INDIANAPOLIS -- Cleveland Browns rookie right tackle Dawand Jones is standing in the Lucas Oil Stadium south end zone, soaking in the moment.

Jones and the Cleveland offensive line just salted the game away, imposing its will on the Indianapolis Colts defense with a punishing 1-yard Kareem Hunt touchdown run with 15 seconds left in the game.

Jones is looking up toward the stands, blowing kisses and waving to the friends and family that came to watch him. Indianapolis will always be home for the Ben Davis High School grad, and between his time with the Giants, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Browns, Lucas Oil -- a place he's never lost -- is basically his second home whenever he's back in Indy.

"I was blowing a kiss to my family in the right corner (of the stadium)," Jones said. "I was telling them, ‘Thank you, I love you, it's my town. It's 317.’

"It's a bigger meaning here, being back home. To me it's a home game. So, you don't ever want to lose at home."

After the game, Jones is sporting a Milwaukee Bucks Oscar Robertson throwback jersey, paying homage to a fellow Indianapolis high school star, while also showing respect to Indy's basketball culture. A lot was made about Jones' love for basketball during the pre-draft process. Jones, all 6-8, 360 pounds of him, was a Division I basketball prospect with an offer from Kent State coming out of high school.

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Jones has never shied away from his love of basketball, but some felt his past hoop dreams meant he was not dedicated to football, and he took that personally.

“I told the truth,” Jones said to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. “They asked me, if you had to redo it, what would you pick? And I was honest. I gave an honest answer, and I said that when I was a high school kid, I probably would have picked basketball over football.

“But my senior year (of high school), that started to change. So (four years) later I gave an honest answer, just like I’d been doing at Ohio State when reporters asked me. When did I really start becoming a football player? It probably wasn’t until my junior year of college. That’s the real answer, but people weren’t trying to hear it.”

After 26 starts at Ohio State and a dominant performance at the Senior Bowl, Jones was thought to be Day 1 pick. Despite his size, strong play at a Big Ten school and nimble feet -- thanks partially to his time spent playing basketball -- Jones lasted until pick 111, in the fourth round. Jones was viewed as a developmental prospect, but an injury to starting tackle Jack Conklin thrust the rookie into the starting lineup.

His first career start came Week 2 against T.J. Watt and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Three weeks later, Jones found himself lined up against reigning Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa and dominated. Jones did not allow a sack in 41 pass block snaps, and he helped pave the way for 150 yards rushing.

Heading into Sunday's game, Jones has allowed just nine pressures in five games.

Jones held up well against the Colts too, allowing pressure at times, but never letting a rusher get to the quarterback. On the Browns game-sealing play, he was tasked with blocking down on another All-Pro defender, Deforest Buckner.

"You've got to put the ball in the end zone," Jones said of the final play. "Try to escort your man (into the end zone). I feel like I did that on that play, and we walked off the field with a (win)."

Jones said going against Defensive Player of the Year candidate and All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett has helped make him a better player. Focusing on every rep against Garrett translates into pass block wins on Sunday, and the Browns staff consistently puts Jones in a position to succeed.

The Browns give Jones help on the edge with tight ends and backs, and the quarterbacks are rarely asked to take deep drop backs. Even if he's rarely on an island against defenders, Jones' performance has exceeded expectations for a fourth-round rookie.

Jones playing well in his hometown looks especially damning for the Colts who took offensive tackle Blake Freeland five picks before the Browns drafted Jones. Freeland was beaten badly by Garrett in the second quarter, leading to a sack, fumble and Browns defensive touchdown. Both tackle spots have been shaky for the Colts, while a player who is ultimately the Browns third tackle looks like a draft day steal thanks to his work ethic and willingness to improve.

"The hometown kid, he had some really good moments today," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Obviously we'll look at (the tape), always things to clean up but he's playing hard. It's not perfect. He's getting better every single day at practice. He works very, very hard. Loves this game, loves to compete."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Dawand Jones, an ex-Ben Davis star, continues strong play for Browns