Jarrian Jones – Syndication Server

Pederson updates Jaguars’ injuries vs. Bills; Engram, Savage

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson shared a handful of injury updates Tuesday following Jacksonville’s 47-10 loss at Buffalo in Week 3, for four players who went down against the Bills and two who missed the game after getting hurt earlier in the season.

Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (foot), right tackle Anton Harrison (knee), rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones (shoulder) and wide receiver Gabe Davis (shoulder) each left the Monday Night Football at different times.

Pederson suggested Oluokun’s situation is more serious than the others but that each player would be evaluated on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis.

“Jarrian is kind of as tolerated with his shoulder. Everything medically this morning, his check-up and things were good. It’s just going to be as tolerated with him,” Pederson explained. “Anton, again it’s his knee, same one he injured the week before. He’s just going to be day-to-day this week, so we’ve got to be careful with him and make sure he’s feeling good going into Sunday.

“Gabe, you know, his shoulder at the end, it’s just something that he’s, again, day-to-day but should be fine, you know, for the game. And then Foye, it’s his foot. His is probably more week-to-week right now, and you know, there is a chance that he misses this football game.”

Oluokun leads the Jaguars with 22 tackles through three games, including one sack and three tackles for loss, He has also defended two passes.

Harrison, Jacksonville’s first-round NFL draft pick last year, missed one play against Cleveland in Week 2 due to his hurt knee. He took the field for 47 of the Jaguars’ 71 offensive snaps against the Bills in Week 3.

Jones, who has filled in for injured safety/nickel cornerback Darnell Savage Jr. over the last two weeks, has tallied six tackles to begin his debut NFL campaign. He hurt his shoulder while tackling Buffalo running back James Cook on Jacksonville’s first defensive series of the game.

Davis experienced a shoulder injury in the matchup’s final minutes after catching two passes for 18 yards.

Pederson shared that Savage (quadriceps) should return to action in Week 4 against Houston after being sidelined against Cleveland and Buffalo. After signing a three-year, $21.8 million free-agent contract with Jacksonville in March, Savage tallied two pass breakups in his Jaguars debut versus Miami.

Pederson did not express as much confidence in tight end Evan Engram’s availability, however, after he, like Savage missed Weeks 2-3. Engram caught one pass for four yards in Week 1.

“It’ll be close, it’ll be close. But again, a short week. I don’t want to risk anything with Evan. We’ll see. We’ll see tomorrow where he’s at and go from there,” said Pederson. “But we should have Savage back this week, which will be good.”

Jaguars lose rookie CB to injury vs. Bills

The Jaguars ruled rookie cornerback Jarrian Jones out for the remainder of Monday Night Football against the Bills with a shoulder injury.

Jones suffered the injury when he tackled Buffalo running back James Cook during the Bills’ first series of the game in the first quarter.

Jones, who filled in at nickel cornerback for the Jaguars with starter Darnell Savage Jr. unable to play due to a quadriceps injury, finished with two tackles in the contest.

Jacksonville’s third-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, Jones logged 100 total snaps over his first two appearances with the team, 74 on defense and 26 on special teams. Including Week 3, he is up to six tackles in his career.

The Jaguars promoted cornerback Christian Braswell from their practice squad via standard elevation on Monday, after ruling Savage out of Week 3 on Sunday. Braswell stepped in for Jones immediately following his injury.

Jacksonville entered the matchup without starting cornerback Tyson Campbell as well, Campbell is currently on the Jaguars’ injured reserve due to a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1.

All-22 review: Jaguars vs. Dolphins

The Jacksonville Jaguars are off to a rough start to their 2024 campaign following an embarrassing defeat on the road against the Miami Dolphins, 20-17.

At one point, the Jaguars held leads of 14-0 in the first half and 17-7 in the second, leaving many to wonder what happened after such a great start to the game.

Jaguars Wire broke down the matchup’s All-22 film to digest Sunday’s events with better context, sharing its biggest takeaways below.

Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen impressed in his first game with the Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen talks to the media ahead of the second day of an NFL football training camp practice session Thursday, July 25, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

One of the key matchups Sunday was Ryan Nielsen’s Jacksonville defense versus arguably the most explosive offense in football. One key concern was capping the big plays Miami has been known to produce throughout the last two seasons.

