Ernest Jones (linebacker)

Ernest Jones (born November 22, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina.

This article is about the linebacker born 1999. For the defensive lineman born 1971, see Ernest Jones (defensive lineman). For other persons with similar names, see Ernest Jones (disambiguation).
Ernest Jones
No. 50 – Los Angeles Rams
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1999-11-22) November 22, 1999
Waycross, Georgia
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:Ware County High School
College:South Carolina
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 3 / Pick: 103
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:61
Sacks:1.0
Interceptions:2
Pass deflections:4
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early life and high school

Jones grew up in Waycross, Georgia and attended Ware County High School.[1] As a senior, he recorded 112 tackles with six tackles for loss, two sacks and three forced fumbles and was named first-team Class AAAAA.[2] Jones committed to play at South Carolina after considering offers from Georgia Tech and Duke.[3]

College career

Jones played in five games a freshman with 16 tackles and a forced a fumble.[4] He became a starter and led South Carolina with 97 tackles in his sophomore season.[5] Jones missed most of South Carolina's preseason training due to an appendectomy.[2] He led the team again as a junior with 86 tackles, five of which were for a loss.[6] At the end of the season, Jones declared that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2021 NFL draft.[7]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 1+1⁄2 in
(1.87 m)		 230 lb
(104 kg)		 33+3⁄8 in
(0.85 m)		 10+3⁄8 in
(0.26 m)		4.71 s1.63 s2.72 s4.38 s7.49 s38.5 in
(0.98 m)		10 ft 6 in
(3.20 m)		19 reps
All values from Pro Day[8][9][10]

Rams select Ernest Jones with No. 103 pick in 2021 draftJones was selected in the third round with the 103rd overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.[11] Jones signed his four-year rookie contract with the Rams on July 22, 2021.[12]

Jones entered his rookie season in 2021 as a backup inside linebacker behind Kenny Young and Troy Reeder. He was inserted into the starting lineup after the Rams traded Young prior to Week 8. In Week 14 Jones intercepted a pass from Kyler Murray in a 30-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals. He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 16 and was placed on injured reserve on December 28. He was activated on January 29, 2022 for the NFC Championship game. He finished the season with 61 tackles, one sack, four passes defensed, and two interceptions through 15 games and seven starts. In Super Bowl LVI, Jones recorded 7 tackles, 1 sack, and pass defended in the Rams 23-20 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals.

References
  1. Sinor, Wesley (February 24, 2017). "Auburn becomes immediate contender for LB Ernest Jones". AL.com. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  2. "Gamecocks' defensive leader looking 'to dominate' after appendicitis derailed his preseason". The Post and Courier. September 23, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  3. Kornblut, Phil (May 5, 2017). "Ernest Jones commits to Will Muschamp, South Carolina". The State. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  4. "South Carolina football: Ernest Jones could help in 2019". The State. January 17, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  5. "CAROLINA FOOTBALL: 'This is my defense,' Ernest Jones says". The Times and Democrat. May 19, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  6. Boynton, Eric (April 13, 2021). "Former South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones gaining steam in NFL draft process". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  7. "South Carolina linebacker Ernest Jones declares for NFL". Associated Press. December 8, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  8. "Ernest Jones Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  9. "Ernest Jones, South Carolina, ILB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  10. "Rams select Ernest Jones with No. 103 pick in 2021 draft". NFL.com. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  11. Jackson, Stu (April 30, 2021). "Rams select ILB Ernest Jones with 103rd pick in 2021 NFL Draft". TheRams.com.
  12. "NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/22/21".
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