Jarvis Jones
Jarvis Jerrell Jones (born October 13, 1989) is a former American football linebacker. He played college football for the University of Georgia, and was recognized as a consensus All-American twice. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, playing for them for four seasons before retiring following a short stint with the Arizona Cardinals in 2017.
Jones with the Steelers in 2013 | |||||||||||||
No. 95 | |||||||||||||
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Position: | Outside linebacker | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | Lumpkin, Georgia | October 13, 1989||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 248 lb (112 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | George Washington Carver High School (Columbus, Georgia) | ||||||||||||
College: | Georgia | ||||||||||||
NFL Draft: | 2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 17 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Early years
Jones was born in Columbus, Georgia, and grew up in Lumpkin and Richland, Georgia. He attended Carver High School in Columbus, where he led his high school football team to a state title in 2007, and was rated as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com.[1] In addition to playing football, he was an all-state basketball player.[2] He was ranked the 59th best high school prospect by ESPN.[3] He played in the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
College career
2009 season
Jones attended University of Southern California (USC) for his freshman year, during which he saw action as a special teams and backup player for the USC Trojans Football team. In the first eight games, he recorded 13 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. During the game against Oregon Jones suffered a neck injury. He was later diagnosed with spinal stenosis and the USC medical staff would not clear him to play for the team again.[4]
2010 season
After the USC medical staff would not allow Jones to practice in the spring of 2010, Jones asked for and was granted a release to transfer. His high school coach contacted Georgia, Auburn, and Florida State to discuss the possibility with the teams' coaches. After meeting with Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, Jones underwent medical testing by the Georgia staff and was cleared to play football for the University of Georgia. He would have to redshirt during the 2010 season in compliance with NCAA transfer rules.
2011 season
Jones started every game in the 2011 season, recording a career-high 4 sacks against Florida on October 29.[2] He posted 70 total tackles including 19.5 for a loss, 13.5 sacks (which led the SEC),[5] 2 forced fumbles and 26 quarterback hurries.
He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, having been named to the first teams of ESPN, the American Football Coaches Association, the Football Writers Association of America, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation.[6]
2012 season
In 12 games, Jones recorded 85 tackles (52 solo), 24.5 tackles-for-loss (best in NCAA), 14.5 sacks, one interception, seven forced fumbles and two fumbles recovered.[7] He missed the games against Kentucky and Florida Atlantic, but played an integral role in wins over Missouri and Florida.[8][9] Jones was named an AFCA First Team All-American and the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press and voted The 2012 Premier Player of College Football by sports fans.[10]
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 2 3⁄8 in (1.89 m) |
245 lb (111 kg) |
33 in (0.84 m) |
9 1⁄8 in (0.23 m) |
4.88 s | 1.66 s | 2.79 s | 4.71 s | 7.46 s | 30 1⁄2 in (0.77 m) |
9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) |
20 reps | |
All values from NFL Combine and the Georgia Bulldog's pro day.[11][12] |
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Jones in the first round (17th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft.[13]
2013
He began competing for a position at right outside linebacker with starter Jason Worilds and Terence Garvin. At the beginning of the season he was used as a back-up and rotated with Worilds. On September 8, 2013, he played in his first career game and recorded 2 solo tackles against the Tennessee Titans. The following week on September 16, he received his first start in place of Worilds and racked up a total of 8 tackles. The next four games he started in place of Worilds until Week 7. On November 10, 2013, he got his first career sack in a 23–10 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Jones came in to replace starting left outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley for the next three games, after he went down with an injury in Week 10. When the Steelers played the Browns during the last game of the 2013 season, he had a season-high 9 total tackles, 8 solo tackles, and a pass deflection.
He finished his rookie season with 40 total tackles, 30 solo tackles, a sack, and 4 pass deflections in 14 games and 8 starts.
2014
Jones began the 2014 season as the Steelers' starting right outside linebacker after the departure of LaMarr Woodley. On September 7, 2014, during the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, he had 6 tackles and registered his first sack of the year, matching his sack total from the year before (1). Over the first 3 games he had 14 tackles and 2 sacks.
