You can see his father’s hands in how Dre’Mont Jones rushes the quarterback.

Quick, violent and relentless. Created with the genetics of a fighter.

Sanderline Williams was a professional boxer in the 1980s that faced seven world champions, but oh boy, he says you should watch his son jab on the football field. That’s No. 86 from Ohio State and now No. 93 for the Broncos. Jones doesn’t carry the typical girth of an NFL defensive lineman, yet his quickness and strength regularly dumbfounded unsuspecting college offensive linemen. Much like a crafty fighter picking his shots with finesse and then unleashing power.

Not unlike dad.

“Pass rushing and fitting the run is basically like boxing,” Jones said. “You’re punching, striking and being physical with your hands all the time. That definitely translated.”

Williams never pushed boxing on his son. The traits simply carried on.

“He’s a tough young man who has shown great heart,” Williams said.

Jones, the first defensive draft pick (No. 71 overall, third round) under head coach Vic Fangio, is nearing his rookie NFL training camp with heavyweight expectations. Jones is best suited to play defensive tackle in Denver’s “nickel” package, Fangio said, but “the techniques in there are very similar to our base package also. He’ll just be thrown in the mix with the other guys and let the competition play itself out.” Jones will also get snaps at defensive end in camp.

“I see the hands and the feet of a pass rusher and he’s only going to get better,” said Derek Wolfe, the Broncos’ most veteran defensive lineman. “That was a great pickup for us.”

So it appears the boxing metaphors fit. But his fighter’s mentality en route to reaching his NFL dream was best suited for moments Jones hit the mat. A string of non-football injuries tested his resolve.

— While being defended in an AAU basketball game, an opponent’s fingernail ripped the tear duct in Jones’ right eye. Blood gushed onto his face. The cut might have resulted in permanent damage had it landed just a fraction in a different direction.

— Already signed to play football at Ohio State, Jones led the St. Ignatius high school basketball team into the state playoffs his senior year but sustained a torn ACL. It forced Jones to redshirt his freshman season.

— Several OSU teammates engaged in locker room roughhousing in 2017 when Jones lost balance and his left leg caught the edge of a locker. The injury split wide open, revealed bone, and required a whopping 50 stitches. It also sidelined Jones for three games.

Bouncing back each time tied back to what Jones called his biggest football strength. Related Articles The next opportunity in Jeff Driskel’s winding football journey: Starting at quarterback for Broncos

Broncos rookie wideout KJ Hamler, fully healed from hamstring injury, poised for NFL breakout

🔊 Broncos podcast: Previewing Denver’s must-win Week 3 home showdown against Tampa Bay

Broncos Briefs: Blake Bortles practices, but Brett Rypien likely backup quarterback against Tampa Bay

Tom Brady at Mile High: More lows than highs for arguably best-ever NFL quarterback

“My ability to be tough,” he said.

Jones calls on current NFL interior rushers like such as Aaron Donald (Rams), Larry Ogunjobi (Browns), Sheldon Richardson (Browns), Adolphus Washington (Dolphins) and Mike Bennet (Patriots) for inspiration with meticulous film study. The biggest difference between Jones and his contemporaries is size.

Jones, listed at 6-foot-3 and 281 pounds, will need bulk up to meet the demands of NFL life in the trenches. Although that doesn’t mean he’ll lose the fighter’s touch. His father recorded 14 knockouts during his boxing career. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

“I feel I have a chip on my shoulder just being considered a small defensive tackle,” Jones said. “I feel I can be out there and just be raw and be faster and just play nasty.”