The S26 ISFL draft has come and gone. On November 20th, the draft presentation took place and all of the eagerly waiting members of the S26 draft class found out their ISFL destinations. We caught up with Vincent Jones Jr, a linebacker from the Ultimini winning Tijuana Luchadores. Jones was selected 5th overall by the New Orleans Second Line in the draft and we sat down with the linebacker to talk about the draft process and his outlook for his future. Here is that interview:
Q: Hello Vincent, thank you for taking the time to talk with us today.
A: Not a problem, I’ve never really done too many interviews, so this is still pretty exciting for me!
Q: Well, you are going to have to get used to them if you keep playing the way you did in your rookie season!
A: Hahahaha! I hope I can keep up that level of play, I had to last season to keep up with my teammates. We had an amazing squad in Tijuana, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without these guys. They are the best teammates a rookie could ask for.
Q: Well, speaking of what you did do, you were named the Defensive Rookie of the Year by the DSFL Daily Gazette, you were nominated for the Defensive Rookie of the Year by the DSFL awards committee as well as Linebacker of the Year by the DSFL awards committee. You lead all rookie defenders in tackles with 110, which was 6th overall by the way, you had 9 sacks, again top for all rookies again and 4th in the league. That is pretty darn impressive if you ask me.
A: It is what it is. I am not playing for personal awards. I mean, it is great to be noticed and nominated and even better to actually win, but I feel strongly that this is a team game, I couldn’t do anything at without my teammates. They are there with me for every play, none of us can do this ourselves. That’s why I love this game so much and why I love playing for the Luchadores. We are in this together, we loss together and we also win together. And we frickin won the biggest game of the season, that’s what matters the most to me.
Q: I get that, and you sure did win the biggest game of the season. An Ultimini win in your rookie season, did you see that coming?
A: I sure did. When I first got in the Luchadores locker room after being drafted, I saw a sign saying 8 time Ultimini Champions, I knew right away that I wanted to be part of the team when that sign changed to 9 and now that I know I’ll be here for at least another season, I want to get that to 10!!
Q: Good stuff and this will help me transition into what I wanted to talk about today. The ISFL draft. You were just selected 5th overall by the New Orleans Second Line in the S26 draft, did you know that you would be selected by New Orleans and this high in the draft?
A: I honestly had no clue. I had talked to a whole lot of teams coming up to the draft and felt that I didn’t really have a solid idea on where I’d end up. I knew that I had a lot of connections in NOLA, with them having a lot of Luchadore alumni on there team, may of which had stopped by the Tijuana locker room every once and a while. Guys like Forrest Gump, Mason Blaylock, Literally Just A. Hexagon, Andrew Witten and Ben Slothlisberger, who I’ve known for a while, he helped me get into the league actually. And then there is my Tijuana teammate, Adam Mellott, I knew he was drafted to NOLA before me as well.
Q: And do not forget that one of you GMs from Tijuana moved the move up to New Orleans to take over the GM spot there.
A: Oh right, there is that too. So, I guess when you say it like that, I should have had a better idea that I might have ended up as a member of the Second Line!
Q: So, I have heard that you’ll be spending another season in the DSFL, playing for your Tijuana Luchadores. What are your thoughts on that?
A: My thoughts are great on that. I went into the draft telling every team that asked me, that I’d be more than ok with going up or staying down. I can’t wait to start playing in the ISFL and I know that time will come, but being able to play another season in Tijuana, I’ll be able to work on my game that much more and hopefully be able to make a bigger impact when I join the team in New Orleans. I want to be able to help any way I can to win some games in the Second Line jersey, and the end goal is to win a Ultimus in purple. That was my goal when joining the Luchadores and we pulled it off and now I also have a chance to defend the title, I’m really looking forward to that.
Q: Speaking of the Luchadores title defense, it looks like there are quite of few of your Ultimini winning teammates who got the call to the big leagues. How is the seasons team shaping up?
