Tag: marcus jones

Twitter reacts to Patriots drafting Houston CB Marcus Jones

He’s one of the most versatile prospects in this draft class. He might even play in all three phases for the Patriots.

The New England Patriots made their final selection of Day 2 when they added Houston cornerback and return man Marcus Jones. While the Patriots were slated to have two third-round picks, New England elected to trade back with the Carolina Panthers, who then sent a 2023 third-rounder to the Patriots. That made Jones the only third-rounder for New England in 2022.

He is likely to work his way up the Patriots’ depth chart in 2022 as a cornerback, but may earn a starting role as a return man with nine touchdowns on punts and kickoffs during his college career. The versatile weapon drew a resoundingly positive response on Twitter.

Patriots draft Houston CB Marcus Jones in Round 3

The Patriots added a versatile cornerback and elite special-teams returner.

The New England Patriots selected Houston cornerback and returner Marcus Jones in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.

New England moved around the draft board in their first two picks, but sat tight with their first of two third-rounders and took Jones at 85th overall. He joins a draft class that includes Chattanooga guard Cole Strange (29th overall) and Baylor wideout Tyquan Thornton (50th overall).

Jones should contribute on Day 1 as a returner, where he scored nine touchdowns (six on kickoffs and three on punts) during his college career at both Troy and Houston. He may be undersized at 5-foot-8 but he was one of Pro Football Focus’ favorite prospects at corner. He received a 91.8 PFF grade since 2020 and a 87.8 PFF grade in 2021.

He did not participate in the combine nor Houston’s pro day after getting surgery on both shoulders. He will work his way up the team’s depth chart alongside Malcolm Butler, Jalen Mills, Jonathan Jones, Joejuan Williams, Shaun Wade and Myles Bryant, among others.

 

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Ravens use best player available strategy in latest full 2022 7-round mock draft

The Ravens use the best player available strategy in our latest seven-round mock draft

The Baltimore Ravens will have ample opportunities to add talent to their roster over 2022 draft weekend. They will start the festivities with 10 draft picks, including nine in the first four rounds. That makes for a treasure trove of selections, and plenty of options as to what they could do with them.

One of the strategies that Baltimore has employed over the course of their franchise history is selecting the best players available, regardless of need. Recent examples of this include cornerback Marlon Humphrey and running back J.K. Dobbins, both picks that have turned out extremely well for the franchise.

Below we look at a full Ravens 2022 seven-round mock draft where the team uses the best player available strategy.

SKOL Search: The ‘What I Would Do’ 7-round mock draft edition

If you like trades, you’ll love this.

We are just days away from the NFL Draft kicking off on a man-made island platform in the heart of Las Vegas.

The Vikings are in a unique position to project out. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell are each in their first year at their respective positions, and the only data we can go off of is that of their superiors. How they will build the team moving forward has been a fascinating talking point.

The only real data point I’m going off of is this: Adofo-Mensah will maximize the market. Coming from Wall Street and having spent the last eight years in the NFL, he has a good understanding of what the market will look like, and he will find ways to maximize and manipulate it.

This mock, however, won’t be done from the lens of what Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell might do. It’s coming from my perspective. How would I maximize the board and the Vikings draft class.

I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator for this exercise and believe this would go a long way in fixing the Vikings.

Cowboys NFL draft profile: Houston CB Marcus Jones is small but explosive

The diminutive corner plays big in the return game and has forced his share of turnovers. Tyler Browning (@DiabeticTyler) looks into whether it will play in the pros.

Let’s talk about another corner the Cowboys could have interest in. This time let’s keep it in Texas, and take a look at the University of Houston’s Marcus Jones. Jones was a prolific returner as well as a productive corner for the Cougars. Over his career he amassed nine career interceptions for 134 return yards and a score, as well as 31 pass deflections. That, combined with 73 kick returns for 2,075 yards and six touchdowns and 63 punt returns for 881 yards and three touchdowns make him a dynamic threat who can influence two of the game’s three phases.

His career accolades include 2020 Phil Steele All-America First Team (Punt Returner), 2020 FWAA All-America First Team (Punt Returner), 2020 PFF All-America Fourth Team (Cornerback), 2020 American Athletic All-Conference First Team (Return Specialist), and more.

He fills up the stat sheet, but barely fills out a uniform. Can he cut it in the pros? Let’s take a look at his film to find out.

Houston Cougars pro day offered the Lions a close look at several defensive prospects

The Lions, including Don Muhlbach, were on hand to check out Logan Hall, David Anenih and more

The Houston Cougars had a very impressive 2021 season. Coach Dana Holgersen’s Cougars finished 12-2, including a bowl win over Auburn. They did so thanks to several budding NFL draft prospects.

The Detroit Lions checked out those draft prospects at Houston’s pro day recently. Longtime long snapper turned special assistant Don Muhlbach and area scout Patrick Mularkey were on hand for the workouts. They got to see a few draft-worthy defensive prospects.

