19 Days, 19 Questions: #15

With 15 days left until KICKOFF, 'The Forty' is back in business and going to run down the top 19 questions for the upcoming year.



15: Will Andre Jones play again for Texas?


You really just never know about these things, but here is hoping that Dre Jones' legal problems have been a huge mistake. The Houston Chronicle has recently reported that Jones' lawyer, Ariel Payan, thinks that the situation may resolve itself by some time next week. If true, this is the best case scenario for Jones and the Longhorns. However, I can't think of what information the Attorney General's office could have that might help resolve things, but I guess that is why I am not a lawyer (at least until November).


I know it has been discussed ad nauseum, but this whole episode seems to be out of character for an otherwise seemly good kid. Jones was the captain of his high school team in El Paso, was a good student and worked hard enough to graduate HS early so he could enroll for spring practice at Texas. None of this adds up to some one charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.

Then again, you never know what kids are going to be like, once they hit the freedom of college. Former Longhorn safety, Robert Joseph, who had already been removed from the team in June seems to be the instigator in this whole episode. He was removed from the team after a June 7th car burglary charge. He was dismissed from the team, but resurfaced as the main suspect in the aggravated robbery charge.

Seemingly all the information coming out after the arrest of Jones seems to lean in the direction of this being a misunderstanding. Of course, all this info is coming from his defense attorney. But Texas could really use Jones this year on the defensive line. Jones came in as the best UT defensive recruit from the 2007 class. Before the year, he looked to see playing time at defensive end and provide some much needed backup to Brian Orakpo and Aaron Lewis.

My Prediction: This may be my orange colored glasses, but I just have a feeling that Jones is going to have his charges dropped and be reinstated at some point in time this year (obviously, the sooner the better). Depending on the the totality of the circumstance, Mack may impose a suspension of some sort. But Honestly, I see Jones being fully reinstated by the 3rd game of the year. Here's to hoping!