DJ Cone Has All the Intangibles

By Jim Johnson
SouthernPigskin.com

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Inside Linebacker DJ Cone, from Islands High School in Savannah, Georgia, is a diamond in the rough.

Inside Linebacker DJ Cone, from Islands High School in Savannah, Georgia, is a diamond in the rough. By all accounts, DJ’s passion and work ethic on the football field is only paralleled by his effort in the classroom.

“DJ is just a great kid all around. He’s got a 3.5 GPA,” said Islands’ Head Coach Robert Zoller. “He’s 100 miles per hour in everything he does. He’s always the first one there and the last to leave. I’ll catch him out on the field doing extra sprints sometimes. Football is his true passion and he’s kind of found his niche. He’s a lot of fun to be around; you know when he’s there, he’s going to bring a smile to your face. “

Cone exhibits an unmatched passion for the game of football.

“I remember last year, we were playing Groves,” Zoller reminisced, fondly. “He had been playing outside linebacker for a long time, and he came up to me, wanting to play the Mike position. So, we moved him to the middle that week, and he finished the game with 18 tackles. He still came up to me afterwards and said, ‘I’ll play any position you want me to play, coach. If you want me to play guard, I’ll play guard. If you want me to play tackle, I’ll play tackle.’ He just loves the game. He’ll do anything to help the team win. That was a big turning point in DJ’s football career.”

Perhaps Cone’s greatest attribute is his attitude, high praise, given his physical gifts.

“He’s a mean kid. He’s got a mean streak,” Zoller said. “He loves to tackle people. He loves to make plays. He loves the game of football, that’s the biggest thing. Everyday in practice, he’s always got a smile on his face. He’s talking trash to the offense. He just wants to make everyone around him better. He just set the power clean record at school, 335 pounds. He led southeast Georgia with 164 tackles, last year. He’s the consummate worker. Leaders worry about their teammates. Individuals worry about themselves. DJ is 100% worried about our team , and that’s why he’s such a great player.”

Given the unpredictability of most high school football prospects, DJ Cone is about as sure a thing as they come. He is the poster child for consistency, both on the field with those 160 tackles, and off the field with his 3.5 GPA. If there was any doubt about Cone’s academics, the fact that he’s been contacted by multiple Ivy League schools, interested in his services, should remedy that, right away.

In summation, Zoller said, “Whichever lucky team gets him next year will get a young man that just wants to be the best player he can be for that program.”

When you hear people talk about the intangible things that make up a great football player, DJ Cone is the human embodiment of those traits.