Beyond the Gridiron with WR/DB Mark Jones

Published on May 17, 2012 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA BAY - Whether he's switching from wide receiver to defensive back on the field, or alternating between his duties as a personal trainer or Mr. Mom off of it, Mark Jones has proven himself as a flexible asset to both the Tampa Bay Storm and those outside of the organization.

It's a tribute to not only Jones' incredible work ethic that provides the drive to take on multiple responsibilities, but also his versatility, that allows him to do each of them well.

"You have to make some sacrifices," Jones said. "But for the most part, it's fun to be able to excel at a bunch of different things. I always say the more you do, the better off you are."

That Jones is versatile both on and off the field is no coincidence.

In his case, versatility proved to be a trait born out of habit.

When Jones was playing high school football as a teenager growing up in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, he often played both ways on the field, splitting time at running back and safety. Then, as he moved on to the collegiate ranks as a standout at the University of Tennessee, Jones played at the defensive back position before switching over to wide receiver. When it finally came time to make his much anticipated debut at the NFL level, Jones played the only way he knew how, on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, performing primarily as a punt returner, while at the same time never turning down the opportunity to make a few tackles.

"It wasn't for the faint of heart," he added. "I will tell you that."

But it was for Jones.

In fact, perhaps so much so, that it better prepared him to excel off the field in his current endeavor when he is not playing football.

In what proved to be a seamless transition, Jones took many of the same aspects involved in the game of football and brought them inside to D1 gym, where he serves as a personal trainer two days per week to a large number of adult clients, including both men and women.

For Jones, the call to become a personal trainer seemed to be a natural fit.

"Just from playing football, I was already pretty knowledgeable about training, endurance, getting in shape, lifting weights and all the preparation that goes into being an athlete," Jones said. "I really didn't have professional certifications, just hands-on experience that I could bring to the table."

After re-connecting with a former friend from college who was responsible for recruiting him to work at the gym, Jones became an integral part of the "coaching staff," as they are called at the facility, which helps clients "achieve their goals and feel good about themselves."

Among the specific exercises that Jones specializes in are cardiovascular workouts, improving upper body strength and athletic conditioning. A typical day for him usually involves arriving at the gym around 5 a.m., training clients until approximately 8 a.m., at which time he heads to Storm team meetings, and then hitting the field for practice until about noon.

"At that point, my day is just getting started," Jones added.

After watching video in the afternoons to prepare for the Storm's next opponent, Jones then has to juggle the trials of fatherhood, taking care of he and his wife's second child, while also leading a Christian fellowship group at his local church.

"There are a lot of early mornings and late nights, so it's a lot balancing your time and getting the right amount of rest to wake up the next day and do it all again," Jones said. "You just have to manage it."

So far, the versatile Jones is excelling at that too.

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