Despite Dolphins receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle producing crucial explosive plays late in the contest, Nielsen otherwise called in a great game. Jaguars defenders on all three levels of the field flew around the field but rarely appeared out of place outside of a couple of occasions.

One of the most impressive things from this unit is that it rarely got caught in Miami’s barrage of shifts and motions, staying disciplined and on task while forcing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa off his spot and forcing throws.

Jacksonville’s linebackers were stout in their run fits. According to Next Gen Stats, the run defense held Miami to just 69 yards of offense on 23 touches and negative 44 rushing yards over expected, the lowest since Week 9 of 2021.

Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun played terrific in coverage and against the run. He made an excellent play in the second quarter on fourth & short by shadowing double slants on the front side and nearly secured the interception.

Other defensive players such as safety Darnell Savage Jr. and defensive lineman Arik Armstead had quality performances.

Before leaving the game with an injury, star cornerback Tyson Campbell played with sound technique in press-man and zone shells. Rookie Jarrian Jones had a couple of one-on-ones with Hill and held his own.

Edge rusher Travon Walker’s season is off to a great start. He piled up two sacks in Week 1 with elite explosiveness, power at the point of contact, an impressive bull rush, and the rare athleticism he has been known for since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2022.

Jacksonville’s first-half offense displayed a glimpse into the future…

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 08: Trevor Lawrence #16 and Brian Thomas Jr. #7 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrate after a touchdown during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 08, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Sunday offered a peak into what the 2024 Jaguars offense could become under whoever is calling plays in Jacksonville, head coach Doug Pederson or offensive coordinator Press Taylor. There were more under-center, vertical passing concepts that opened up the offense to an extent. The operation seemed steadier and smoother.

Franchise signal-caller Trevor Lawrence had a quality first half, making a terrific throw seemingly every series. He had a couple of middle-of-the-field darts for big completions, including the beautiful bucket drop to rookie wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to go up 14-0 in the second quarter.

Lawrence did a great job using his eyes to manipulate second and third-level defenders while maintaining his progressions.

The Jaguars have the potential to field a consistently explosive offense. Second-string running back Tank Bigsby broke off a couple of nice runs. Thomas also looks as advertised as a deep threat, showing vertical separation almost consistently with subtle movements to create space and opportunities for Lawrence to make accurate, on-time throws.

Jacksonville could have continued to mash its foot on the gas and attack Miami’s secondary with vertical play-action attacks from under-center and route concepts to put its players in positions to succeed. As the score later showed, it didn’t.

…but the second-half offense offered a not-so-good blast from the past

Sep 8, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson looks on from the sideline against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

As soon as the Jaguars’ offense took the field in the second half, there was an easy tell to the momentum swing that began to occur. What went from an explosive and dynamic first 30 minutes to a stale and conservative final 30.

Pederson or Taylor let their foot off the gas almost entirely, especially after running back Travis Etienne Jr. fumbled in the red zone.

The offense reversed back to what led to its demise late in the 2023 season. There were very few concepts that allowed Lawrence to attack the middle of the field and several play-action rollouts that only allowed for the short area of the gridiron to be attacked.

Thomas received no targets in the second half, a head-scratching reality considering his earlier production paired with Jacksonville’s late offensive stalls. The Jaguars offensive line largely held its own throughout the game, allowing Lawrence to navigate the pocket and reset his base when needed.

The lack of aggression from the offense was staggering and it allowed Miami to take the field for just enough plays, including the 80-yard touchdown by Hill, to stage a successful comeback.

There was also too much faith placed in the Jaguars’ rushing offense and defensive performance to secure the victory. This kind of approach has far too often put coaches at a disadvantage against explosive teams such as the Dolphins or Kansas City Chiefs.

Jacksonville will host the Cleveland Browns in the Jaguars‘ home opener this weekend. They have the offense and personnel to be an aggressive, explosive offense. If the Jaguars learn to keep mashing the gas pedal when up 10 or more points, this could be a potent team throughout the season.

Jaguars rookie projections: CB Jarrian Jones

The Jaguars exited the 2024 NFL draft with nine new contributors, bolstering their roster with potential after signing eight free agents between March and April in their offseason-long effort to reclaim postseason status this year.

