Sports

Alabama’s Jones super without the size

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The anchor of the biggest, most potent offensive line in college football plays the violin.

And if you’re foolish enough to tease center Barrett Jones about his choice in instruments, or his devout Christian faith, which is why no one in Tuscaloosa, Ala., has ever heard a foul word out of his mouth, know this — Jones might be the smallest of Alabama’s linemen, but he also is probably the toughest.

He played the final three quarters of the SEC Championship Game with a severely sprained left foot, when the Tide amassed 350 rushing yards.

He didn’t practice until this week when Alabama arrived for Monday’s BCS National Championship Game against Notre Dame. Jones is still wearing a protective boot on his left foot.

“I did not know that he was even hurt during the Georgia game,’’ said quarterback A.J. McCarron, “so that should let you know how he played.’’

Jones played great, going facemask to facemask with Georgia’s 6-foot-3, 358-pound nose tackle John Jenkins. Jones is 6-foot-3, 302. He will face another big matchup against Notre Dame’s Louis Nix III, a 6-foot-3, 326-pound mauler.

“It feels great,” Jones said of his foot. “I’ve been able to practice for a few practices. I think the first day I was certainly a little rusty, and on the second day I was a little less rusty.’’

Jones last year won the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation’s best interior lineman. This year he won the Rimington Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top center.

As good as he is on the field, he’s more impressive off it. When an earthquake devastated Haiti, Jones went to help, riding five hours in the back of a pickup truck to get to the neediest areas.

“Some guys are one-”‘dimensional, but Barrett is a guy, whatever you need to bring to the table at that position, he can do that,’’ said Alabama defensive lineman Damion Square. “You need him to be a great tackle, kick”‘stepping, or you can be a hard guard on the line that’s setting the D-”‘linemen up front, being aggressive and moving the three technique. He’s just a guy that can adjust to any situation, and that’s what makes him so great, and so aggravating to go up against at practice.’’