Ernest Jones (linebacker) explained

Ernest Jones
Current Team:Los Angeles Rams
Number:53
Position:Linebacker
Birth Date:22 November 1999
Birth Place:Waycross, Georgia, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:230
High School:Ware County (GA)
College:South Carolina (2018–2020)
Draftyear:2021
Draftround:3
Draftpick:103
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:320
Statlabel2:Sacks
Statvalue2:5.5
Statlabel3:Forced fumbles
Statvalue3:1
Statlabel4:Fumble recoveries
Statlabel5:Pass deflections
Statvalue5:12
Statlabel6:Interceptions
Statvalue6:3
Pfr:J/JoneEr01

Ernest Jones (born November 22, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina.

Early years

Jones grew up in Waycross, Georgia and attended Ware County High School.[1] As a senior, he recorded 112 tackles with six tackles for loss, two sacks and three forced fumbles and was named first-team Class AAAAA. Jones committed to play at South Carolina after considering offers from Georgia Tech and Duke.[2]

College career

Jones played in five games as a freshman with 16 tackles and a forced fumble.[3] He became a starter and led South Carolina with 97 tackles in his sophomore season.[4] Going into his junior season, Jones missed most of South Carolina's preseason training due to an appendectomy.[5] He led the team again as a junior with 86 tackles, five of which were for a loss.[6] At the end of the season, Jones declared that he would forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.[7]

Professional career

Jones was selected in the third round with the 103rd overall pick of the 2021 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams.[8] Jones signed his four-year rookie contract with the Rams on July 22, 2021.[9]

Jones entered his rookie season in 2021 as a backup inside linebacker behind Kenny Young and Troy Reeder. He was inserted into the starting lineup after the Rams traded Young prior to Week 8. In Week 14, Jones intercepted a pass from Kyler Murray in a 30–23 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 16 and was placed on injured reserve on December 28, finishing the regular season with 61 tackles and one sack, with four passes defensed and two interceptions through 15 games and seven starts. Jones was activated on January 29, 2022, for the National Football Conference Championship game, contributing two tackles as he backed up Reeder in L.A.'s 20–17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. In Super Bowl LVI, Jones got the start at inside linebacker and recorded seven tackles with one sack and a pass defensed in the Rams' 23–20 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals.[10]

During the team's voluntary minicamp in May 2022, the team announced that Jones was changing his jersey number from '50' to '53.'[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sinor . Wesley . February 24, 2017 . Auburn becomes immediate contender for LB Ernest Jones . April 21, 2021 . AL.com.
  2. Web site: Kornblut . Phil . May 5, 2017 . Ernest Jones commits to Will Muschamp, South Carolina . April 21, 2021 . The State.
  3. Web site: January 17, 2019 . South Carolina football: Ernest Jones could help in 2019 . April 21, 2021 . The State.
  4. Web site: Taylor . Collyn . May 19, 2020 . CAROLINA FOOTBALL: 'This is my defense,' Ernest Jones says . April 21, 2021 . The Times and Democrat.
  5. Web site: Cloninger . David . September 23, 2020 . Gamecocks' defensive leader looking 'to dominate' after appendicitis derailed his preseason . April 21, 2021 . The Post and Courier.
  6. Web site: Boynton . Eric . April 13, 2021 . Former South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones gaining steam in NFL draft process . April 21, 2021 . Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
  7. Web site: December 8, 2020 . South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones declares for NFL . April 21, 2021 . APNews.com . Associated Press.
  8. Web site: Jackson . Stu . April 30, 2021 . Rams select ILB Ernest Jones with 103rd pick in 2021 NFL Draft . March 25, 2023 . TheRams.com.
  9. Web site: Links . Zachary . July 22, 2021 . NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/22/21 . May 23, 2023 . ProFootballRumors.com.
  10. Web site: Super Bowl LVI - Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals - February 13th, 2022 . March 25, 2023 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  11. Web site: DaSilva . Cameron . May 23, 2022 . Ernest Jones changes jersey number to 53 . May 24, 2023 . Rams Wire . en-US.