How impactful might Jacksonville’s rookie class be as the team chases a playoff spot?

Jaguars Wire is projecting roles and rookie production for each of Jacksonville’s 2024 draft picks, continuing the series by focusing on the Jaguars’ third-round, No. 96 overall selection, cornerback Jarrian Jones.

Jaguars rookie projections: WR Brian Thomas Jr.

Jaguars rookie projections: DL Maason Smith

Jarrian Jones’ projected role with the Jaguars

Cornerback, specifically the nickel spot, was one of Jacksonville’s biggest positions of need entering the draft.

But the Jaguars waited until the end of the third round to select one, Jones. They added a second in the fifth round, Deantre Prince.

As things stand, Jones is expected to primarily align at nickel corner while Prince works on the outside. That being said, the Jaguars believe Jones will be able to work inside and out throughout his career while also participating on special teams.

“He’s definitely a position flex guy. I can see him playing inside day one,” Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said about Jones on April 26. “He’s also a really good special teams player, so he’s going to give us value there as well.”

Jones’ productive, five-season college career and his early returns with the Jaguars from their offseason workout program suggest he could quickly step into Jacksonville’s secondary and contribute.

He turned heads during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, specifically for his performances in coverage by recording an interception and multiple pass breakups during the practices that reporters could observe.

The Jaguars signed veteran safety Darnell Savage in March with a plan to move him into the nickel role, before drafting Jones. Jones’ selection won’t necessarily change that strategy, but with a capable nickel prospect now on the roster, Jacksonville won’t be forced to rely upon only Savage at the position.

Instead, the Jaguars could create a rotation in the nickel this season, perhaps with Savage offering run support on early downs before deepening out at safety on late downs, when Jones can step into the slot for coverage purposes.

Jarrian Jones’ projected rookie stats

30 total tackles
One interception
Four defended passes
55% completion percentage allowed

30 total tackles would have ranked No. 25 among rookie defensive backs from the 2023 NFL draft class, one interception would have been tied for No. 8, and four defended passes would have been tied for No. 12.

A 55% completion percentage allowed would have ranked No. 14 among 2023 rookie defensive backs who played at least 25% of their team’s defensive snaps during the regular season.

CBS identifies Jaguars’ 2024 rookie ‘sleeper’

As Jacksonville’s 2024 NFL draft class prepares to embark on its collective rookie season, all eyes are on wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr and his potential to make an immediate impact.

But beyond the Jaguars’ first-round pick, which freshmen could be in a position to contribute significantly this year?

According to Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports, cornerback and third-round selection, Jarrian Jones, is Jacksonville’s top candidate for such a breakout.

Trapasso identified post-Day 1 “sleepers” from April’s draft who could step into key roles for their teams in 2024. Following his productive college career at Florida State and considering Jacksonville’s need for stability at the nickel cornerback position, the No. 96 overall pick made for a sensible choice.

Jones was one of the largest and most athletically gifted nickel cornerbacks in a class loaded with good ones. Mostly operating out of the slot, the Mississippi State turned Florida State standout had five interceptions and nine pass breakups across five collegiate seasons. He’s nearly 6-foot and 190 pounds, so it’d be easy to mistake him for a boundary cornerback.

The Jaguars signed [safety] Darnell Savage in free agency, but he’s best away from the line of scrimmage. They don’t have an established, steady nickel cornerback. That’s precisely what Jones was in four seasons with the Seminoles. He has the athletic chops and smarts to assume that role immediately in Jacksonville.

Impressive stat to know: 40-yard dash, vertical, and broad jump all above the 85th percentile at his position

Over five college seasons, his first with Mississippi State before four with Florida State, Jones compiled 96 tackles with 5.5 for loss, one sack, five interceptions with one pick-six, 12 defended passes and one forced fumble in 55 games.

Jones shined at nickel corner in 2023 after spending most of his career on the outside, recording single-season career-highs with three interceptions, 25 total tackles and five tackles for loss. In coverage, he allowed 50% of his targets (16-of-32) to be caught, per Pro Football Focus.

Jacksonville allowed its primary nickel cornerback from the 2023 season, Tre Herndon, to exit via free agency earlier this offseason. Herndon signed with the New York Giants last week.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson and new defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen have floated Savage, who signed a three-year, $21.75 contract with the team in March, as a fit for Herndon’s former position, along with Jones.

