Welcome to the 2022 FCS Jersey Countdown.
Leading up to Week 0 games on Aug. 27, HERO Sports will name the best returning FCS player by jersey number, 99-0. Due to rosters being updated at different times for teams across the country and to keep things consistent, jersey numbers are based on last season’s rosters.
The 99-0 countdown central page can be found here.
Note: Jersey numbers are based on 2021 rosters.
76: Nash Jones, OL (Jr.) — Incarnate Word
UIW is a football team on the rise, going from 1-10 in 2017 to 6-5 in 2018 to 5-7 in 2019 to 3-3 in the spring to 10-3 and a first-round playoff win last season. Getting better on the offensive line has played a role in the improvement as the skilled position weapons were already strong. The Cardinals ranked No. 4 last year in scoring offense with 39.5 points per game.
Jones has been an immediate impact player up front for UIW. As a freshman in the spring of 2021, he started all six games and helped protect quarterback Cameron Ward, who won the Jerry Rice Award for best FCS freshman. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound tackle earned All-Southland Conference Third Team honors.
Jones was solid again last fall in a breakout year for the Cardinals, who went 10-3 overall, 7-1 in the Southland, and nearly beat No. 1 seed and defending national champs Sam Houston in the second round of the playoffs, losing 49-42. Jones was named on the All-Conference First Team and garnered HERO Sports Sophomore All-American accolades.
He was ranked the No. 14 offensive tackle by PFF, grading out at 77.4.
“Nash Jones is very competitive within himself, which allows him to continually grow as an offensive lineman up front,” UIW offensive line coach Jordan Shoemaker said.
UIW lost Ward and head coach Eric Morris to Washington State this offseason. The Cardinals hired UCF co-offensive coordinator G.J. Kinne as their new HC and brought in Nicholls standout QB Lindsey Scott Jr. from the transfer portal. They eye a return to the playoffs in what should be an exciting and unique ASUN-WAC title race.