Logan Hall, EDGE – Hall emerged as a Day 2 prospect with a strong 2021, notching 6.5 sacks and 13.5 TFLs while playing tackle. At 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, he’s got the length and strength to fill the strongside DE role in coordinator Aaron Glenn’s new-look defense in Detroit. But Hall can also play inside and create problems for blockers in the run game. He’s fast off the snap and plays with violent hands and a kneecap-biting motor and intensity.

David Anenih, EDGE – Anenih is a long-limbed outside backer who tested very well (37.5″ vert, 4.66 40-yard dash at 254 pounds) and it shows on the field. He’s more of a 3-4 OLB than a fit for the Lions’ new 4-man front scheme, though Anenih’s style and physique closely compare with current Detroit defender Julian Okwara, though he’s more of an off-ball talent than Okwara. He’s generally projected as a Day 3 prospect

Deontay Anderson, S – A hybrid safety/linebacker, Anderson is a great athlete at 6-1 and 218 pounds. Anderson transferred from Ole Miss and didn’t have a great deal of production for the Cougars (28 tackles, 4 TFLs as a senior). He’s got some impressive athletic potential but is overaged (already 24) and doesn’t really have an easy NFL positional projection at his “tweener” size.

Marcus Jones, CB – Jones didn’t work out as he recovers from shoulder surgery. Just 5-foot-8, he projects as a Day 3 slot corner and return specialist. Houston used him on offense and returns aside from his five INTs and sticky coverage skills.

Damarion Williams, CB – Williams is a scheme-versatile JUCO transfer who can play as a slot corner or a third safety. He’s got ball skills and tackles in space well. Williams is a Day 3 or priority free agent prospect.

Chargers Scouting Report: Houston CB Marcus Jones

Putting Houston CB Marcus Jones under a microscope to see if he fits the Chargers.

Over the next month, we are going to be taking a look at a handful of draft prospects leading up to the 2022 NFL draft.

With the Chargers having needs at various positions, we will do our best to evaluate the players that we feel fit the team precisely.

Today, I take a look at Houston cornerback Marcus Jones.

Marcus Jones | Houston | #8 | Senior | Enterprise, AL | 5’8” | 174

40-yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Career: 2020 AAC First Team selection as a return specialist after leading the FBS in punt return yards (337). Spent two seasons at Troy before he landed with the Cougars via the transfer portal. Registered 153 tackles (5.0 for loss), nine interceptions, and 31 pass breakups across 44 games. Nine total return touchdowns (28.4 average on kick returns, 14.0 on punt returns).

Red Flags: None

Strengths: Elite speed to pace vertical threats. Express acceleration out of a brisk click and close. Trigger has a turbo-like jolt to it. Reliable tackler who generates an obscene amount of velocity headed into his hits. Contact is a lifestyle for him. Experience at outside corner, slot, and free safety. Desired scrap and feistiness to duel taller opponents. Best when he holds receivers on a tight leash. Finds the ball early in the tracking process and times leaps/catch point rips with impressive precision. Frequently communicates pre-snap observations across the defense. Versatile as a slippery returner whose credentials include a 100-yard game-winner.

Weaknesses: Below average size caps NFL ceiling. Short arms limit the effectiveness and accuracy of his press strikes. Will inevitably lose jump ball battles and be barricaded from the ball by beefier wideouts. Hands tend to get overly active late in the route in response to a loss of leverage. Easily dwarfed by blockers in the run game.

Final Word: An undersized cornerback who battled mismatches in every game he suited up for, Marcus Jones brings natural ball skills and electric speed to his on-field play. At cornerback, Jones is physical, hasty, and hellbent on maintaining his elbow room. However, his vision as a returner, top-end jets, and elusiveness is what will truly entice a handful of teams on Day 3.

Fit Likelihood: Low

Grade: 6th

Film Highlights:

 

 

Marcus Jones’ 100-yard kickoff return gives Houston victory over SMU

Marcus Jones with a 100-yard kickoff return for Houston to sink SMU

Houston had been victimized by a 100-yard kickoff return to open the second half of their game Saturday against SMU. The Cougars got one their own in the final minute as they handed the Mustangs their first defeat, 44-37.

SMU had tied the game on a 45-yard field goal and decided to kick deep to Marcus Jones, one of the nation’s best return men.

Jones, who already had an interception, took the ball and was off and running. One hundred yards later, he was in the end zone and the Cougars had a seven-point lead after the PAT with 17 seconds left.

The call on Houston radio:

The outcome remained in doubt because Brian Massey, who had the TD return of the second-half kickoff for SMU, grabbed the ensuing squib kick and returned it to the Houston 35.

The final play of the game, a pass, fell incomplete, and Houston had downed their in-state rivals in a thriller.