Quotes from C.J. and Cameron Allen-Jones

About how he and his brother both played offense and defense in high school, Cameron said:
"It was both sides of the ball because we had no choice. Not very much people on the team so we played both ways." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Both players -- C.J, now an outside linebacker, and Cameron, listed as an offensive lineman -- played both offense and defense at Aberdeen High School, helping guide the team to a 2003 state championship. In the title game alone, C.J. had two touchdowns, 10 tackles and a blocked punt.

C.J., a 6-2, 222-pound junior and older of the two by a year, has seen his role on the team shift continuously since joining the Warriors in 2004. His career has been a story of highs and lows: C.J. began primarily on special teams by blocking for Chad Owens on punt returns as a true freshman. Then, after redshirting 2005 due to an ankle injury, he was last year's starter at outside linebacker four of the first five games of the season.

But he was slowed by injuries and lost the job, becoming a reserve the second half of the season. He now backs up Blaze Soares at stub linebacker. Things were made harder for him by UH's decision to shift from the 3-4 defensive alignment to the 4-3 under Greg McMackin, effectively dropping a linebacker from the rotation."


About the turns taken in his career, C.J. said:
"I'm just there with the next man. I'm not having hard feelings against nobody -- we all going to get our opportunity to get out there and show what we can do." (HSB)


Praising C.J., LB Coach Cal Lee said:
"C.J.'s very talented. He's got speed and size. We need to get him on the field, either special teams or coming off the bench." (HSB)


About how he's improved with experience, C.J. said:
"I got wiser, I got smarter. How to control my feet, how to play smart on the field. And I think that's to my advantage too ... I can play smart and play wiser out there on them young boys." (HSB)


About struggling on the OL, Cameron said:
"I still had that defensive mentality, didn't want to play O-line. But, just being on it for a while, you get used to it, might as well, they ain't going to switch you over, you know?" (HSB)

HSB Note: "Well, it happened -- first to try his hand at running back in the spring, and now at tight end. Coach June Jones envisions him possibly filling the roll that Reagan Mauia had last year, something that got Cameron salivating."


About using Cameron in a TE hybrid role, JJ said:
"All those positions kind of do the same thing, they're blockers first. He's a good athlete, and got good feet." (HSB)


About JJ has given him (and the other walk-ons) a fair shot to earn playing time, Cameron said:
"Jones, he'll give the walk-on players a shot. He's that type of dude, he cares for his players and stuff. Just try to get out there, making big plays." (HSB)