Adams: Jones able to roll with UT changes

Gerald Jones shakes his head when he thinks how swiftly his time at the University of Tennessee has gone by.

"I feel like I've been here for one year," said the senior wide receiver. "It has happened like that. Too fast. It feels very fast."

His UT followers might sense a different pace.

So much has happened to UT football since Jones first ran through the "T" as a former high school player of the year in Oklahoma. As he begins his fourth and final season, he's on his third head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterback.

The perception of time is further impacted by the state of the program. Has it really been only three years since UT was within minutes of an SEC championship?

Jones is a reminder of better days for a team picked to finish fifth in the SEC East this season.

It's easy to forget how close the Vols came to a conference championship in 2007. And Jones was right in the middle of it.

He caught a touchdown pass in the first overtime of UT's 52-50 victory over Kentucky, which put the Vols atop the East. A week later, inserted at quarterback in the "G-Gun" package, Jones ran two times for 39 yards in the SEC championship game against LSU.

The 2-for-39 statistic is so eye-popping you have to wonder why there was no third attempt. But that's another story.

LSU rallied to win the game on its way to a national title. UT bounced back to beat Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl but lost 13 games the next two seasons under two different head coaches.

Jones has become a familiar face in a program marked by change, whether you're measuring it in head coaches, coordinators, quarterbacks or won-loss record.

He might not have had the career you envisioned when he was a much-celebrated recruiting catch. But amidst all the offensive turmoil, you have to play an asterisk by the statistics of any UT receiver from this era.

If you want to put the most favorable spin on the offensive comings and goings, you could say that Jones is one of the best educated receivers in college football. That can't help but ease the transition to the next level.

"The offense I played in last year and this year has really helped me," Jones said. "When Peyton (Manning) comes and throws and Donte Stallworth comes and run routes, they say, 'Hey, there are similarities in the NFL.'

"They even use the same terminology. I think that gives us a step up."

No matter what terminology they throw at Jones, he's confident he can catch it.

"All of (UT's offensive systems) were easy for me, actually," he said. "I can see a play once, understand its purpose, and I can learn it. The most confusing was Dave Clawson's."

Jones weathered the Clawson Confusion of 2008 as well as the unsteady development of quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who became an NFL draft pick after improving drastically over the course of his senior season.

"This season may happen the same way," said Jones, pondering the development of two new quarterbacks, Matt Simms and Tyler Bray. "It depends on how much they study. Do they put in more time than Crompton or do they put in less time than Crompton? He put in a lot of time.

"That will dictate how good they will be."

That also will help determine how good Jones' senior season will be. He can catch and - as a former high school quarterback - throw a little bit, too. But he can't do both at the same time.

His versatility is documented by stats and awards.

Jones ranked seventh in the SEC in receiving last season, has been an SEC special teams player of the week, and this year shared UT's Big Lick Award, given to the player who consistently demonstrates the most toughness. He has averaged 38 yards on three kickoff returns, had a 55-yard run from scrimmage and been a consistent punt returner. He has overcome injuries, become a team leader and established himself as one of the best quotes in UT history.

He has even managed to become more patient.

"I would say I'm learning patience," he said. "It's really hard because I expect so much."

Why wouldn't he? In his senior season at Millwood High School, his team went 12-1, thanks largely to Jones, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards, passed for more than 1,500 and even came up with an interception and a couple of sacks. A year later, on a much bigger stage, there was Jones popping those two big runs as UT threatened to upset LSU for the SEC title.

That was just three years ago. It seems a lot longer.

John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.