Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Get to know the Jaguars’ new additions from draft weekend with our ‘3 things to know’ series. With the 2024 NFL Draft in the books, it’s time to reflect on how the Jacksonville Jaguars fared. Did Trent Baalke deliver a masterclass, or has he just set the Jags back five years? Truth is, we probably won’t know that for some time. But we can get to know the newest members of the team a little bit better. In the first of a mini-series of deep dives, here are three things to know about Jarrian Jones, CB, Florida State: Two nicknames, three hometowns 
Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports Okay. Lets begin with the important stuff; some guys head into the league without a nickname at all, and earn a moniker once they make the NFL. Think ‘Joe Cool’ or ‘Matty Ice’ - neither Flacco nor Ryan had those swish nicknames before they got to Baltimore or Atlanta. But Jarrian Jones has decided to give his teammates a choice once he arrives at EverBank Stadium… According to the ever-reliable Wikipedia, the Jags’ third round pick’s full name is Jarrian ‘Jar-Jar’ Jones. Source? None provided. Whatsoever. In fact, scour the internet and you won’t find another mention of ‘Jar Jar’ in relation to the cornerback. Despite the lack of accreditation, I’m choosing to believe this may be an earlier nickname, perhaps from his days at Northwest Rankin High School in Mississippi or even as a freshman at Mississippi State. A four star safety, Jones chose Starkville as his first college home, just a couple of hours away from, well - wherever his hometown was? That’s right - whether you choose to believe his Bulldog, Seminole or 24/7 resume, Jones hails from three different Mississippi locations - all within an hour’s drive of each other. Choose from Brandon, Magee or Flowood - but whatever. Back to the nicknames; a more widespread sobriquet appears to be ‘J-Dubb’, which presumably plays on his initials being double J. The more pernickety amongst us might suggest it should be ‘Dubb-J’, but that doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. Pick-six artist Another playmaker in the secondary @JarrianJones | #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/Yo2pNdJebZ— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) May 1, 2024 Onto something a little more serious now. A versatile defensive back, Jones was actually listed as a safety as a college recruit, but spent most of his college career at cornerback. Heading to Tallahassee as a sophomore, Jones was moved around in the secondary, with plenty of time as the slot or nickel corner as the Seminoles established themselves as a powerhouse in college football once again. That flexibility alludes to his ability to make plays regardless of position - and Jones has a track record when it comes to flipping the field. As a senior at Florida State, Jones delivered his best season statistically, turning the ball over four times (three interceptions, one forced fumble which he recovered). The five picks in total matches the number he made at high school - but incredibly, four of the ten total interceptions were returned for touchdowns. FOUR! Converting 40% of your turnovers into six points is a pretty impressive feat… Jones is slated to back up Darnell Savage as the nickel corner on the depth chart, whilst also featuring heavily on special teams - a role in which he contributed at both State and FSU. If he can bring the sort of electric ball skills he demonstrated at college to the NFL, Jags fans will be very happy. Teething problems in Tallahassee 
James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports Jarrian Jones left Florida State as a legitimate star on defense, but it very nearly didn’t turn out that way. For starters, Jones almost didn’t head to Tallahassee - when he jumped in the transfer portal he actually first committed to Ole Miss, before changing his mind. But once he and fellow former Bulldog Fabian Lovett got to FSU, they found it very difficult to adapt to their new surroundings. Documented best in Ira Schoffel’s excellent piece for On3’s ‘Warchant’ in November, Jones was not prepared for the demands that head coach Mike Norvell and his staff put on him at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. In the weight room, in the classroom and on the field, Jones found the standards to be far higher than those back in Starkville. As Jones himself put it - he was ready to leave almost as soon as he got there: “Me and Coach [Norvell], we butted heads a lot. Every day. Like every day, there was something. Me and him would argue every day — whether it be on the field, whether it be off the field.” Eventually, Jones bought into the work ethic and culture benign created by Norvell and co, becoming one of the unsung heroes as the Seminoles were cruelly denied a place in the College Football Playoffs. Despite that setback, Jones finds himself staying in the state that he has called home for the last three years - and heads to a franchise where two of his idols once suited up. Lets hope J-Dubb’s Florida story can still have a happy ending! Source: https://www.bigcatcountry.com/2024/5/1/ ... rian-jones