Savage most often aligned at deep safety during five seasons with his drafted team, Green Bay, but notably logged 1,026 snaps at box safety and 961 snaps at nickel cornerback over the years.

In his 72-game NFL career, Savage has produced 302 tackles with nine for loss, one sack, nine interceptions, one pick-six, 32 defended passes and two forced fumbles.

Jaguars NFL Draft grades: Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State

Jaguars NFL Draft grade for selecting Florida State CB Jarrian Jones in the third round

The Jacksonville Jaguars shuffled plenty of pieces around in their secondary heading into this offseason but continued to need to add more talent. With the selection of Florida State cornerback Jarrian Jones, Jacksonville snags some more young talent to add to their corner group.

Jones projects as a backup as the team’s second nickelback, with Tyson Campbell and Ronald Darby starting on the outsides. Jones will add valuable depth behind newly added veteran Darnell Savage and could see the field in more pass-heavy sets.

A speedster with plenty of burst and aggression, Jones is well-suited as a nickel corner at the next level. While he doesn’t quite have the skillset to play outside, he does have starter-level potential at the inside corner spot from day one despite his current status as a backup.

Grade: B

Flowers, Edmunds signings continue Jaguars’ vital secondary rebuild

Tre Flowers, Terrell Edmunds signings continue Jaguars’ secondary rebuild

One important aspect of Jacksonville’s busy 2024 offseason has been the team’s necessary secondary rebuild.

The Jaguars released two starting defensive backs from last season earlier this year, cornerback Darious Williams and safety Rayshawn Jenkins, and have added six since, including four veteran free-agent signings and two rookie selections in the NFL draft.

The moves weren’t coincidental or business as usual.

They were intentional, a concerted effort by Jacksonville’s front office to revamp the back five of the Jaguars’ defense after the team allowed 239.8 passing yards and 1.59 passing touchdowns per game in 2023, both stats ranking No. 26 in the NFL.

The first addition, cornerback Ronald Darby, is expected to take over for Williams at outside corner, opposite Jacksonville’s 2021 second-round draft pick, Tyson Campbell.

Darby, a nine-season pro, has started 95 games in his career and tallied eight interceptions and 97 passes defended. Per Pro Football Reference, Darby allowed sub-50% completion percentages in coverage in 2022 and 2023, with a career-best 38.9% mark two years ago.

Safety Darnell Savage joined Jacksonville shortly after Darby, after five seasons with his drafted team, Green Bay. There, he accumulated nine interceptions and 32 pass breakups over 72 games and 69 starts.

Although he has been considered a replacement for Jenkins on the backend, next to safety Andre Cisco, Savage has been floated as a candidate to play nickel corner by Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson.

Despite obtaining those veterans, the Jaguars were widely projected to target another outside cornerback early in the 2024 NFL draft, leaving some analysts surprised when they waited until the end of Day 2 to address their secondary whatsoever.

Notably, Campbell is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2024, while Darby turned 30 years old in January.

They double-dipped at the position, though, taking nickel corner Jarrian Jones late in the third round and then picking outside corner Deantre Prince in the fifth round.

Both were five-year college contributors who participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl all-star game before the draft.

“I think what both Jarrian and Prince probably share as players is confidence in terms of their coverage ability, but also knowing how to use their athletic ability,” Shrine Bowl director of football operations and player personnel, Eric Galko, described Jones and Prince in an interview with Jaguars Wire.

“Some guys are athletic and don’t know how to use it, and they’re just guessing and trying to use their athleticism and kind of recover a lot, not necessarily maximizing it. I think both these guys know where they can get to on the field in coverage.”

The Jaguars have been similarly complimentary of the rookies and believe each can become an impact player in the secondary.

Still, Jacksonville thought it had room to improve. Accordingly, the club signed another pair of veteran defensive backs on Thursday, safety and former first-round pick Terrell Edmunds and cornerback Tre Flowers.

Flowers, in particular, provides a sense of familiarity as the most recent season of his six-year career was under the guidance of current Jacksonville defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who occupied the same role for Atlanta in 2023.