A: We are looking great! We are losing some amazing players to the ISFL, some guys that we couldn’t have won the Ulitmini without. But that’s the nature of the DSFL, the top players get called up as soon as their ISFL need them. So it’s no surprise that we had a lot of guys called up, we were the best team in the league, cause we had some of the best players in the league. Going to miss playing with those guys, but I can’t wait to see what they do in the ISFL, and I’ll be seeing them soon too.
Q: How does the new rookie class look for the Luchadores?
A: It looks pretty friggin awesome! We got some really amazing players in the draft. We got back Preston Parker, who we snagged of waivers last season, which is a huge win. He is a class act, he’s going to shine this season and for seasons to come in the ISFL. We also got some other top notch offensive players, guys like Boo Tee, Buck Nekkid, Drip Dad and Franklin Ali-West. These guys have been a welcomed addition to our locker room and I can’t wait to see what they can do on the field. And for my side of things, we got Dee Pressing, Devonte Crook and Jack Offmen. Some class acts here, our defense is going to be very solid again this season with these additions. Can’t wait for the season to get started!!
Q: You and me both! Anything else you want to add before we leave today?
A: Ya, a couple things, I guess. First off, I want to thank the New Orleans Second Line for selecting me in the draft. I know there were a lot of amazing players to choose from and I am honoured that they took a chance on me. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that I am worth their #5 pick. Secondly, I want to thank all of my Luchadore teammates, alumni and front office. You helped make my rookie season one for the ages. Each of you helped make me want to be the best player possible, to help the team win. The Ultimini was just the icing on the cake, all of you rock and I’m lucky to have been able to part of this team and league. Oh, and last thing, watch out for the Luchadores this season DSFL, we aren’t going to let go of the Ultimini trophy easily, it looks good here in Tijuana and we want it stay here!
Well, that wraps up our exclusive interview with Vincent Jones Jr, linebacker for the Ulitmini winning Tijuana Luchadores and 5th overall pick for the ISFL’s New Orleans Second Line. Be sure to watch Jones and the rest of the Luchadores defend their title in S26 of the DSFL!
Thanks for reading and go Luchadores and NOLA!!!
Word count - 1410 - 1.5x draft media bonus
Q: Hello Vincent, thank you for taking the time to talk with us today.
A: Not a problem, I’ve never really done too many interviews, so this is still pretty exciting for me!
Q: Well, you are going to have to get used to them if you keep playing the way you did in your rookie season!
A: Hahahaha! I hope I can keep up that level of play, I had to last season to keep up with my teammates. We had an amazing squad in Tijuana, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without these guys. They are the best teammates a rookie could ask for.
Q: Well, speaking of what you did do, you were named the Defensive Rookie of the Year by the DSFL Daily Gazette, you were nominated for the Defensive Rookie of the Year by the DSFL awards committee as well as Linebacker of the Year by the DSFL awards committee. You lead all rookie defenders in tackles with 110, which was 6th overall by the way, you had 9 sacks, again top for all rookies again and 4th in the league. That is pretty darn impressive if you ask me.
A: It is what it is. I am not playing for personal awards. I mean, it is great to be noticed and nominated and even better to actually win, but I feel strongly that this is a team game, I couldn’t do anything at without my teammates. They are there with me for every play, none of us can do this ourselves. That’s why I love this game so much and why I love playing for the Luchadores. We are in this together, we loss together and we also win together. And we frickin won the biggest game of the season, that’s what matters the most to me.
Q: I get that, and you sure did win the biggest game of the season. An Ultimini win in your rookie season, did you see that coming?
A: I sure did. When I first got in the Luchadores locker room after being drafted, I saw a sign saying 8 time Ultimini Champions, I knew right away that I wanted to be part of the team when that sign changed to 9 and now that I know I’ll be here for at least another season, I want to get that to 10!!
Q: Good stuff and this will help me transition into what I wanted to talk about today. The ISFL draft. You were just selected 5th overall by the New Orleans Second Line in the S26 draft, did you know that you would be selected by New Orleans and this high in the draft?
