UConn CB Byron Jones Displays First-Round Athleticism

The world-record holder in the broad jump could be an option for the Packers at the end of the first round of the NFL Draft.

UConn cornerback Byron Jones—Glenn Andrews, USA TODAY Sports.

UConn cornerback Byron Jones—Glenn Andrews, USA TODAY Sports.

Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones has become a household name in NFL circles after turning in not just the top broad jump at the Combine but what would appear to be a world record for the discipline.

Jones leaped 147 inches from a standing start back in February, a display of explosiveness that was both eye-popping and jaw-dropping at the same time.

There's little doubt that Jones has first-round athleticism, which could very well pique the interest of the Green Bay Packers, a team with a need for depth at the cornerback position that also owns the 30th overall pick in the draft.

The UConn product wasn't always a highly-touted football player, however. Entering college, he didn't even get that much attention from big-time programs.

"It was really my only official offer," said Jones at the Combine. "I went to a camp there. I honestly wasn't a great high school football player, but I had athleticism. And when I went to the football camp, I paid attention to detail. I showed the coaches what they wanted to see, and they actually offered me the day of the camp. It came out of nowhere."

To follow the arc of Jones' life in football dating back to those high school days is to see how much potential he has.

Maybe Jones didn't get much attention from colleges because he was playing out of position. He was a high school quarterback, and admitting as much, he didn't have much of a future at the position, so he attended the UConn football camp to give wide receiver a shot.

"I was just learning receiver, because I played quarterback my entire career pretty much," said Jones. "I go there just to learn some receiver, and then I got a scholarship."

The wide receiver experiment didn't last long. Upon arriving on campus in Storrs, Conn., Jones was turned into a safety, where he spent the first two years of his college career. As a sophomore, he made 87 tackles, but his playmaking ability wasn't being put to use. In 12 games, Jones had just one interception.

It wasn't until Jones' junior season that he made the transition to cornerback, a move that paid dividends. The tackles went down, but his impact on the game went up when Jones grabbed a career-high three interceptions and broke up eight passes.

Entering his senior season, things were looking up for Jones. That was until injury struck. He may have played in seven games before being shut down, but the injury actually occurred before the season even started.

"It was a labrum tear in camp, about mid-August," said Jones. "I tried to play as long as I could with it, rehabbing twice a day as long as I could. It kept coming out, and then the final game it came out twice, where they actually had to put it back it, so they called it after that."

The shoulder injury put a damper on Jones' NFL Draft preparations, but he knew there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't think about the impact his injury might impact some scout's evaluation of him. Jones kept his focus on the things he could control like the rehab and healing process.

It paid off. Three weeks prior to Combine, Jones began running again. His original plan was not to take part in any of the physical drills at Lucas Oil Stadium at all. But he felt good and decided to give it a shot.

"I'm hoping ... I can solidify a nice mid-round projection," said Jones the day before his workout.

The first round may or may not be in Jones' future, but it's safe to say the 6' 1", 199-pound cornerback likely secured a Day 2 selection in a worst-case scenario.

It wasn't just the broad jump at the Combine, either. Jones also turned in Top 5 performances in the vertical jump, three-cone drill and both the short and long shuttles among players at his position.

Jones didn't take part in the 40-yard dash at the Combine because of the torn labrum, not wanting suffer a setback while driving his arms back and forth like pistons. He didn't do the bench press, either. Those were just about the only missing piece of the puzzle.

Any concerns about Jones' speed should have been quelled on Tuesday at his pro day when he turned in times of 4.45 and 4.40 seconds, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com. He also tossed in 18 reps on the bench press for good measure.

When taking into account Jones' athleticism with the fact that he didn't play cornerback until his junior season and didn't focus on the defensive side of the football until he reached college, this is a player with a high ceiling that is still peaking as long as he can remain healthy.

At UConn, Jones was also a team captain, leaving litte to worry in the way of off-field concerns.

"I think it comes from my parents, my dad, my mom," said Jones. "They've been married for 31 years, I think. But I have three older brothers too, so they've been great role models. They're all doing extremely well. So for me, it was very easy to fall into this position because they shaped and molded me."

Jones might have been considered a mid-round draft pick by many just a few weeks ago, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he comes off the board in the first round, perhaps has high as the 30th pick.

 

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

NFL Categories: 
0 points
 

Comments (7)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
TKWorldWide's picture

April 01, 2015 at 12:53 pm

Can he cover?

0 points
0
0
Packer_Pete's picture

April 01, 2015 at 02:33 pm

a superb athlete. but whether he can actually play football remains to be seen.

0 points
0
0
EdsLaces's picture

April 01, 2015 at 02:51 pm

Man this kids a freak.

0 points
0
0
NewNikeShoes's picture

April 01, 2015 at 03:33 pm

Hella athletic, but nothing else.
wouldn't draft him above 4th.
Athleticism alone does not warrant a high pick.

0 points
0
0
Zola Davis's picture

April 02, 2015 at 01:32 pm

Seems like this guy might be IR designate for return and let him learn and hone his trade the first year. Then jump in the second year like Shields did. Obviously conjecture, but 6'1" and phenomenal quickness will definately draw interest. He would need a good postion coach.

0 points
0
0
TKWorldWide's picture

April 04, 2015 at 10:14 am

"A good position coach" like GB has with Joe Whitt, possibly?

0 points
0
0
cpheph1's picture

April 07, 2015 at 01:06 pm

If I'm Ted, I'm hoping to draft CB at #30. Also might need to draft 3 CBs...certainly need three.

LB is obviously a need. I'm pulling for Hubbard to make the 53 man. I'm a big fan of using 3 OLB type players most of the time. CM3, Peppers, Neal/Perry and Barrington at MLB. Maybe Elliott makes the jump...

Maybe Ted trades...IDK. I'm a big fan of Ted so I'm good with whatever he does.

I'm Optimistic for 2015.

0 points
0
0