4-0 against them,” Jones said. “If they beat me, it’s like a failed season. I want to beat LSU every chance I get, just like I want to beat every other SEC team. When you’re on the field you know it’s about something. It’s not just about trying to get a win or not lose, it’s about wanting to defeat them -- just like they’re trying to defeat us.”

Several of the Crimson Tide’s players share those same thoughts this week as Alabama looks to win six straight over the Tigers. Thanks to the relationships Saban developed throughout north Louisiana during his time as LSU’s head coach from 2000-04, UA has not only been able to surpass LSU on the field but in recruiting the top talent to its campus and roster.

The players that elected to leave their home state for a university that happens to be a divisional rival did so to some scrutiny but with one common aspect in their minds -- competition.

“Don’t nobody want anything given to them, everybody wants to work for it,” Jones said. “Every guy I know that came from Louisiana just wants to work for it, and they want to win.”

A WHILE TO TRANSITION

During his days at Neville High School, Jones was a cornerback on McCarty’s defense. But he made the move to safety because of his frame and based on suggestions from college coaches.

He’s played the position in all four years in Tuscaloosa, and after three seasons as a reserve, Jones is now a constant member of Alabama’s secondary in its nickel and dime packages. Like the rest of his journey to this point, though, it didn’t come without challenges.

“I think it took him a while to transition to that, especially in a scheme like Alabama plays,” McCarty said. “It took him a while to learn the playbook and so forth, and gain confidence, too. I think that for him, the confidence word is a big one. It took him some time to gain some confidence playing at that level at that new position. But he stuck with it.”

Alabama S Hootie Jones at practice.

Knowing he had an opportunity for a larger role in 2017, Jones said he worked out during the offseason like always but took the workouts “more serious, knowing it’s my last year.” He also focused on improving as a tackler, and the stats show he’s done that.

Through Jones’ first three seasons at Alabama, he registered 22 total tackles. Through eight games in 2017, the senior safety ranks fifth on the team with 31 tackles. He also recorded the first interception of his career against Colorado State back on Sept. 16.

“He’s been doing a really good job for us,” junior safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. “He’s become more of a leader out there. Just doing his job, doing what he’s supposed to do. Becoming more vocal and just overall improving as an athlete and as a safety.”

With a highly-anticipated matchup with LSU approaching, as well as a pivotal final stretch of the regular season, Jones and company know they have to play their best football in order to remain in playoff contention. And it starts with Jones’ hometown Tigers.

It won’t be easy, but as Jones has learned, nothing is.

“Hootie has done a marvelous job, especially this year in how he’s played, the consistency he’s played with,” Saban said. “I think that Hootie has improved every year that he’s been here. I think now he has a lot better confidence in what to do, how to do it, why it’s important to do it that way, and I think he plays faster because of it. He’s made more plays because of it.

“We’re really pleased with the way he’s progressed through his career here and the way he’s performing right now for our defensive team.”

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).