A: I honestly had no clue. I had talked to a whole lot of teams coming up to the draft and felt that I didn’t really have a solid idea on where I’d end up. I knew that I had a lot of connections in NOLA, with them having a lot of Luchadore alumni on there team, may of which had stopped by the Tijuana locker room every once and a while. Guys like Forrest Gump, Mason Blaylock, Literally Just A. Hexagon, Andrew Witten and Ben Slothlisberger, who I’ve known for a while, he helped me get into the league actually. And then there is my Tijuana teammate, Adam Mellott, I knew he was drafted to NOLA before me as well.
Q: And do not forget that one of you GMs from Tijuana moved the move up to New Orleans to take over the GM spot there.
A: Oh right, there is that too. So, I guess when you say it like that, I should have had a better idea that I might have ended up as a member of the Second Line!
Q: So, I have heard that you’ll be spending another season in the DSFL, playing for your Tijuana Luchadores. What are your thoughts on that?
A: My thoughts are great on that. I went into the draft telling every team that asked me, that I’d be more than ok with going up or staying down. I can’t wait to start playing in the ISFL and I know that time will come, but being able to play another season in Tijuana, I’ll be able to work on my game that much more and hopefully be able to make a bigger impact when I join the team in New Orleans. I want to be able to help any way I can to win some games in the Second Line jersey, and the end goal is to win a Ultimus in purple. That was my goal when joining the Luchadores and we pulled it off and now I also have a chance to defend the title, I’m really looking forward to that.
Q: Speaking of the Luchadores title defense, it looks like there are quite of few of your Ultimini winning teammates who got the call to the big leagues. How is the seasons team shaping up?
A: We are looking great! We are losing some amazing players to the ISFL, some guys that we couldn’t have won the Ulitmini without. But that’s the nature of the DSFL, the top players get called up as soon as their ISFL need them. So it’s no surprise that we had a lot of guys called up, we were the best team in the league, cause we had some of the best players in the league. Going to miss playing with those guys, but I can’t wait to see what they do in the ISFL, and I’ll be seeing them soon too.
Q: How does the new rookie class look for the Luchadores?
A: It looks pretty friggin awesome! We got some really amazing players in the draft. We got back Preston Parker, who we snagged of waivers last season, which is a huge win. He is a class act, he’s going to shine this season and for seasons to come in the ISFL. We also got some other top notch offensive players, guys like Boo Tee, Buck Nekkid, Drip Dad and Franklin Ali-West. These guys have been a welcomed addition to our locker room and I can’t wait to see what they can do on the field. And for my side of things, we got Dee Pressing, Devonte Crook and Jack Offmen. Some class acts here, our defense is going to be very solid again this season with these additions. Can’t wait for the season to get started!!
Q: You and me both! Anything else you want to add before we leave today?
A: Ya, a couple things, I guess. First off, I want to thank the New Orleans Second Line for selecting me in the draft. I know there were a lot of amazing players to choose from and I am honoured that they took a chance on me. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that I am worth their #5 pick. Secondly, I want to thank all of my Luchadore teammates, alumni and front office. You helped make my rookie season one for the ages. Each of you helped make me want to be the best player possible, to help the team win. The Ultimini was just the icing on the cake, all of you rock and I’m lucky to have been able to part of this team and league. Oh, and last thing, watch out for the Luchadores this season DSFL, we aren’t going to let go of the Ultimini trophy easily, it looks good here in Tijuana and we want it stay here!
Well, that wraps up our exclusive interview with Vincent Jones Jr, linebacker for the Ulitmini winning Tijuana Luchadores and 5th overall pick for the ISFL’s New Orleans Second Line. Be sure to watch Jones and the rest of the Luchadores defend their title in S26 of the DSFL!
Thanks for reading and go Luchadores and NOLA!!!
Word count - 1410 - 1.5x draft media bonus
Vincent Jones Jr. - S26 LB - Tijuana Luchadores
![[Image: vincent_jones.png?width=400&height=240]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/758471909196562442/770452760780079114/vincent_jones.png?width=400&height=240)
sig by jangorhino
