Overview
Position: Offensive tackle
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 310 pounds
School: Ohio State Buckeyes
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 5.50 seconds
Vertical jump: 24.0 inches
Broad jump: 8 feet, 6 inches
Three-cone drill: 8.32 seconds
Jamarco Jones 2018 NFL Draft Profile
Ohio State is a collegiate program which immediately comes to mind from the standpoint of producing NFL level talent. But they aren’t necessarily known for doing it at any one position on a consistent basis. It’s really just a broad-based phenomenon. In recent years, though, elite offensive linemen at the college level have emerged from Columbus and excelled in the pros. Pat Elflein is a good example, making an immediate impact on a Minnesota Vikings team that made it all the way to the NFC title game. Jamarco Jones is in position to follow in his and others’ footsteps.
A highly regarded consensus four-star prospect, Jones saw limited time as a true freshman during the Buckeyes’ championship season of 2014. It was more of the same a year later with Taylor Decker firmly entrenched as the starter at left tackle in both seasons. But when Decker moved on as part of a banner 2016 Ohio State draft class that saw him and four other Buckeyes go in the first round, it was Jones’ time to shine. He did just that, making 27 consecutive starts during his junior and senior seasons.
During his time as the starter, he played his part in enabling the Scarlet and Gray to dictate things at the line of scrimmage. In both years, the Buckeyes led the Big Ten and finished top 20 nationally in rushing yards. December 2017 was a pretty good month for Jones. Not only did he help the Buckeyes clinch the Big Ten title and win the Cotton Bowl in dominating fashion. He also graduated a semester early with a degree in family resource management.
Strengths
- creates leverage with strong base and knee bend;
- releases hips efficiently enabling him to uncoil power;
- solid burst when down blocking linebackers;
- does a good job staying square to his blocking target when kick sliding laterally;
- resets and shifts weight to maintain advantage;
- multi-tasker who can reach and seal on combo blocks then jump into second level;
- very rarely loses a battle with smaller linebackers blitzing from the perimeter.
Weaknesses
- pass rushers with good hand punch can jolt him onto his heels;
- shoulders get beyond his feet at times when run blocking leading to loss of balance;
- struggles anticipating whether defender will pursue inside or outside;
- plays too upright in pass protection;
- loses ability to contain against good change of direction edge rushers;
- can get grabby if he feels his target’s getting by him;
- too often tries to win with raw power rather than guiding rushers away from the quarterback.
NFL Comparison: Duane Brown
Teams With Need at Position: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles
Projection: Mid to late second round
Bottom Line
Jones embodies “what you see is what you get” when it comes to left tackles, which in his case is a good thing. He has all the makings of a capable pass protector able to keep his quarterback upright as he demonstrated during his two years as starter. But in order to do this effectively at the next level, he needs to improve his ability to anticipate and diagnose edge pressure. Because perimeter players with a wide array of moves to ward off blockers did give him trouble at times. But overall, there’s quite a bit to work with as it relates to Jones’ current skill set. For that reason, he should be able to compete for starter level reps as soon as he gets into a training camp.