He appeared in 17 games with three starts last year, and has compiled four interceptions, 22 pass breakups and five forced fumbles over 90 games since 2018.

Edmunds could fill the safety role initially expected of Savage in 2023, with 79 starts at the position under his belt over six seasons. He’s recorded six interceptions, 28 pass breakups, 7.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss in that span.

Second-year Jaguar Antonio Johnson will vie for a starting safety role, too, after intercepting two passes and defending three as a rookie in 2023.

While it remains to be seen how the batch of new faces will perform as a unit, Jacksonville was wisely aggressive in acquiring defensive backs of varying positional fits, experience levels, and physical and athletic potential this offseason.

The unit added a combined 287 starts via free agency, patching holes in the Jaguars’ previously underwhelming secondary and, as a result, slowing down the pace of the incoming rookies’ development track.

Jones and Prince won’t need to be forced into action at cornerback early in their career — barring injury or if they prove to be equipped for pro ball immediately — with Campbell, Darby, Flowers and perhaps Savage at nickel available to start in 2024.

Why the Jaguars’ front office was so high on rookie CB Jarrian Jones

Jarrian Jones of Florida State was selected by the Jaguars in Round 3, pick No. 96 of last month’s 2024 NFL Draft and could go down as a steal of the draft for Jacksonville.

Jones appeared in 55 games and started 29 from 2019-2023, recording 96 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, 17 pass breakups, and five interceptions over four seasons with FSU and one year with Mississippi State.

As Jones looks to make an impact in the pros, Jaguars assistant general manager Ethan Waugh talked about his positional versatility and why he will be a good fit for Jacksonville for many years to come.

“I think it’s extremely important. I think if you look at the numbers of corners and nickels drafted in recent years, it’s on the rise,” Waugh suggested on Friday.

“Really, everything that we do, we kind of have to see how it affects the run game, but really more so how it affects the passing game, because that’s how you score points in this league, how you win in league is by throwing the football or defending the pass. So, a guy who can go inside out gives us more flexibility, as offenses move their slots and big guys around, having that flexibility is key.”

Waugh also pointed toward Jones’ positive, energetic attitude since his pre-draft meetings with the Jaguars and joining the team as reasoning for his selection.

“Energy. Personality. I think you’ll see that when you guys get a chance to talk with him, if you haven’t yet. But he’s infectious,” Waugh described Jones.

“He enjoyed being here, he enjoyed talking football, he enjoyed learning football, he enjoyed spending time with the coaches. I think when our coaches spent time with him, asking a player to play inside and outside is more mentally tasking than playing one spot. I think they felt really good about him in that role, so he really impressed us while he was here.”

Jarrian Jones in action with the Jaguars 🔥 #Noles pic.twitter.com/tgupzlcxmV

— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) May 11, 2024

Jones is primarily projected to play nickel cornerback in Jacksonville’s defensive scheme, with veterans, Tyson Campbell and Ronald Darby, set to start at outside cornerback in 2024. Jones will compete with free agent safety signee, Darnell Savage, at the spot.

CB Jarrian Jones signs Jaguars’ rookie contract

Jacksonville’s third-round pick from the 2024 NFL draft is under contract as cornerback Jarrian Jones signed his rookie deal with the Jaguars on Saturday, the team announced.

Jones is the fifth member of Jacksonville’s 2024 draft class to sign with the club, following fifth-rounders, cornerback Deantre Prince and running back/return specialist Keilan Robinson, sixth-round kicker Cam Little and seventh-round edge rusher Myles Cole.

Over five college seasons, one with Mississippi State before four with Florida State, Jones accumulated 96 tackles including 5.5 for loss, one sack, five interceptions including one pick-six, 12 pass breakups and one forced fumble. He participated in the East-West Shrine Bowl and NFL combine before the draft.

Although Jones spent most of his college career at outside cornerback (1,263 snaps), he transitioned to nickel corner in 2023 (394 snaps inside compared to 27 outside). He produced more turnovers than in any other season in his career at the new spot, five, leading to his projection as a slot corner with the Jaguars.

“Jarrian’s a guy we’ve been following for a long time at Florida State,” Shrine Bowl director of football operations Eric Galko told Jaguars Wire. “Super talented as he, you know, showed the athleticism at the NFL combine.

