Storrs — When UConn football coach Jim Mora heard about Durante Jones’ post-game media session following Thursday’s season opener, he called it “Classic Durante.”

Jones, a junior defensive back, speaks his mind and from his heart.

“He’s awesome,” Mora said. “He’s going to tell you straight how it is. That’s what he is. He’s real.”

Like a media savvy pro, Jones made an opening statement Thursday before taking questions. He didn’t hold back on his assessment of his own play or his team’s. He spoke about dumb penalties, poor tackling and his overall frustration.

“We’ll be better next week at Georgia State,” Jones said after finishing second on the team in tackles (14) during a 24-14 loss to North Carolina State. “First question.”

Mora loves Jones’ passion and energy.

He’s enjoyed watching Jones grow as a player and a young man.

“In the 20 months that I’ve been here, he’s matured an incredible amount,” Mora said. “He’s obviously very passionate and full of energy. We all respect that and love it. Nobody cares more about this team and winning than he does.”

Emotionally, Jones may even take it to another level, if that’s possible, when UConn visits Georgia State (1-0) in Atlanta, his hometown, on Saturday. He’ll play before a large gathering of family and friends when the Huskies take the field at 7 p.m. at Center Parc Stadium.

Jones starred at Mays High School, earning all-state and all-city honors.

“It’s a crazy number,” Jones said recently about people asking him for tickets to Saturday’s game. “I’m not even going to say a number, but it’s a lot. To be honest, I don’t know how I’m going to deal with all the tickets. … It’s going to be good to get back home.

“In high school, the last time I played at Georgia State’s stadium, we played New Manchester High School and I had a one-hand pick six in the end zone closest to the street. It will be good to get back out there on that field.”

His fan club will see a vastly improved player from his high school days. He committed first to Kentucky and then the Alabama-Birmingham before changing his mind and heading to UConn after falling in love with the school and program during a visit.

A two-year starter, Jones has continually elevated his game during his career.

He’s grown into a leadership role and learned to pay attention to details. He prides himself on preparing at a high level, watching a lot of NFL film and focusing on improving his technique and approach. He’s a tough competitor.

And Jones asks questions — make that a ton of questions — to the coaching staff. He wants to know everything about the defense.

“He’s a maniacal competitor,” Mora said. “This stuff is so important to him. There’s not a guy that asks more questions than that guy. … I love coaching him. I’ve always had an affinity for defensive backs, that’s kind of how I started. I’ve always loved safeties that are passionate like he is.

“That’s what you want on your team. That’s the kind of guy that you want to build around. He’s made tremendous strides.”

Jones has a thirst for knowledge, so he plans on continuing to pick Mora’s brain about football.

“He knows so much,” Jones said. ”I’ve got to know it, I need to know it. Especially to take my game to elevate my game and keep taking it to the level that I want it to be at, I have to ask questions. I have to keep preparing myself. You can never be too prepared. You never can ask too many questions.”

His biggest challenge on Saturday may be properly channeling his emotions.

He’s always been an emotional guy.

But he really cuts loose come game time.

“I’m a high emotion person, anyway, so you’re never going to catch me down and lagging,” Jones said. “Once I hit the (field), I’m out here with God and I just let it loose. That’s just the type of person I am. .. That’s just how I grew up.

“I’m from Atlanta, so it’s an open place. You’ve just gotta be you. If you’re like a person who just sits and lets people do things, you’re going to get run over in the city that I come from. So I’ve never been that type of person.”

Mora has faith that Jones will respond the right way during UConn’s first road game of the season.

But he’ll still watch Jones come game day.

“I’ll be keeping tabs on him a little bit emotionally when he goes down to Atlanta,” Mora said. “I don’t think he’s a guy that’s going to allow distractions in. I think he’s going to stay focused. I trust that he’ll play well, but I’m going to make sure that he’s not getting himself out of whack emotionally.

“And I haven’t seen him do that in a long, long time, so I don’t expect him to.”

g.keefe@theday.com