Ian Hamilton
The Leader-Post

The CFL’s top freshman in 2013 is now just another third-year engineering student at the University of Regina.

Less than two months after being named the CFL’s rookie of the year on Nov. 21, Calgary Stampeders centre Brett Jones is back at the U of R and continuing his pursuit of a degree in petroleum engineering. The 22-year-old product of Weyburn always planned to return to school in the CFL off-season, so he was prepared to make the transition from pro football player to student. Even so, something about the move surprised him.

“The weird thing about last season is that every day was pretty much like being in class,” Jones said Tuesday. “Every day, you’d show up at the (Stampeders’) facility and you’d learn new things about the team you were playing the next week. It was almost like a different way of studying.

“But I enjoyed it. I feel like I’m more diligent now with getting stuff done because that’s what I did in Calgary with all the film and all the notes I had to study. I feel like I’m almost a better studier now because of it.”

Maybe, but isn’t the material a little different these days? “You’re not memorizing who’s playing what position or their tendencies or anything,” Jones admitted with a laugh. “Now, it’s learning about reservoirs and things like that.”

Jones spent four seasons with the University of Regina Rams and was a regular fixture on the CIS’s Academic All-Canadian lists. In 2011 and ’12, he was named Canada West’s top studentathlete while also earning berths on the Canada West and CIS all-star teams.

Before the 2013 CFL draft, Jones told teams who were considering selecting him that he had applied to the University of Saskatchewan’s medical school. That prompted teams to pass on Jones, who would have been a surefire first-rounder if he hadn’t laid out his plans.

Calgary selected Jones in the second round (16th overall) and, after he didn’t get into the U of S, he signed with the Stampeders in May.

The 6-foot-2, 319-pounder went to Calgary’s training camp and earned a roster spot. He was named the Stampeders’ starting centre before the regular season began – and he remained in that position throughout the campaign.

After his play drew rave reviews all season, Jones beat Hamilton Tiger-Cats tailback C.J. Gable for the rookie-of-the-year award in balloting by members of the Football Reporters of Canada as well as the league’s coaches.

Two months later, the award is in his past.

“I don’t think about it very much, nor do I think it affects what I do,” said Jones, who returned to Regina at the end of November and started classes at the U of R when the semester began on Jan. 7. “I’ve still got lots of work to do with the goals I want to achieve.

“It hasn’t really affected me in any way. I guess I answer a lot more questions now. People ask about football and I try to answer them the best I can.”

He’s happy to be back among the engineering students he got to know before he was drafted and equally happy to once again be surrounded by his former Rams teammates. The topic of life in the CFL comes up, particularly among the latter group.

“I just tell them how great an experience I had, that there is an opportunity there and that the chance you’ll get is a result of how much work you put in,” Jones said.

“I came from Weyburn and my talent level wasn’t as high as some of these kids. I worked hard for four years, I got a chance and I didn’t let the opportunity pass me by.”

Jones needs to complete his engineering degree before he can apply again for medical school – if he decides to do that. He’s taking five classes this semester and estimates he’s perhaps another year and a half away from getting his degree.

Mind you, his summers and falls aren’t available due to his football commitments, so his workload at school appears daunting.

“It’s all right,” Jones said. “I guess I’ll have something to do every off-season.”