“But he took such a major step this year when they asked him to move inside at slot. And he was, whether you use metrics or just watching film, like, I think he was arguably the best nickel cornerback in college football this past year, probably the best in college football.”

Shrine Bowl’s Eric Galko talks Jaguars’ Jarrian Jones, Deantre Prince

CBs Jarrian Jones and Deantre Prince will reunite with the Jaguars after teaming up in the Shrine Bowl. How will they fit together?

The Jaguars took a two-pronged approach to addressing their need for cornerback help in the 2024 NFL draft, selecting Jarrian Jones from Florida State in the third round and Deantre Prince from Ole Miss in the fifth round to shore up the position.

Jones and Prince proved to be playmakers in the secondary throughout their college careers, and premier athletes at the NFL combine in March, with both players clocking 4.38-second 40-yard dash results at the latter event.

In between, the duo impressed NFL scouts and onlookers at the Shrine Bowl earlier this year, aligning together on the East Team. They were two of the game’s record-breaking 57 prospects selected in the draft this year.

While each corner produced just one tackle in the all-star game, both stood out in practices leading up to the exhibition. NFL.com described Jones’ performances in the nickel as “plastering” opposing receivers; multiple independent outlets highlighted Prince’s showings in one-on-one drills.

Galko went further, analyzing how the members of the defensive back tandem pair together in the secondary as they prepare to team up again in Jacksonville.

Both are generally sound in their coverage assignments, per Galko. In the event a route-runner beats them, both can recover to make a play on the ball given their speed and agility.

“They can kind of bait a little bit when they’re out of position — I think both Prince and Jarrian Jones are rarely out of position, and if they are or they want to bait a little bit, they’ve got that athletic ability to clean up a little bit, too. So, I think those guys complement each other well.”

Jones, a four-year contributor at Florida State after spending his freshman campaign at Mississippi State, is likely to remain in the slot with Jacksonville after shining at the position with the Seminoles as a super senior in 2023.

Following four years mostly as an outside corner, the nearly-six-foot, 190-pound Jones produced single-season career-highs with 25 tackles including five for loss and three interceptions in the nickel last season.

“Jarrian’s a guy we’ve been following for a long time at Florida State,” Galko revealed. “Super talented as he, you know, showed the athleticism at the NFL combine.

The Shrine Bowl offered Jones an opportunity to further prove his worth at the position, to shrug off any potential perception that his big year at the new spot was a one-off. He did just that.

“I think what he showed in college and at the Shrine Bowl, again, that when he’s inside the nickel, he’s so confident and he trusts his athletic ability,” Galko said. “That’s where I think most teams want to project him pretty quickly, too, and I think if he wasn’t the Jaguars’ pick, he wasn’t going to last much longer than the end of round three to the top of round four.”

Prince, meanwhile, was not a player Jacksonville expected to be available at its No. 153 overall pick, per Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke. Baalke believes Prince will compete for playing time in the team’s defense, he said after the draft, and Galko shares a similar sentiment.

The 6-foot, 183-pound prospect posted 146 tackles with six for loss, six interceptions, 27 passes defended and two forced fumbles over four seasons with Ole Miss, not including his bridge season at Northeast Mississippi Community College in 2020.

“Super good athlete, physical, confident kid on the perimeter. Kind of a quieter guy but really locked in, super high football IQ,” Galko noted about Prince, sharing that he was invited to the Shrine Bowl in 2023 before returning to school, too. “But uber-talented and tremendous athlete, he ran a 4.3-something I think at the combine, and that certainly shows up on film.

“He can press, get deep and play vertical too. I think if you want to run a little more man, or Cover 3 or Cover 1, he could do that a really high level in the NFL.”

Florida State owned the No. 11-ranked passing defense in the FBS last season, with Jones and second-round 2024 NFL draft pick by San Francisco, cornerback Renardo Green, leading the unit. Prince and Green combined for four interceptions and 16 passed defended in 2023.

Galko views Jones and Prince as a similarly threatening pair in Jacksonville’s defense of the future.

“If you watch Jarrian Jones and Renardo Greene with each other, if it was a two-by-two set, that side of the field was shut down,” Galko said. “That can be Prince and Jarrian for the future.”