"Getting to Dartmouth was honestly one of the most difficult processes I can say I've endured… just because of my storyline," he said. "My sophomore year of high school, I peaked as a player and as a student-athlete, and towards the end of the season, I broke my leg. During that time, we were competing for a conference championship. My injury was definitely a hit in the stomach to my team, because I was a big contributor, but also to myself as well, because I was talks with some Division I [FBS] schools."
Unfortunately, Jones' journey back from injury wasn't smooth. He went a full season without playing, then COVID-19 hit during his senior year. His team's season was shortened due to COVID, but he took advantage of his opportunity.
"I ended up leading stat lines for running backs in the state of Colorado," he said. "That's when I got introduced to Dartmouth."
Dartmouth assistant coach Cheston Blackshear first reached out to Jones, which created the connection.
"As someone from the West Coast, I didn't know too much about the East Coast and Dartmouth," Jones said. "Initially, I wasn't too interested because I had visions of playing Power 5 ball. But I did more research on Dartmouth, and as I was getting recruited by Coach Blackshear, and doing everything needed to get admitted into Dartmouth, I started to learn about this special place that alumni call home.
"In the process of talking with my family, friends and people who know about the Ivy League and Dartmouth, it became clear that this was the place I wanted to be."
Big Green late legendary head coach Buddy Teevens played a critical role in Jones' recruitment… and Dartmouth experience.
Most importantly, Teevens and the Big Green gave Jones a chance.
"A lot of schools don't take kids who have major traumatizing injuries like I had," Jones said. "In the recruiting process, he came in, sat down with me and said we take people who are injured and we're going to help you develop and help you become a great athlete."
Prior to that point, Jones had primarily heard that he wasn't going to be the same player as before he broke his leg.
That is, until Dartmouth came along.
"Coach T gave me that type of confidence, and honestly inspired me to go even harder my freshman year; he pushed me every single day," Jones said. "I would go in his office, and he would help me with things that the ordinary person wouldn't.
"That says a lot about his character," Jones continued. "A coach like that means so much to his players."
Teevens certainly meant so much to Jones, including in his adjustment to Dartmouth.
"Coach T was a special person," Jones said.
"Coming to Dartmouth, that was the first time I had ever been to the East Coast and this whole new area," Jones said. "He brought me over here with welcoming arms and treated myself and the rest of my teammates as his son. He pretty much raised us and embedded life skills — and everything that he stood for — in us."
Jones with Coach McCorkle after winning the 2023 Ivy title
Some things Teevens instilled in his players were sitting at the front of class, introducing oneself to the professor, meeting people, being valuable members of the campus community and more.
They're things Jones will take with him forever and as he said, "embed it in my lifestyle because Coach T was a great human being."
"For people who got the chance to know Coach T in person, there was something special about the way he made you feel and the confidence he gave you," Jones said. "That was very important for me, coming to this unknown place and trying to build a life."
In building his life at Dartmouth, Jones is also a trailblazer.
"Family is big for me, and I'm a big believer on bringing people along with what you go through in life," he said. "With this opportunity going to an Ivy League school, I understood that I didn't have family members who were alumni here, let alone any Ivy League school. I'm pretty much the only one, aside from my little sister now, who went to an institution and actually stepped on campus."
Jones understood what Dartmouth would do for not only his football career, but also his life.
"If you compete and handle your business on the football field, you'll be able to chase your dreams, but if football doesn't work, you'll have an Ivy League degree to back you up," he said. "A lot of institutions don't have that. A lot of institutions might just be heavy on education or heavy on football. And I have the pleasure to have both here.
"I understood I'd be able to change the trajectory of my family's life going forward."
Jones has enjoyed a decorated career for the Big Green, improving every season. He went from 410 rushing yards as a sophomore to 572 as a sophomore and now 647 as a junior, including multiple Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week honors.
"From a football standpoint, I've been able to get faster and stronger," Jones said. "I have better awareness on the field. With the weight room, how Coach [Spencer] Brown trains us and how we approach every day has helped me significantly. I've been able to create a schedule for myself while holding myself accountable."
It's safe to say the standard within the Dartmouth football program is very high.
"…Especially when you come in as a freshman and you win an Ivy League Championship," Jones said. "My class knew the standard, seeing how the seniors played my freshman year and how important games were to them. We went 9-1 my first year, but the one game we lost, you could see the hurt that was on people's faces."
In Jones' time, the Big Green went on to win another championship in 2023 and have a chance for another title yet again heading into the final game of 2024. Individually, Jones was named honorable mention All-Ivy last season and should be in the running for postseason honors this year.
"The biggest thing with Q is his development year after year after year, and his maturity," said Sammy McCorkle, Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach. "It's all the extra work he's put in in the offseason, being up here in the summertime and really trying to polish his game — getting stronger, faster and getting quicker."
McCorkle, who is in his second season as head coach, but 19th year with the program, also points to Jones' understanding of the game and commitment to improvement.
"He was never satisfied," McCorkle said. "He wanted to be one of the better backs in the league, and he was going to do whatever it took to do that. He's showing that he is one of the better ones in the league."
Dartmouth committed to Jones, and Jones has returned the favor, staying loyal to this special place in the woods of New Hampshire.
"When I got admitted to Dartmouth in the early decision and ended up falling in love with this place, I was committed to Dartmouth," he said. "In the Ivy League, we don't sign an actual National Letter of Intent. I probably had two or three other Power 5 schools who called my high school head coach.
"He asked what I wanted to do, and I told him I was committed to Dartmouth."
That commitment to Dartmouth, and everything it has to offer, has helped push Jones outside his comfort zone.
"Dartmouth gives you so many opportunities to be yourself and grow," he said. "My teammates, coaches and pretty much everyone around me, pushed me to get involved in this community. I've been able to be a part of one of the greatest fraternities, if not the greatest fraternity, and be a part of multiple clubs on campus.
"Coming here, I wouldn't say I was shy, but I definitely wasn't a kid who would be overly involved," Jones continued. "Now, I'm part of too many clubs, producing on the football team and just trying to be a great person. I feel like it all stems from everything I've learned from this community."
Jones is planning on graduating Dartmouth early, at the conclusion of the fall term, then transferring to another program to start his next degree. One day, he hopes to enter the NFL Draft where he can chase his dreams.
"It's what I've been working so hard for the past 10-plus years," he said. "If that doesn't work out, there's obviously other leagues like the XFL and USFL."
When Jones' football days are done, he wants to get into real estate.
"I'm big on being an entrepreneur," he said. "I don't really want to work a 9 to 5, so I want to create a lifestyle for myself. I'm fortunate that I have a lot of connections here at Dartmouth. Being able to work with people and build those relationships has changed my life."
Jones has changed the lives of those around him as well.
"As the years have gone by, Jones has been doing speaking engagements and representing our football program in different capacities," McCorkle said. "He's realized that it's not just about the football part. It's about growing as a human being."