On September 21, 2014, on Sunday Night Football against the Carolina Panthers, Jones suffered a cluttered wrist after forcing Cam Newton to fumble and left the game after recording his first career forced fumble and 2 tackles.[14] Jones underwent wrist surgery the very next day and was placed on the injured/designated for return list.[15] To replace Jones, the Steelers signed James Harrison on September 23.
In his first game back from his injury he had 3 tackles and a solo tackle in a Week 14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. On January 3, 2015, after the Steelers finished atop the AFC North with an 11–5 record, Jones played in his first career postseason game as the Steelers' lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 17–30. He finished his second season with 18 total tackles, a career-high 2 sacks, and a forced fumble.[16]
2015
Jones played in 15 games, all starts, for the team during the 2015 season, totaling fifteen solo tackles, fourteen tackle assists, two sacks, three pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble.[16]
2016
On May 2, 2016, the Steelers declined the fifth-year option on Jones, making him a free agent after the 2016 season.[17] He played in 14 games, had 42 combined tackles, 29 solo tackles, 13 tackle assists, 1 sack, 3 pass breakups, 1 interception, and 2 forced fumbles.
In week 10, after the Steelers 35-30 loss to the Cowboys, he was replaced by James Harrison in the starting lineup for Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns.[18]
Arizona Cardinals
On March 14, 2017, Jones signed with the Arizona Cardinals.[19][20] On September 2, 2017, the Cardinals released Jones with an injury settlement.[21]
Personal life
His older brother, Darcell Kitchens, was murdered outside of a bar in Richland, Georgia, on January 9, 2005.[22] Jones signed an endorsement deal for Subway just days before he was drafted.[23]
References
- "Rivals.com". Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- "Player Bio: Jarvis Jones". Georgia Athletics. Archived from the original on August 25, 2016. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
- "Football Recruiting - Jarvis Jones". ESPN. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
- "The Mag: Jarvis Jones tops NFL draft boards". Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- "Top 20 college players at midseason". National Football League. October 22, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
- David Ching, Another honor for Jones and Jones, ESPN.com, December 10, 2011
- "Jarvis Jones". sports-reference.com. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
- Towers, Chip (September 8, 2012). "On historic night in Missouri, Jarvis Jones makes history for Georgia". Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- Smith, Loran (October 30, 2012). "Jarvis Jones' performance against Florida all-time best in series". Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- White, Chris (December 3, 2012). "Jarvis Jones named AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year; 5 other Bulldogs on All-SEC team". Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- "2013 NFL Draft Profile: Jarvis Jones". Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- "*Jarvis Jones - Georgia, OLB : 2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- Hanzus, Dan (April 25, 2013). "Jarvis Jones selected by Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 17". NFL.com. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- Bryan, Dave (September 21, 2014). "Jarvis Jones leaves Panthers game after wrist injury". steelersdepot.com. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
- Schmidt, Patrick (September 22, 2014). "Jarvis Jones placed on injured reserve". fansided.com. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- "NFL.com Player Profile:Jarvis Jones". NFL.com. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
- Jackson, Zac (May 2, 2016). "Steelers won't pick up fifth year option on Jarvis Jones". profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. Jason Mackey. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
Source: Steelers are not picking up the fifth-year option on Jarvis Jones.
- DeArdo, Bryan (November 16, 2016). "James Harrison to replace Jarvis Jones in starting lineup". CBSSports. Mark Kaboly. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
James Harrison is back in the Pittsburgh Steelers starting lineup. Initially reported by Mark Kaboly of DKPittsburghSports.com, Harrison will replace Jarvis Jones
- Urban, Darren (March 14, 2017). "Jarvis Jones Signing Adds Linebacker Depth". AZCardinals.com.
- Orr, Conor (March 14, 2017). "Jarvis Jones signs with Arizona Cardinals". NFL.com.
- Urban, Darren (September 2, 2017). "Cardinals Make Moves To Reach 53-Man Roster". AZCardinals.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017.
- Achlabach, Mark (September 26, 2012). "Jones motivated by brother's murder". ESPN. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
- "Time To Hunker Down: Subway Signs NFL Prospect Jarvis Jones To Endorsement Deal". April 24, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2016.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · ESPN · Pro Football Reference
- Pittsburgh Steelers bio
- Georgia Bulldogs bio