As Georgia wraps up their final preparations for Charlotte, two Bulldog, senior running back Cash Jones and sophomore defensive back Demello Jones, reflected on the team’s growth and the mindset required as the postseason picture sharpens. Their messages were consistent, Georgia is leaning on discipline, communication and physical play, and both Joneses are playing major roles.
Cash Jones on embracing leadership and “being the steady guy”
With his final regular season game in Sanford Stadium on the horizon, senior running back Cash Jones spoke candidly about his leadership role and how he approaches each week.
“The older you get, the more you understand how fast this goes,” Jones said. “My job now is to be the steady guy. When things get chaotic, I want the younger players to look over and see I’m calm.”
Jones has been one of Georgia’s most reliable multipurpose players, contributing on offense, special teams and in pass protection. He said the staff constantly stresses the importance of doing the “small things” correctly.
”Coach Smart always tells us there’s no such thing as a little detail,” Jones continued. “If I take a bad angle in pass protection, if I miss a read on kick return, it affects the whole play. I take pride in being someone the coaches trust to get the little things right.”
As for Senior Day, the emotions are beginning to set in.
”It hits you when you walk into the locker room and realize you only get so many times to do this,” Jones said. “I’m trying to soak up every second.”
Jones also praised the maturity of Georgia’s older players.
”This senior class — man, we’ve been through a lot of together,” he said. “We’re competitive, but we’re humble. We don’t care about who gets credit as long as we win.”
Demello Jones on growing confidence and elevating physical play
On the other side of the ball, sophomore defensive back Demello Jones discussed the strides Georgia’s secondary has taken over the last month.
”We’re communicating at a different level now,” he said. “Early in the year, we were just reacting. Now we’re anticipating. We’re talking before the snap, during the play — it’s a whole different energy.”
One of the biggest points of emphasis for the Georgia defense has been physicality on the perimeter.
“Coach Kirby says all the time that teams are going to test our corners,” Jones said. “So we take pride in being the ones who set the tone. You’ve gotta hit, you’ve gotta shed, you’ve gotta run. That’s the standard.”
Jones, who has earned increased snaps as the season has progressed, said his comfort level with the playbook has transformed his confidence.
”Last year I was just trying to line up right," he said with a laugh. “Now I know why we’re calling something, what the offense is trying to do, and where my help is. When you understand that, you can play way faster.”
He also spoke highly of the seniors he shares the field with.
”Those guys show you how to work,” Jones shared. “Being on the field with them — that’s the part I’m most grateful for.”
Communication, details and the Georgia standard
Both players returned to the same theme, the team’s identity is built on accountability and preparation.
“Our focus is this week,” Cash Jones said. “You can’t skip steps in this league.”
Demello echoed the same message. “If 11 guys do their job, we’re hard to beat,” he said. “That’s really who we are.”
As Georgia moves toward its matchup with Charlotte, the Bulldogs blend of veteran leadership and young talent continues to shape the team’s momentum, and the Jones-to-Jones connection is right at the center of it.