Brandon Jones (safety)

Not to be confused with Brandon Jones (cornerback) or Brandon Jones (wide receiver).

Brandon Jones
No. 22 – Denver Broncos
Position:Safety
Personal information
Born: (1998-04-02) April 2, 1998 (age 26)
Nacogdoches, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:191 lb (87 kg)
Career information
High school:Nacogdoches
(Nacogdoches, Texas)
College:Texas (2016–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / round: 3 / pick: 70
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 9, 2024
Total tackles:303
Sacks:8.0
Forced fumbles:5
Fumble recoveries:4
Pass deflections:12
Interceptions:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Brandon Jones (born April 2, 1998) is an American professional football safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas.

Early years

Jones grew up in Nacogdoches, Texas, and attended Nacogdoches High School, where he played football and ran track. As a senior Jones recorded 124 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and two interceptions and was named the District 16-5A Defensive Player of the Year as well as first-team All-State and the Texas Defensive Player of the Year by USA Today.[1][2] He was also invited to play in the 2016 Under Armour All-America Game.[3] Jones was a consensus top-five recruit nationally at the safety position (Scout.com listed him as the #1 safety in the nation) and a top 50 prospect for his class.[4] On National Signing Day, Jones committed to play college football at the University of Texas over offers from Alabama, Baylor, LSU, Oregon and Texas A&M.[5][6]

College career

Jones played in all twelve of Texas' games as a true freshman with one start, making 16 tackles and blocking two punts.[7] He was named a starting safety going into his sophomore season and finished the year with 61 tackles (four for loss), two passes broken up, and a forced fumble.[8] He finished fourth on the team with 70 (5.5 for loss) tackles as a junior while also intercepting two passes, breaking up a pass, and recovering two fumbles despite missing four games due to a recurring ankle injury and was named honorable mention All-Big 12 Conference.[9][10][11] Jones originally considered entering the 2019 NFL Draft following the end of the season, but ultimately decided to return to Texas for his senior year.[12]

Jones entered his senior season on the watchlists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Lott Trophy.[13][14] He finished his senior season with 86 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, in addition to adding two interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery and was named second-team All-Big 12.[15] Jones finished his collegiate career with 233 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and two blocked kicks with 11 passes defended and four interceptions in 47 games played.[16]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span
5 ft 11+1⁄8 in
(1.81 m) 		198 lb
(90 kg) 		30+1⁄8 in
(0.77 m) 		8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)
All values from NFL Combine[17][18]

Miami Dolphins

Jones was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round with the 70th overall pick in of the 2020 NFL draft.[19] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on August 6, 2020,[20] and activated the next day.[21] Jones made his NFL debut on September 13, 2020, in the season opener against the New England Patriots, starting at safety and making ten total tackles.[22] In Week 12 against the New York Jets, Jones recorded his first career sack on Sam Darnold during the 20–3 win.[23]

On October 25, 2022, Jones was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL in Week 7.[24]

Denver Broncos

On March 14, 2024, Jones signed a three-year, $20 million contract with the Denver Broncos.[25]

References

  1. ^ "Lufkin Panthers and Nacogdoches Dragons land on all-district list". KTRE.com. December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  2. ^ "2015 ALL-USA Texas Football Team". USATodayHSS. December 30, 2015. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  3. ^ Barnett, J.A. (October 14, 2015). "Under Armour All-American Brandon Jones still blown away by selection". USATodayHSS. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  4. ^ Johnson, Chris (February 3, 2016). "Safety Brandon Jones commits to Texas on National Signing Day". SI.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  5. ^ Wells, Adam (February 3, 2016). "Brandon Jones to Texas: Longhorns Land 4-Star Safety Prospect". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  6. ^ Donohue, Tyler (August 24, 2015). "Brandon Jones Reveals Top 6: Will Any Team Lure 5-Star out of Texas?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  7. ^ Craven, Mike; Davis, Daniel (August 24, 2018). "The Texas 22: Starting at safety — Brandon Jones". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  8. ^ "Texas spring breakout candidate No. 3: Will DB Brandon Jones make a leap in his junior season?". The Dallas Morning News. March 23, 2018. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  9. ^ Howe, Jeff (July 20, 2019). "Brandon Jones 'does everything right on and off the field'". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  10. ^ "Longhorns notebook: Safety Brandon Jones on the mend". San Antonio Express-News. June 18, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  11. ^ Sanders, Garret (July 17, 2019). "East Texan Brandon Jones will lead Texas Longhorns secondary in 2019". EastTexasMatters.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  12. ^ Barnes, Mike (January 10, 2019). "UT defensive back Brandon Jones to return for his senior season". KVUE.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  13. ^ Grandose, Brett (July 23, 2019). "Longhorn safety Brandon Jones makes the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list". Longhorns Wire. USA Today. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  14. ^ Howe, Jeff (May 21, 2019). "Texas safety Brandon Jones named to Lott IMPACT Watch List". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  15. ^ Estes, Taylor (January 30, 2020). "2019 Big Play Rewind: Brandon Jones' INT prevents OU touchdown". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  16. ^ Reeve, James (April 10, 2020). "Brandon Jones an interesting late-round safety option for Miami Dolphins". PhinPhanatic.com. FanSided. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  17. ^ "Brandon Jones Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  18. ^ "Brandon Jones College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  19. ^ Briseno, Alex (April 24, 2020). "Texas safety Brandon Jones selected by Miami Dolphins with No. 70 pick in NFL draft". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  20. ^ "Dolphins Make Roster Moves". MiamiDolphins.com. August 6, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  21. ^ "Dolphins Activate Godchaux, Jones, Lawson". MiamiDolphins.com. August 7, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  22. ^ "Dolphins' Brandon Jones: Double-digit tackles in debut". CBSSports.com. RotoWire. September 13, 2020. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
  23. ^ "Miami Dolphins at New York Jets - November 29th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  24. ^ "Dolphins place Brandon Jones on IR, sign WR to the practice squad". DolphinsWire. USAToday.com. October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  25. ^ DiLalla, Aric (March 14, 2024). "Broncos sign S Brandon Jones to 3-year contract". DenverBroncos.com.