Ernest Jones 2021 NFL Draft Profile

After spending the entirety of his college career with South Carolina, linebacker Ernest Jones is hoping to continue his career in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jones is coming off of another strong season, recording 57 tackles with 24 assists on a combined 562 snaps. He only missed seven tackles on 274 run defense snaps.

Jones originally entered the college football ranks as a three-star recruit out of Ware County High School. The linebacker received plenty of interest from programs across the country, but eventually settled in as with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Jones hardly played as a true freshman, recording just 14 tackles and two assists on 97 total snaps.

Ernest Jones earned a starting spot as a Sophomore and officially put himself on the NFL radar. Playing in 755 snaps, the linebacker finished the 2019 campaign with 74 tackles with 25 assists while only missing 11 tackles. He also added two interceptions throughout the course of his career.

Strengths

Hard-hitting run-stopping force in the middle of the field;

Sound fundamentals and rarely misses a tackle;

Smart player that is able to diagnose blocking patterns and exploit them;

Takes the direct route to the football and rarely wastes steps;

Doesn’t overcommit and won’t allow big plays in the run game.

Weaknesses

Active liability against the pass and in open space;

Below-average speed, strength, and overall athleticism;

Surprisingly bad blitzer considering his strengths in the run game;

Lacks the speed to keep up with running backs in man and the anticipation to play zone;

Exclusively a run defender in an era where pass defense has never been more important.

Teams With Need at Position: Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders

Projection: 5^th/6^th Round

Bottom Line on Ernest Jones

Ernest Jones could be a pretty solid player if he entered the league in the 1990’s. The South Carolina running back is at his best in the heart of the defense, blowing up run plays and delivering ferocious blows. He has a gift for identifying blocking patterns to predict plays while keeping four-yard runs to two-run runs. He’s a sound tackler and rarely allows a big play due to misdiagnosing a read.

However, those skills just aren’t valuable in today’s NFL. The ideal defenders are those that can make plays in the passing game, and Ernest Jones simply does not fit that description. The South Carolina product is a below-average athlete and is absolutely lost when asked to drop back and cover. Some players can get away with below-average athleticism, but they are few and far between. Jones does not appear to be the exception to the rule, as his anticipation skills aren’t nearly enough to offset his natural lack of talent. There is still some use for a player like this in the NFL, but it’s only as depth and special teams.

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2021 NFL Draft: Ernest Jones Player Profile