By MARY BAILEY The Reporter

The town of Collinsville with a population of less than 2,100 is surrounded by the beautiful Appalachian Mountains.

Where folks know you by name and the buildings stand as tall and proud as the day they were built.

From this quaint little town comes Zeb Jones.

He knew from early on what his dreams were and knew he had to work hard to pursue them, and he did.

Just this last weekend in Orlando, Florida Jones and his co-ed cheer squad at the University of Alabama won the 2025 Co-Ed Cheer division, the first time the Crimson Tide has won the national title in 10 years.

Jones remembers when his dream of cheer began.

“I was around the age of three when I started flipping all over my family’s furniture. Since I can remember, my cousin Sydney Jones, would babysit me and take me to cheer practice with her. I remember watching and wanting to be out there so bad but felt like I shouldn’t because I was a boy.”

He didn’t let that stop him as he joined his first cheer team at the age of eight years old.

“I loved the feeling it gave me even at such a young age. It was such a high, it felt like a safe place, a place I felt I could always be myself because of the people around me.”

Jones graduated from Collinsville High School in 2021 and took a year off from college to move to Miami, Florida where he competed with Top Gun TGLC. That year ended with the team winning a grand title at the All-Star Cheerleading World Championship.

Jones then enrolled at the University of Alabama in 2022.

“Since moving so far away to Florida, I knew coming back to Alabama was one of the top cheerleading programs in the world and it was also closer to my loved ones. I owe it all to my coach, Christa Samford, for taking the time to get me to this university to be one of her athletes! I adore her dearly.”

While at Alabama, he helped the co-ed cheer team win a national title; one of the highlights of Jones’ life.

Although his cheerleading days are coming to an end, Jones will never forget the feeling that he got when he was taking the mat getting ready to compete during all those years.

“Taking a competition mat in front of thousands of people is such a surreal feeling. Almost like an out of body feeling from the second the music starts, until the very last second. My adrenaline is always so high, my heart races, my palms are sweaty, but I trust myself, my years of training, and know my nerves are good because it’s something I care deeply about,” he said.

“I have accomplished everything I’ve ever dreamt of in my cheer career. Honestly, every national competition, I have been officially blessed to experience a win.”

As for the future of this shining Collinsville native, Jones says he has always known he has wanted to live in a big city.

“I’m not so sure where God will lead me quite yet, but I do love New York City. I have a major in Public Relations with a minor in Sales Marketing. I will be using my degree, but also plan on coaching and being a choreographer as well! I try not to stress about my future too much because I know the one who is in control of it all.”

Jones wants others who come from a small town and have a dream to know that stepping out could change their life.

“Your small hometown will always be there. If you have a dream, a goal, go get it! You can always come back, but you’ll never know what could have been unless you try. I have no regret in doing that. I am so proud of myself for taking chances outside of it because it continues to lead me to even more experiences, but I will always be grateful for where I came from as well because I believe it shaped me into who I am today,” Jones said.

“Above all, I want to thank God. He is the reason I have these gifts, talents, opportunities. Without Him, I wouldn’t have any of these things. My grandparents for being my rock, biggest supports, my backbone. I don’t know where I’d be without them. My whole entire family and friends honestly keep me going and have loved me through it all. I definitely have a big support system in the DeKalb County area that I will always be thankful for.”

Jones is currently finishing up his junior year at the University of Alabama and plans to graduate this December with the class of 2025.