NFL Draft Profile: Mikel Jones, Linebacker, Syracuse Orange
#3
Pos: LB
Ht: 5110
Wt: 223
Hand: 1000
Arm: 3268
Wing: 7838
40: 4.70
DOB: 10/11/2000
Hometown: Miami, FL
High School: IMG Academy
Eligibility: 2023
Mikel Jones
Syracuse Orange
One-Liner:
An inside linebacker with a powerful playstyle, Jones patrols the Syracuse defense as the ultimate traffic cop.
Evaluation:
An inside linebacker with a powerful play style, Jones patrols the middle of the Syracuse 3-3-5 defense as the ultimate traffic cop. He originally arrived to Syracuse as a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme and his attacking, fiery demeanor is very noticeable. Jones owns an athletic frame with nice bend and potential to add weight; he can get pushed around by the bigger, more imposing offensive blockers. A true nose for the ball, Jones has shown the propensity to create turnovers. He keeps his eyes up, shoulders square, head on a swivel and shuffles gap-to-gap before penetrating the backfield. He also does an excellent job disengaging from blocks and shedding offensive lineman on his way to the ball-carrier; a solid open-field tackler. Trusted by coaches to play ‘spy’ against athletic quarterbacks, Jones received high accolades for his game against Liberty in 2021, where he was assigned to shadow Malik Willis. While Jones isn’t a high-end athlete, he does possess adequate-to-marginal open field speed and change of direction. His pass coverage will need further development in the pros. Overall, Jones is a solid defender who handles all the responsibilities of the position with confidence and competitiveness. A very similar player and skill-set as current Philadelphia Eagles special teams ace Shaun Bradley coming out of Temple. Projects as a mid-late round selection.
Grade:
6th Round
Quotes:
“Jones, who ranked second in the ACC with 110 tackles last year, also paced Syracuse with 13 for loss.”
“What makes Mikel such a good leader is that he’s so personable with anybody. He can talk to a starter or a walk-on the same way, everybody’s going to get the same respect, and he’s such an easy guy to rally on. That’s why everybody on the team loves him.” – Syracuse Teammate Garrett Williams on Mikel Jones
Background:
A team captain and All-ACC First Team selection. In 46 career games, finished with 301 tackles (24 tackles for loss), nine and a half sacks, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries; had eight turnovers in 2020, including four interceptions. A consensus four-star recruit out of IMG Academy, Jones had SEC offers on the table but chose Syracuse. Son of Emma Griffin; has three brothers and one sister. Majored in psychology. Began playing football at the age of four with kids who were two years older than him.
