Hoban's Caleb Jones driven by memory of brother as he succeeds Mr. Football Lamar Sperling

CANTON — Caleb Jones pointed to a tattoo on his left arm as he explained how the memory of his late brother motivates him to thrive as the successor to former Archbishop Hoban High School star running back Lamar Sperling.

Denzel Jones Jr. died unexpectedly on Aug. 25, 2021, at the age of 28.

Caleb Jones is reminded about his older brother who played running back for Ravenna High School and the University of Akron whenever he looks at his tattoo of the initials “DJ” surrounded by a heart.

“Everything he said to me still sticks to me to this day — just work hard and do your best,” Caleb Jones told the Beacon Journal. “I'm going to do that. I started playing football because of him. He [wanted] me to play football. I'm going to keep going.”

Jones continued to honor his brother Saturday evening, but in a different capacity than ever before. This time, Jones was the starting running back for 2022 Division II state runner-up Hoban on the heels of Sperling graduating and moving on to the University at Buffalo.

Everyone involved with Hoban's powerhouse program wanted to know how it would operate without Sperling, who earned the title of Ohio Mr. Football during a record-breaking senior season last year.

Well, Jones and Hoban dominated their 2023 season opener from the start and cruised to a 45-6 blowout win over Frederick Douglass, the defending Class 5A state champion in Kentucky. The Knights considered their triumph in the NE Ohio vs. America Showcase at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium a statement win.

“We kind of put our name back on the map,” Hoban senior right tackle William Satterwhite said.

Running behind Satterwhite and the rest of Hoban's offensive line, Jones finished with 15 carries for 93 yards and three touchdowns (6, 3 and 14 yards). He also caught two passes for 35 yards, the second a one-handed grab. His long run of 40 yards helped set up the first of freshman running back Brayton Feister's two rushing touchdowns (11 and 3 yards).

“The media all said that basically we were going to take a step back without Lamar, and it shows this year there's going to be no step back,” Hoban junior center Nate Cross said. “We're going to be just as good, if not better.”

What gives Hoban even more confidence about Jones than one would detect on the surface is he's not playing at full strength. He had been resting a hamstring injury for a while before returning to practice this past week.

“I don't feel I'm all the way there yet, but I will be soon,” said Jones, who has received scholarship offers from Kent State and Toledo.

Satterwhite said the toughness Jones demonstrated by “giving his all” under the circumstances influences the entire team.

“When he's 100%, we're going to have a great running back with him,” Satterwhite said. “He had a great game today, running, cutting, breaking tackles, so just what we really expect from him.”

Jones has something obvious in common with Hoban junior quarterback Tylan Boykin. Both of them earned the respect of their teammates while starting on defense last season, Jones primarily as a safety and Boykin as a cornerback, but now they're among the focal points of the offense.

Boykin, by the way, threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Parker Falkenstein on the Hoban offense's first play from scrimmage.

“The confidence really has always been there,” Jones said.

Hoban football wins 2023 season opener: The Knights dominated a defending state champion from Kentucky

Last season, Jones received a small dose of carries behind Sperling, though the lessons were plentiful.

“Freshman year ... I started lifting [weights] with him,” Jones said. “He taught me a lot. Even sitting there watching him, it was just like, 'Wow.” Then it was just, like, 'When it's my turn to come up, I've got to step up and fill his shoes.' So I did that. I'm going to do that.”

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Jones also received a vote of confidence from Sperling, who has told him since his sophomore year he has what it takes to be a No. 1 tailback at Hoban.

“He's always been there” for me, Jones said.

To this day, Jones feels the same way about his brother.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hoban football's Caleb Jones inspired by memory of brother