Tony Jones OLB Texas Tech NFL Draft Blast

2018 SEASON (SENIOR)
Put together another strong season to wrap his two-year career as a Red Raider … appeared in 11 games overall, while making two starts from his “Rush” linebacker position … finished sixth on the team with 44 tackles, including 7.0 that went for a loss … ranked tied for second on the team in tackles for a loss … found the quarterback four times for a sack, finishing second on the team only behind Kolin Hill … added five quarterback hurries to go along with a pass breakup and a fumble recovery … recorded four or more tackles in eight games overall … began the year with a sack in each of the first three games … two starts came at TCU and Oklahoma … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: started his season on a productive note, tallying six tackles against Ole Miss (9/1) in Houston … performance included two tackles for a loss and a sack … stopped with a career high-tying seven tackles and a pass breakup in a blowout win against Lamar (9/8) … had another two tackles for a loss and a sack at home against the Cardinals … had four more tackles and a sack in the non-conference finale against Houston (9/15) … recorded a tackle and a quarterback hurry in the Big 12 opener at Oklahoma State (9/22) … notched six tackles and another quarterback hurry at home against West Virginia (9/29) … had four tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry in the road win against TCU (10/11) … sack came on TCU’s opening possession that helped force an early three-and-out … fumble recovery marked the third of his career …  missed the Kansas game due to a minor injury but returned versus Iowa State (10/27) … wrapped up four more opponents, one of which was for a loss, versus the Cyclones … had two tackles against Oklahoma (11/3) … recorded six tackles and a quarterback hurry on Senior Night against Texas (11/10) … posted his final four tackles on the year at Kansas (11/17).

2017 SEASON (JUNIOR)
Appeared in all 13 games while making three starts in first season as a Red Raider … ended the year with 33 tackles (21 solo), including seven that went for a loss … his seven tackles for a loss ranked second on the team… was also second on the team with four sacks … opponents lost a total of 20 yards on his four sacks … added an interception and two fumble recoveries for a Tech defense that ranked among the nation’s leaders in turnovers … had four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup as well … IN NCAA RANKINGS: ended the year tied for 26th nationally in fumble recoveries … IN BIG 12 RANKINGS: shared the league high with two fumble recoveries … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: made his Red Raider debut with two tackles, including a sack, against Eastern Washington (9/2) … picked off his lone interception of the season early in the fourth quarter versus the Eagles … followed with five tackles and a season-high two quarterback hurries two weeks later against Arizona State (9/16) … had just one tackle at Houston (9/23) but contributed to Tech’s five turnovers with two fumble recoveries in the win … was the first Red Raider to recover two fumbles in a game since Sylvester Brinkley did so against Kansas state in 2005 … opened Big 12 play the following week with a season-high seven tackles, including a sack, against Oklahoma State (9/30) … posted two tackles several weeks later against Iowa State (10/21) and then one tackle at Oklahoma (10/28) … had all three of his tackles versus Kansas State (11/4) go for a loss, two of which were sacks … marked the most sacks by a Red Raider on the season … closed the regular season with four tackles against both Baylor (11/11) and Texas (11/24) and then two versus TCU (11/18) … knocked down a pass for his one pass breakup of the season against the Longhorns … recorded two tackles and a quarterback hurry in the Birmingham Bowl game versus USF … AWARDS AND HONORS: named to the Pro Football Focus Big 12 Team of the Week on Sept. 26 following the win over Houston.

BUTLER COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Played two seasons at Butler Community College in El Dorado, Kansas … reached double-digit tackles in six of his 11 games during his 2016 sophomore campaign … amassed 101 tackles and 18.5 tackles for loss while collecting 5.5 sacks and forcing four fumbles … also recovered two fumbles, registered a safety and broke up a pass … rated a three-star prospect by Scout and 247Sports … ranked as the third-best junior college linebacker in the country by 247Sports … ranked as the No. 32 junior college prospect by Scout and eighth-best linebacker … will have three years to play two seasons as a Red Raider … earned second team All-KJCCC honors at linebacker … CHOSE TEXAS TECH OVER: Baylor, Louisville, Charlotte, Memphis, New Mexico and UAB.

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Lyman High School in Casselberry, Fla. … one of the best athletes in the state of Florida during prep career … saw significant time at running back, gaining almost 1,000 yards as a sophomore at Lake Howell High School … played safety on defense … moved to Lyman prior to his senior year … ranked 35th in the Orlando Sentinel’s Central Florida Super60 listing of the top-60 prospects. 

PERSONAL
Tony Jones … a university studies major at Texas Tech.

CAREER HIGHS
Tackles: 7, twice, vs. Lamar (2018)*
Tackles For Loss: 3.0, vs. Kansas State (2017)
Sacks: 2.0, vs. Kansas State (2017)
Interceptions: 1, vs. Eastern Washington (2017)
Fumbles Forced: None
Fumbles Recovered: 2, at Houston (2017)
Quarterback Hurries: 2, vs. Arizona State (2017)
Pass Breakups: 1, 3x, vs. Lamar (2018)*
* Indicates most recent high

Jones learned early in his football career that it is a business with no mercy. In a sense that has helped him thrive. A broken forearm in high school derailed big-time offers from schools like Mississippi State and Florida State. The injury erased those precious opportunities and Jones found himself in El Dorado, Kansas playing at Butler Community College.

Once healthy and back to form it did not take long for Jones to get right back at in a after two years, he was a play-maker for Texas Tech. He gets a crack at four years, with Red Raiders he is leaving Lubbock, Texas with plenty more accolades.

His bench performance would tie him for 10^th at the NFL Combine. The 35-inch vertical jump places him 11^th overall at the NFL Combine. Jones broad jump ranks 11^th at the NFL Combine. The 20-yard shuttle an impressive 6^th overall at the NFL Combine and his 60-yard shuttle notches him 3^rd at the prestigious NFL Combine.

The numbers reveal a short-area of burst player with above average athleticism. The first thing you will love about Jones is his tenacity. Coaches used to tell him go lay down and take a break because he was driven to watch film, lift weights and be around the complex every waking minute. He plays with passion and makes tackles all over the field. Shows the ability to get depth in his drops and can open his hips. His limitations are being a bit undersized and lacking top end speed.

He can make a living as an impact, core special-teams player. Jones is the type of guy that after a long day of practice when coaches are watching film are going to see the hustle and hitting. Eventually that type of impression makes the difference.