NFL Draft Profile: Marcus Jones, Cornerback, Houston Cougars

NFL draft profile scouting report for Houston Cornerback, Marcus Jones

Author:
The NFL Draft Bible
Updated:
Mar 8, 2022 3:52 PM EST
Original:
Jan 5, 2022

In this story:

Houston Cougars

#8
Pos: CB
Ht: 5080
Wt: 174
Hands: 0878
Arms: 2878

DOB:
Eligibility: 2022
Enterprise, AL
Enterprise High School

Marcus Jones Houston Cougars

One-Liner:

Small nickel with great speed and explosiveness. Jones is dynamic in coverage and as a returner.

Pros:

Cornerback who has experience on the outside and in the slot. Jones possesses great speed which he trusts to carry verticals and chase down ball carriers. His foot speed and short area explosiveness are outstanding. In coverage, he has great mirroring skills in off coverage and soft press, always being in position to make plays. His spacing in off coverage is consistently favorable. Jones undercuts routes, using his instincts and athleticism to make plays on the ball. He takes efficient angles to the ball carrier in run support. A pre and post snap communicator, Jones is on the same page with his teammates. He is a two cut punt returner who uses his elusiveness to make opponents miss and speed to take it the distance. Jones is also dangerous on kick returns.

Cons:

A lack of size severely limits Jones in many areas of his game. Due to poor strength he is unable to redirect receivers in press or when trying to bump them. His short arms are apparent as he is often beat out at the catch point. Jones tackles low with his shoulder, rarely wrapping up and missing because of it. Ball carriers are able to absorb him and stay on their feet consistently. Once blockers engage with him, he is unable to shed. An eagerness to make plays on the ball in intermediate areas can cause him to look too early and be out of position. Jones has shown a tendency for getting grabby against fellow speedsters. He often fails to look for the football even if he is in position downfield.

Summary:

Small nickel cornerback with great speed and explosiveness. Jones possesses great mirroring skills and is aggressively making plays on the football. He is a poor tackler who lacks physicality and length. As a kick and punt returner he is dangerous, making opponents miss and having the speed to take it the distance. Jones projects as a return specialist who can be a starting nickel if he improves his tackling. His coverage ability will allow him to match up with dynamic route runners.

Background:

Marcus Jones is one of the most electric and versatile college players out there. The 2021 Consensus All-American has been dominant as a kick returner, punt returner and cornerback for both Houston and Troy in his college career. In 2021 he totaled five touchdowns, one receiving touchdown, two kick return touchdowns and two punt return touchdowns. He also had five interceptions as a corner and over 100 yards receiving as a receiver for Houston.

In 2020, Jones earned first-team All-America honors from the FWAA, Phil Steele Magazine and CBS/247Sports as a punt returner. He also was a fourth-team All-American by Pro Football Focus as a cornerback. He was named to The American's All-Conference First Team as a return specialist. Jones led the FBS and The American in punt return average (19.8) on 17 returns for 337 yards and one touchdown. He also led the FBS in punt return yards (337) and ranked fourth in Houston single-season history in punt return yards and punt return average. Jones was the only player in the FBS to have two games with at least 100 punt return yards and even made seven starts at cornerback, finishing with 24 tackles (18 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception and five pass breakups. Jones recorded five kickoff returns for 102 yards (20.4 average).

Before getting to Houston, Jones became Troy’s second All-American since moving to the FBS level as a true freshman in 2018 when named to Phil Steele’s All-America Third Team as a kick returner. He was also named to the ESPN and FWAA Freshman All-America Teams. Jones was named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year and named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team as both a return specialist and an all-purpose player in 2017. Jones set the Troy single-season record and tied the Troy career record with three kickoff returns touchdowns. He tied the NCAA record with two kick return touchdowns in a game against Coastal Carolina and added a 99-yard return for a touchdown in Troy’s Sun Belt title-clinching win at Arkansas State. He returned 29 kicks for 879 yards. His 30.31 average ranks as the third-best in Troy’s single-season history and he even returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown vs. Arkansas State; longest interception return and just the fourth 100-yard play in Troy’s FBS history. Jones picked off a fourth-quarter pass and recorded a career-high eight tackles in Troy’s win at No. 22 LSU, which snapped the Tigers’ 49-game non-conference home winning streak. He finished fifth on the team with 49 tackles (34 solo), two tackles for loss and six pass break ups. Jones returned 14 punts for 115 yards and tied for first in the Sun Belt and second nationally with three 90-plus yard all-purpose plays. Jones had four all-purpose plays of 80-plus yards ranked fourth nationally and was named All-Sun Belt First Team as a return specialist and Second Team as a defensive back as a sophomore in 2018. He was second in the Sun Belt averaging 25.6 yards per kickoff return, including a 96-yard return for a touchdown against Coastal Carolina. Jones allowed a catch against him on just 52.8 percent of targets against him (19-of-36). He broke up nine passes with a season-high three in the opener against Boise State.

Out of High School, Jones was a three-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals and named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association 7A All-State First Team as a senior. Jones helped lead Enterprise to an 11-2 record and a berth in the second round of the Alabama 7A Playoffs and was named to the AL.com Super All-State Team following senior season. He recorded 27 tackles and five interceptions, also returned three punts for a touchdown and one kickoff for a touchdown and added a receiving touchdown and fumble return for a touchdown. As a junior, he recorded 50 tackles, three interceptions, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and eight pass break ups; returned one interception for a touchdown and also played basketball for the Wildcats.