Safety Hakim Jones aiming to star this year

Redshirt sophomore Hakim Jones was the first safety of the bench last year, and flashed his long-range potential.

Jones played 57 snaps in 13 games while backing up Earl Wolff and Brandan Bishop. The 6-foot-2, 198-pounder from Henderson (N.C.) Southern Vance finished with 10 tackles and got his first career interception against South Alabama. The former Rivals.com three-star prospect will get his chance to shine this season with Wolff and Bishop on to pursue professional opportunities.

"They were like my brothers and I learned everything from them and based off them," Jones said. "They showed me how to read everything and how to read film and plays. They told me everything that went on, including what to look for first and then second."

Jones' favorite memory was getting three tackles in NC State's 10-7 road victory over Connecticut on Sept. 8.

"I was in for Earl and then Bishop went down, so Earl came back in for Bishop," Jones said. "I was talking to both of them during the game and switching sides. I got two different aspects."

Jones exited spring practices as the first-string strong safety, with Penn State transfer Tim Buckley right behind him. Converted cornerback Jarvis Byrd, a fifth-year senior, made the move to free safety to solidify the spot.

Jones hopes to be in the starting lineup when NC State hosts Louisiana Tech in the season opener Aug. 31 at Carter-Finley Stadium.

"I just want to be a better leader on the field because that Earl and Bishop last year," Jones said. "[Starting] is what motivated me every practice [in the spring]."

Jones is the younger brother of former NC State outside linebacker Ernest Jones, who also went through a coaching change during his college career. Ernest Jones was recruited by Chuck Amato and finished under Tom O'Brien. Hakim Jones was recruited by O'Brien and looks forward to learning from new coach Dave Doeren and safeties coach Clayton White, who was on the UConn staff last year in the game Jones referenced.

"I talked to him right after the coaching change," Jones said. "He said to keep doing everything I was doing outside of football.

"Coach White and our old coach [Mike Reed, now at Clemson] really relate a lot," Jones said. "It's been a pretty smooth transition. They both know how to relate to the players."