Helena coach Richie Busby understood his linemen faced a stiff challenge last week against 6-foot-5½, 330-pound Alabama commit Jayson Jones.

After Helena’s 21-3 victory over Calera, Busby came away even more impressed with Jones, who played defensive line and left tackle on offense.

“We couldn’t do anything with him,” Busby said.

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Jones, a 4-star prospect, has been committed to Alabama since July 2018, but he won’t be an early enrollee and said he plans to enroll in June.

Injuries to a number of Calera’s other linemen forced Jones, coming off offseason knee surgery, to play both ways for much of his senior season.

Calera coach Trey Simpson noted Jones constantly faced double- and triple-teams when he played along the defensive line and praised the teen’s unselfishness and leadership for playing so many snaps on offense.

Jones’ success as an offensive lineman has fueled speculation he could play offense at Alabama. Alabama’s current list of 2020 commits features only two offensive linemen and three other interior defensive linemen.

“I think he’s got the ability to do both,” Simpson said. “I think it’s going to boil down to need of where he’s at, it’s going to depend on Alabama’s need. I think he could be an SEC inside (defensive) lineman because I don’t think he’s peaked on that side of the ball. On the offensive side, he has elite athleticism for a man of his size. He has great feet. He’s a huge, huge guy with leverage, good pad level and can do some things that can be pretty special on the offensive side as well.

“We haven’t seen his best yet,” Simpson added. “He’s going to get in a system and focus on one side of the ball, and there’s big things for him to come.”

Calera finished 1-9 and did not qualify for the playoffs. Jones talked to AL.com about his senior season and his future at Alabama. Here’s key excerpts from the conversation:

Q: How did your senior season go and how do you evaluate your play?

Jones: “We could have done a whole lot better in my opinion. It’s not what we wanted, but I wouldn’t want to be with any other guys than these guys right here.”

Q: What did you think of your individual play?

Jones: “Again, I feel like my effort could have been better, but I had a few good plays here for there. Me playing both ways, I was basically always tired.”

Q: How much did you play both ways – in every game, start both ways, what was the situation?

Jones: “Our left tackle got injured, so I had to play both ways. I think it started against Stanhope, so about the fourth game.”

Q: In the past, you’ve said you prefer playing defense. Do you still feel the same way?

Jones: “I do, but I if it does come down to it in college to play offense I’m going to do it.”

Q: An opposing coach told me that when his team played against you, they were super-impressed with you on offense. Do you feel like you’re locked in to playing defense at Alabama or do you think there’s a chance you end up as an offensive lineman?

Jones: “I think there’s a chance I play offense, but whatever they need me, I’m going to be the best player I can be at that position.”

Q: Throughout your high school career on defense, you’ve constantly seen a double-team. What’s that like when you know that’s what you’re going to face on every single play? How do you deal with it and thrive in that environment?

Jones: “I’m a big guy, so it’s kind of hard to contain when it’s 1-on-1 against me. I don’t blame them for double-teaming me. It got to the point to where I’m so used to it. It’s going to be every play, so you might as well get used to it.”

Q: You were coming off an offseason knee injury that required surgery. Did you think that lingered or limited you at all?

Jones: “Yes, honestly, from a confidence standpoint. Towards the end of the season, especially in the Helena game, if you watch my film you can see I was moving a lot faster and I was comfortable on my leg.”

Q: Do you feel 100 percent now?

Jones: “I still feel a little bit of restriction. I feel about 95.”

Q: As the year went along, did you feel like it got stronger and stronger?

Jones: “Yes, and I felt more confident.”