Terrell Jones is still not in perfect condition. The right shoulder he had surgery on two offseasons ago is not as mobile as the left. His midsection still bothers him, but not as much as it did before sports hernia surgery four months ago.

        But come Aug.31, when Miami University plays North Carolina, Jones will be ready.

        “Next week, I'll be 100 percent, no matter what,” Jones said. “I'm used to playing with pain. So I feel like I'm ready.”

        The RedHawks are counting on it. Miami needs Jones, an all-Mid-American Conference linebacker, to play an even bigger role than he has in his previous two seasons. Along with patrolling the middle of the field and setting up the 4-3 defense from his middle linebacker position, Jones is expected to blitz more and cover more running backs out of the backfield.

        Jones, a 5-foot-9, 225-pound junior, led all true freshmen in the nation in tackles (11.75 a game) in 2000, and was tops on the RedHawks last season with 124 stops. He is a preseason Nagurski and Lombardi award candidate. The awards are given annually to the best defensive player and lineman in college football.

        Jones often relies on his awareness to make plays. Because he watches so much film on opponents, coaches and teammates say he often anticipates plays before they happen.

        “It's easy to play next to him because he knows everything that's going on,” said senior Matt Robillard, Miami's other all-conference linebacker. “It seems like he calls out half of the plays before the offense even runs them.”

        Miami linebackers coach Taver Johnson said Jones has worked hard getting ready for the upcoming season, participating in offseason workouts before two-a-days started earlier this month.

        His small, stocky size helps Jones slip through the blocks of 300-pound offensive linemen. And the time he has spent lifting weights in the offseason will help him fend off those blockers who do get their mitts on him.

        Jones has increased his bench press maximum from 260 pounds (what he benched as an incoming freshman) to 310 pounds.

        Johnson has noticed the difference in the linebacker.

        “He's gotten stronger,” Johnson said. “You need that offseason training to be able to finish plays at the college level.”

        There were games last year in which ball carriers would fall forward for an extra yard or two after Jones made the hit.

        One of those games was a 24-21 Miami win against Bowling Green. Jones had eight tackles, but Johnson said he could have had a lot more.

        “He would get there, but he just couldn't finish the plays all the way,” Johnson said.

        The added muscle also might help Jones avoid persistent injuries that have hampered his performance.

        Last year, a sports hernia felt like a bolt of lightning in his midsection. The pain was such that Jones considered sitting out nonconference games but ultimately decided to play through the discomfort.

        After recovering from surgery in April, Jones started offseason workouts — his first since entering the school in 2000 — and he is now as healthy as he has ever been at Miami.

        “Hopefully,” Jones said, “I can push through this year.”

Sports Stories

Big-time football gets even bigger Buckeye back bangs heads Colorado St. 35, Virginia 29 Miami LB Jones adds bulk, eases pain A look ahead at the U.S. Open Coach to the stars sizes up U.S. Open Williams, Davenport advance to semifinals Lights, camera, action Worcester knocks off Harlem Goose, Izawa lead NEC Invitational Links champion Moore lurks as field is whittled to eight O'Neal says he never agreed to host kids camp U.S. bid has IOC in mind United States 84, China 54 'Wild man' label suits Busch fine

At training camp, competition and camaraderie forge a team
Bengals training camp by the numbers
Farmer returns, hamstring and all
Grass-roots effort working well at Paul Brown Stadium
He's the one who brings bad news
Chargers 31, Rams 10
Rams fullback fractures left foot in preseason game
Edgewood wins opener
Badin crushes Wyoming
Kentucky football preview
This week's football preview
Prep football schedule
Kentucky boys soccer preview
Kentucky girls soccer preview
Ohio girls soccer preview
Turpin seeking 3-peat in D-II
Boys golf results
Girls golf results
Girls tennis results
Soccer results
Coaches, call us
D'Backs 6, Reds 3
Reds Box, Runs
Sullivan OK, itching to pitch
It's make-or-break time for Reds
Reds at Astros series preview
Labor talks moving slowly
Fox's Goren on strike: 'A deal to be made.'
Astros 9, Cubs 1
Cardinals 5, Pirates 4
Phillies 7, Brewers 0
Astros bolster bullpen with Flash Gordon
Toledo 6, Louisville 4
DAUGHERTY: That buzz you hear is UC's QB