University of North Carolina Athletics
Naz Jones: Beauty In The Struggle
December 20, 2016 | Football
By Brice Connors, UNC Athletic Communications
CHAPEL HILL --- The 10-piece chicken tenders, one large fry, and a lemonade. This is North Carolina junior defensive tackle Nazair Jones' typical order at Hardee's.
On a blistering hot day in the summer of 2012, the order had to be canceled. Instead it was exchanged for a scholarship offer—one that other universities were hesitant to serve. Their hesitance stemmed from Jones' past diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome, a chronic disease that affects the nervous system.
After a year-long bout with the syndrome and numerous trips to the UNC Children's Hospital, Jones received an offer from head football coach Larry Fedora. It was an opportunity to have an extended stay in Chapel Hill. This time, however, not for medical treatment or physical therapy. This time, it was in the form of a scholarship offer.
Following a quick phone call to his mother, Tammy Jones, and a U-turn on Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard, Jones and his high school coach, Russell Weinstein, put Hardee's on the backburner, opting instead for Kenan Football Center.
“I came into the office and said, 'Coach, I want to be a Tar Heel.' I guess the rest is history—four long years later,” said Jones.
Four long years later, history has indeed been made on and off the football field. It is displayed by Jones' increase in tackles each year, the two-time All-ACC third team honors next to his name, and the consistent carrying of the chain that was brought to the program by defensive line coach Tray Scott. While Jones has left these heel prints on the field, he has arguably made a bigger impact off of it.
This impact has been demonstrated by his weekly visits to the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill every Monday throughout his tenure as a Tar Heel. While there are many members of the team that make the trip every week, it would be safe to say the trip means a little more to Jones given the fact that just six years ago he was a resident at the house.
The Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill has a mission statement that says it is there “to care for families in life-altering moments, days and months that children spend in area hospitals. The House offers physical comfort and emotional support through programs dedicated to the well-being of the whole family.”
The Chapel Hill branch did just that when Jones and his family were in a time of need.
"The Ronald McDonald House meant everything to my mother and me,” said Jones. “To have people there for you to offer a smile and a helping hand when things are going so bad makes a huge difference. The staff made us feel so special, and that was before I had even stepped foot on the field at Carolina. I know they do great deeds for many families day in and day out, but I can't thank them enough for helping my mom and me through that rough patch in our lives."
It is these experiences that have molded Jones into the man he is today. It has impacted him so much that it led to the launch of his very own foundation, M.A.D.E Men Mentoring.
Having been raised by a single mother, Jones never had a father figure in his life. This was the case until sixth grade when he met his match in McGrue Booker Sr.—better known as Ol' Man Booker or Mac.
“I never had that father like figure in my life,” said Jones. “So when Mac came into my life, I was attached to his hip. Wherever he went, I followed. He was one of the first ones to truly believe in me.”
It was the loss of his mentor that led Jones to pursue the startup of M.A.D.E Men Mentoring.
“I feel like if we can get underprivileged youth mentors or father-like figures early, it could ultimately turn their lives around for the better,” Jones said.
This goal is currently being pursued through the numerous events that M.A.D.E Men Mentoring has put on across the state of North Carolina. Whether it be through partnerships with the Salvation Army and Ronald McDonald House in Raleigh and Chapel Hill, the Roanoke Valley Middle School Tour to visit and uplift the young men of the lowest performing schools in the North Carolina public school system, or the first annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament that included area high school students, it is clear that Jones is making strides. And those strides will not stop here.
“If I am blessed with the opportunity to play in the National Football League I feel as if that could really put my foundation on the map,” said Jones. “The stamp that comes with playing in the NFL is something really special and if I am fortunate enough to get that chance I have big plans for M.A.D.E Men.”
Fast forward to the week of April 27 in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina (Naz's hometown) on draft night. Jones doesn't know just yet what the spread will look like, but one could imagine it will be an upgrade from Hardee's.
