He answers to Joe, Daddy Joe, Family Man Joe and Papa Joe.
Seems appropriate. Joseph Jones has about as many nicknames as responsibilities.
At 22, he is husband to Amber and father of Scarlette Elise, who was thoughtful enough to be born during Northwestern’s only idle weekend this fall. He’s taking three graduate-level classes. And he’s a strong-side linebacker who was named the Wildcats’ defensive big playmaker after they flipped their season with a victory at Iowa.
“It has been crazy,” Jones said. “I’m not going to lie.”
Jones called Scarlette a “huge blessing” and “a very chill baby.”
“She doesn’t fuss too much unless she’s hungry,” he said.
Joseph and Amber live on the border of Evanston and Rogers Park, where rent is reasonable. Scarlette sleeps in a bassinet by her dad’s side of the bed. He is on overnight pacifier duty, and Amber handles feedings.
“He hasn’t taken any time off, which is unbelievable,” NU coach Pat Fitzgerald said. “He hasn’t asked. I would give him whatever he needs, frankly. I told him about sleep being overrated. Now I think he realizes what I was talking about.”
On the one hand, teammates marvel at Jones’ juggling act. On the other, they’re not surprised.
“If anybody were to have a kid and handle it well, it would be Joe,” linebacker Nate Hall said. “He puts in all the work, like before, and I’m sure he’s putting in the work at home too.”
Said defensive tackle Tyler Lancaster: “He seems genuinely happy, although he’s probably tired all the time. I couldn’t do what he does.”
On Saturday he’ll be charged with containing a Wisconsin attack that doesn’t score much (24.1 points per game, 11th in the Big Ten) but ranks fourth in time of possession thanks to its commitment to the run. The Badgers have rushed 347 times and thrown 215 passes.
The 6-foot-1, 235-pound Jones will have a new fan to impress: Amber is taking Scarlette, born Oct. 9, to Ryan Field for the 11 a.m. game.
“He wanted a boy very badly,” Amber said. “I was worried throughout the whole pregnancy that he would be disappointed. But it turned out he was just as happy. She’ll definitely be into some type of sports, and I’m sure she will love watching football with her daddy.”
Jones met his future wife in the sixth grade at a volunteer church event in Plano, a town of less than 11,000 near Aurora.
“She thought I was annoying,” Jones recalled with a chuckle. “But I worked my way to us being somewhat friends. And then best friends. We started dating June 5, 2011.”
They were married four years later at Amber’s family home, using a barn once reserved for horses.
Jones wanted to invite his whole team, but finances made that impossible. Holder Matt Micucci was his best man, and receiver Austin Carr served as a groomsman.
They’ll all team Saturday in an effort to take down the eighth-ranked Badgers, who have lost only to Michigan by seven points and Ohio State in overtime.
“We’re up for the challenge,” Jones said.
It’s not his only one.
