Seeing Ricky Jones haul in passes to keep Indiana football contending for wins is nothing new.

But against Rutgers, Jones’ role changed slightly as it seems to always do when freshman running back Tyler Natee coughed up a fumble with around five minutes left and IU clinging to a two-point lead.

A trio of Rutgers defenders appeared to hop on the fumble, but somehow Jones, a fifth-year wide receiver who wasn’t directly involved in the play, snuck into the scrum and came up with the ball.

“It’s a natural reaction,” Jones said. “I have to get the ball. I have no other choice. Once I got it, I wasn’t letting go. I had a whole bunch of dudes grabbing for it and other guys and stuff like that. I just made sure I had that ball because I knew it was on the line.”

On the next play, redshirt junior quarterback Richard Lagow found junior running back Devine Redding wide open for a score. The seven points that came with it effectively ended that game but wouldn’t have been there had it not been for Jones jumping on a loose ball.

There isn’t much Jones isn’t willing to do at this point. His priority lies in being a pass catcher where he’s got 40 receptions for 681 yards and two scores through nine games, but he’s also on the punt and kick coverage teams.

“I said at the start of this season and last season that whatever this team needs me to do, I’m going to be there for it,” Jones said. “If they need me to go on defense and play, I’ll go play defense. If they need me to play another one on special teams, I’ll suck it up. Even If I don’t have the air in me and I’m tired, I don’t have a choice. I have to win for this team.”

And it isn’t going unnoticed.

Following IU’s 24-14 loss to Northwestern a few weeks ago where Jones registered his first punt block, head coach Kevin Wilson said on his weekly radio show that Jones was making the types of plays that get NFL teams are looking for.

Former Hoosier standout Cody Latimer hasn’t emerged as a top-of-the-order receiver with the Denver Broncos but spends plenty of time on kickoff coverage to stay on the roster. Jones has seen that and wants to follow a similar path.

“When I talk to him he says he’s just waiting for his time,” Jones said. “Whenever they need him, he’s out there making plays. That pays, I guess.”

It did for Latimer. He’s on the third year of his four-year, $3,708,650 contract.

He’s still a receiver primarily but like Jones hasn’t shied away from picking up tackles on special teams.

“When your seniors and veterans are the guys that are most into the meetings, doing the best job stretching, leading the fundamental drills, covering the kicks as well as having the offensive plays, it’s just volumes to the program,” Wilson said. “That’s a sign of strength that your veterans and seniors and leaders are buying what you’re trying to do.”

Jones said he doesn’t want to waste any snaps from here on out. He was slowed by injuries his first three years in Bloomington but has taken advantage of his redshirt junior and senior seasons to show out in front of anyone who might be watching.

If Wilson needs someone to make a catch, Jones is fine to do it.

Kickoff team? Jones is there.

Punt block? That’s fine too.

An extra defensive back? Jones joked he’d at least give it a go.

“I’m just having fun, man,” he said. “I’m just having fun.”