IDL, UConn
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 325 lbs
Class: Senior
As a three-star recruit in 2018, Jones was initially recruited to play guard. He earned five offers and chose to stay in-state with the Huskies, ahead of schools like Boston College and Rutgers. Upon arriving at UConn, Jones converted to defensive tackle and earned a starting role as a true freshman. He had a strong 2019 season, but the Huskies cancelled the following season due to the pandemic. Jones made his return in 2021 and proved himself to be one of the very best defensive tackles in college football.
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Strengths
If you want a strong defensive lineman who can hold up against double teams, look no further than Jones. He aligned principally as a nose tackle during his time with UConn and showcased incredible play strength. His anchor is amongst the very best in this year’s class and he is almost impossible to move in one-on-one blocks. Even when offensive lines targeted him with double teams he showed the ability to stand his ground.
He pairs this lower body strength with some really powerful hands. He is quick to get his hands up and into the chest of his opponent and boasts outstanding length – his 34.25″ arms rank in the 88th percentile at the position. His placement is consistent and allows him to generate movement, resetting the line of scrimmage and forcing his opponents into the backfield.
This combination of traits helped Jones to dominate against the run. He is comfortable as a two-gapping lineman, with the processing ability to read and react quickly. He does an excellent job of extending and controlling the block, with the swift hands to disengage and make plays on the ball carrier. His ability to clog up running lanes makes life easier for the rest of the defensive front and he gives his team a noticeable matchup advantage in the trenches.
Jones also flashed some ability as a pass rusher. Whilst he isn’t the most refined player, his play strength and good hand usage give him a naturally high floor. He had particular success with his bull rush that allowed him to collapse the pocket from the inside. He also showed the ability to counter, having noticeable success with a swim move. Jones racked up a very solid 48 pressures, including seven sacks, on his 600 pass rushing snaps over the past two seasons.
Weaknesses
The biggest weakness to Jones’ game is his limited athleticism. Whilst he tested well at the Combine, this didn’t often show up on tape. He isn’t particularly explosive and won’t challenge opponent’s laterally. His flexibility is also limited, meaning that he had little success on stunts and twists. Athleticism is less important in nose tackles, but it will still present a limitation to Jones’ pass rushing ceiling.
In addition to athletic limitations, Jones also has some work to do on his technique as a pass rusher. His pass rush plan is fairly basic at present and he is almost entirely reliant on his bull rush and swim move. He also has the frustrating habit of rising up throughout a rep and stalling on his block. He will need to rectify both of these issues to have a true three-down impact in the NFL.
Bottom Line
Jones is the prototypical nose tackle prospect. He has a rock solid anchor and powerful hands and has shown himself to be a playmaker against the run. He might not be an elite athlete or a refined pass rusher, but he has enough pocket pushing ability to be a good three-down player in the NFL.
Ideal role: Two gapping nose tackle
Round projection: 2nd round
