Jones has been making an impact in his first year at MSU, establishing himself as a starter, and his 49 total tackles and 3.5 sacks rank top among Big Ten freshmen.

Last Saturday, when MSU played at Ohio State, Jones out-tackled everybody, including Buckeyes’ linebacker — and preseason Big Ten defensive player of the year — James Laurinaitis.

Jones finished with a career-high 14 tackles, including one sack for six yards.

“He’s an outstanding tackler and he’s got a motor, and that’s what gets him to the ball a little bit like all the great ones,” Dantonio said.

No one’s eyes have been glued to the rising talent of Jones more than his mother, Beverly Starkey-Jones.

She has watched the tape of her son’s standout game against the Buckeyes six times, and it is probably safe to say that number has only grown.

While browsing the Internet at work on Monday, the headlines she read about her son brought tears to her eyes.

“I’m extremely impressed with the headlines and the body of statements that was said about him and how impressive he was in the game,” Starkey-Jones said.

Greg is an only child, and Starkey-Jones said it was “extremely hard” for her when he left home to go to MSU, but she knew her son was in good hands.

“What really laid my fears to rest was the fact that Dantonio and his wife were so present and so resourceful as far as being there for Greg,” she said. “He actually cares for my child.”

Jones initially committed to play football at Minnesota, but when they fell victim to the biggest comeback in bowl game history to Texas Tech last year, their head coach was fired, and Jones had to weigh his options.

“It was just devastating,” Jones said. “You just have to start all over again. It was very hard and very tough.”

Then he received a text message from Tressel, and after visits from defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi and Dantonio, Jones would soon commit to the Spartans.

“I just knew from the very beginning … after coach Dantonio sat down and I talked with him,” Jones said. “I knew where his focus was, and that’s where I wanted to be at.”

Through the recruiting process, Jones’ mother developed great respect for Dantonio, his family and the other members of the MSU coaching staff.

“The coaches they were just so real,” she said. “They weren’t fake, they knew what they wanted, they were gung-ho about it, and they did not make any bones about it.”

Looking back, Jones said he feels grateful he’s at MSU and not Minnesota, who currently sits dead last in the Big Ten and has a 1-7 record overall.

While he’s already making an impact, Jones said he knows he still has room to improve on the little things, such as running his feet through tackles.

“Personally, you get really aggravated when you tackle somebody, and they always get the extra yard,” he said.

Jones’ roommate during road games, senior linebacker Kaleb Thornhill said it is “scary” how good Jones is becoming.

“He’s got great athletic ability,” Thornhill said. “He’s going to win some type of award before he leaves here.”

Jones looks to Thornhill and the other seniors, such as defensive end Jonal Saint-Dic, when he needs advice on the field.

Saint-Dic made it clear to him that just because he was a freshman, it did not mean that he couldn’t step up and make an impact right away.

“When his number was called, I told him just play your game, you know what you’re capable of doing,” Saint-Dic said. “You’re playing at a big-time school and this is when you show what you have.”

And he’s got a lot to offer.

He’s got the footwork of a tailback, he’s very slippery and difficult to block, and he’s got instincts that are something no coach can teach a player, Tressel said.

Expecting a freshman to come in and make an impact instantly can cause problems for a football program, he said.

“We’re trying to build towards a mindset where if a freshman comes in and has a big impact, that’s a bonus, that’s not a necessity,” Tressel said.

But when someone like Jones comes around, it is easy to be optimistic about the future.

“He’s gradually step-by-step climbed the mountain so far,” Tressel said. “I told him he needs to keep on scratching and clawing to get better and if he does that, he’ll be a great one.”