Kornacki: Peoples-Jones Has the Faith to Do Special Things
10/30/2018 11:10:00 AM | Football, Features
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Donovan Peoples-Jones plays with fire and passion. You can see those qualities in his eyes and feel it by the sense of urgency he displays on the football field for the University of Michigan.
DPJ, as he's also known, is coming into his own as a receiver -- running precise routes, gaining separation, snagging passes, picking up those all-important extra yards and diving into end zones.
He looks to take every punt return the distance, and he did so this year with a 60-yard touchdown against Nebraska after scoring on a 79-yard scamper against Air Force last season.
Peoples-Jones, a 6-foot-2, 208-pound sophomore from Detroit Cass Tech High School, can do it all on the field. He can do it all off the field, too. He is a pre-med major aspiring to practice orthopedics like his father, Eddie Jones Jr., and is active in numerous charities as well.
What fuels Donovan?
It's all about family and faith. His mother, Roslyn Peoples, is the daughter of a long-time pastor, John W. Peoples.
"It's definitely family-oriented," Peoples-Jones said of his fuel sources. "I can go on and on. It's my mom, it's my granddad, who's a pastor. I'd say he's the source of it, just having a granddad as a pastor, and he's the one who baptized me. It was very surreal, very special. That was always a priority for him, and when you're the grandson of a pastor, my mom was always told that's first, and it (was passed) down to me.
"That's a priority to me."
Peoples-Jones wears both a gold crucifix and a shiny cross around his neck.
"This crucifix is the one I was baptized in by my granddad," he said while reaching for it and smiling as he glanced down at the intricate symbol of his faith.
He continued: "I always keep this one on. It was broken one time when I was playing, and so I got this one to replace it. The crucifix is a gift from my mom, and it has a lot of meaning."
He was baptized at Faith Memorial Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where "Granddad" is the pastor. He previously served as pastor of two churches in Detroit, where he also was a city councilman in the 1980s.
Donovan said, "My favorite Bible verse is Luke 13:24, which says, 'Make every effort to enter through the narrow door because many will try to enter and will not be able to.'"
What does it mean to him?
"It means a lot," said Donovan. "I feel like that can apply to anything in life. You make every effort to enter through that little, narrow door because a lot of people are going to try to, a lot of people will fail, a lot of people will be derailed. You know, I do make every effort, and that's all you can do. You should get in there if you make every effort.
"So, that's big from a football and school and faith aspect. If you're making every effort to enter into that narrow door, you're going to be pretty good."
Peoples-Jones and his mother, Roslyn Peoples
Donovan strives to be the best at everything and is studying medicine because of his father, who earned two degrees at Michigan and specializes in sports medicine, joint replacement and orthopedic trauma at a clinic in Bradley, Illinois.
His father also served and assisted victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Haitian earthquake. Donovan shares his father's strong sense of community service and is or has been involved in leading at youth camps and working at food banks, neighborhood cleanups and at the Never Ever Give Up Children Foundation, which encourages youngsters battling cancer.
"I was blessed in multiple ways," said Peoples-Jones. "Giving back is one of the ways I can return those blessings upon the community."
He's following the lead of a couple of great examples.
"Both of my parents have huge influences over me," said Donovan. "I feel like they did a great job of raising me, treating me well, and teaching me core values that I can apply in any aspect of my life."
His demeanor came from Dad.
"My father is real mellow," said Peoples-Jones, "and I think that's where I get it from. He's real laid-back, and I get that characteristic from him."
Having the hyphenated last name representing both parents brought about the DPJ nickname.
"It's cool," said Donovan. "Whatever anyone wants to call me, that's fine. DPJ is a cool nickname; I like it. I think it's bold."
Peoples-Jones roomed during preseason practices with quarterback Shea Patterson.
"It's definitely beyond football for us," said Peoples-Jones. "He's a good friend, and I really got to know him in camp. That makes the relationship on the field even better -- just knowing I have his back and he has my back. We definitely have chemistry."
What did he learn about his quarterback?
"Shea Patterson loves 'Fortnite,'" Donovan said with a wide smile. "He loves that game."
They've become quite a combination. Peoples-Jones leads Michigan with six touchdown catches and has 22 receptions for 326 yards with four regular-season games remaining.
He's improved from the 22 catches for 277 yards and zero touchdowns of his freshman season.
Where has he made the biggest strides?
"I feel comfortable in the offense," Peoples-Jones said, "knowing each play, knowing the intentions of each play, knowing where it's headed, and what can happen if the play goes wrong. Just being a complete receiver."
DPJ's enjoyed working with new receivers coach Jim McElwain.
"He's just keeping us humble," said Peoples-Jones. "Knowing that we have to play fast, and that if something bad happens on one play, that's OK, it's in the past. You've got to rebound and always be resilient."
DPJ also averages 8.8 yards per punt return and is one of the top threats in the Big Ten in that area as well.
"My job has been made easier this year," said Peoples-Jones. "I'm getting a lot more blocks and a lot more help, and I think those couple blocks I've gotten have sprung me forward. That's a testament to (special teams) Coach (Chris) Partridge."
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said DPJ's 79-yard touchdown catch at Michigan State -- which included breaking a tackle attempt and going 52 yards after the sideline grab -- displayed everything he's practiced and worked to accomplish.
"He's really developing this year," said Harbaugh. "He's creating space, like he did on the touchdown, and then increasing that and gaining separation, and finally making that tough catch and then finishing it in the end zone with yards after catch. It's everything you want a receiver to do. Plus, he blocks really well.
"He lines up in the right spot, always runs good routes, and there's no mental error in his game. So, that's great to see."
And, upon reaching the end zone at Spartan Stadium, DPJ did what is believed to be the first Paul Bunyan pose. He put both hands on his sides, knuckles in, just as the legendary lumberjack is depicted doing on the trophy, before posing with his head slightly askew, finishing off a perfect impression after a perfect play.
