Jones to start for UT vs. TCU Saturday

Kilgore native Eddie Jones is going to get an opportunity to make a direct impact for the Texas Longhorns when the 'Horns face Texas Christian University - and former Kilgore High School teammates Nick Sanders and Wayne Daniels - on Saturday.

JONES Because of a knee injury to starting defensive end Brian Orapko, Jones, a redshirt freshman, will start against TCU on Saturday, a 6 p.m. kickoff on FOX Sports Southwest (Kilgore Cable channel 50).

Texas and TCU between them have five former Kilgore players: Jones and offensive linemen Britt Mitchell and Michael Huey all play for the Longhorns. Sanders, a cornerback, starts for the 18th-ranked Horned Frogs, who also have Daniels, a Kilgore native and sophomore defensive end. All of those players helped KHS win its 2004 UIL Class 4A Division II state championship.

Jones has already proven himself to Longhorns' coaches and fans with a spectacular potentially game-saving interception against Arkansas State last week. The heavily-favored Longhorns were in trouble, with ASU on their 13- yard-line, when Jones intercepted a pass in the end zone.

SANDERS He also had a tackle for loss, four total tackles (three unassisted), two quarterback pressures and a sack assist.

Texas co-defensive coordinator Duane Akina wasn't surprised that Jones made the most of his chance.

"Eddie has an opportunity to play a little more," Akina said. "Eddie did a nice job for considering it was a hot seat right there because of how the game was going."

Kilgore has had such success in recent years in that former KHS athletes dot the college landscape, and not just in football. Shelby Savony is now a freshmen at UT and suiting up for its softball team. Pat McCrory will be a junior this season at Texas - he's a shortstop and pitcher for the Longhorns.

Football is the center of the sports world now, though, and KHS is well-represented: former Bulldogs Jerek Sheffield, Antonio Kelly, Kurt Rossum, Lawrence Emeadi, Deaundray Rossum, and Daren Chappell all now play for Kilgore College, off this weekend. Former Kilgore offensive lineman Ryan Whitmer walked on successfully recently at Texas A&M, and the Aggies will face Fresno State on Saturday.

Another former KHS offensive lineman, Lon Roberts, is the starting center - as a freshman - at Louisiana Tech. LA Tech hosts Hawaii in Ruston on Saturday. Roberts turned 20 today.

ROBERTS Coty Gatewood, a former Kilgore defensive tackle, now plays for Sam Houston State University. The Lumberjacks play at North Dakota State on Saturday. Former KHS defensive and offensive lineman Daniel Swaim and linebacker/wide receiver Guy Clayton (who also played for Kilgore College) are members of the Texas A&M-Commerce football program. Commerce hosts A&M-Kingville tomorrow. And quarterback Clint Toon, another former Bulldog and Ranger, plays for Texas State University. TSU faces Abilene Christian Saturday.

Scout.com writer Bill Frisbie provided the quotes by UT coaches and information on Brian Orakpo for this story.

TOON