Greg Jones, ILB

After originally committing to Minnesota, Jones decided to go to East Lansing because of the Spartans' more recent success and a shorter drive for his parents to attend games from their home in Cincinnati. The Spartans enjoyed having the relatively unheralded Ohio product in their defensive huddle -- as a player and leader -- since he arrived on campus.

Several outlets named Jones a freshman All-American. He led the team in tackles with seven starts in 13 games from the strong-side linebacker spot. He also led Big Ten freshmen in that category with 78, accumulating 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. The league's coaches awarded him first-team all-conference honors as a sophomore when he made 127 tackles (80 solo), 14 for loss and two sacks while starting at both SAM (eight games) and MIKE (five). In 2009, Jones was a consensus All-American and named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year by the league media with 154 tackles (67 solo), 13.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks. This fall he again earned All-American and first-team all-conference honors in 2010 with 106 tackles, 10 for loss, a sack, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles.

Despite the impressive production, Jones doesn't wow scouts with his size or strength inside. His leadership and speed in the middle might help some NFL teams overlook his lack of height and slight frame (especially those employing a Tampa-2 system). He is a likely starter in whatever defensive system he is asked to play, though some teams might choose to move him back outside with the hope he could flow to the ball and be a factor in coverage at the next level.

Read & React: Very instinctual player, which helps him play the middle with an average-sized frame. Might take a false step on bootlegs and misdirection but reacts and accelerates quickly enough to prevent big plays. Sees the ball well inside and linemen must get more than a hand on him to negate his playmaking ability because of this suddenness.

Run defense: A bit smaller than teams prefer as an in-the-box presence, yet very effective as a run defender. Flows to the ball and reads his keys well, at times moving towards the play side before the snap. Picks his way through traffic on most plays but gets caught up in trash and engulfed by offensive linemen at times due to his small frame. Plays with leverage, however, against blocks to hold his ground or bounce off to chase plays down the field. Stays low to the ground to defeat cut blocks with his hands. Also uses his hands or a swim move to avoid approaching linemen, albeit consistently. Is a bit aggressive in his angles; quicker backs can beat him to the corner on occasion.

Pass defense: Fluid defending the pass in space with the hip flip and athleticism to stay with running backs out of the backfield. Keeps athletic position when greeting backs in the hole, reads and reacts quickly to out routes or square-ins. Will take a step in on play action and overrun routes, but recovers well enough to make a play on the ball. Faces match-up problems against taller, stronger tight ends over the middle.

Tackling: Excellent pursuit tackler. Excels as a drag-down tackler in traffic or in space, but can be explosive as well when lined up. Goes sideline-to-sideline, giving great effort to chase down fast ballcarriers in order to prevent touchdowns. A bit undersized to stop larger running backs and tight ends in their tracks, but plays with a low center of gravity to hold them up until help arrives. Typically flows well to the ball but will overrun plays occasionally because of his aggressive style. Inconsistent getting off linemen blocks inside but defeats those from most tight ends on the edge. Could be an exceptional special teams coverage unit performer.

Pass Rush/Blitz: Effective blitzer because of his ability to anticipate the snap count, read gaps and explode through them. Uses hands to defeat pulling guards and fullbacks in the hole. Plays with leverage, gets under the shoulder of guards to beat them inside when the space is available. Has speed to turn the corner when blitzing from outside. Hustles to the ball. Good change-of-direction agility to track down mobile quarterbacks in the pocket or chase them down outside of it. His lack of size allows linemen to latch on if they get a hand on him, though he still sometimes manages to get a hand on backs coming through the vacated hole while engaged.

Intangibles: Considered the team's greatest playmaker and leader on defense, as well as a solid young man. Voted co-captain by coaches and teammates. Gives full effort in weight room and on the practice field. Mentors and commands respect from younger players. Durable performer who hasn't missed a game in four years despite mixing it up in the box for half of those games.

--Chad Reuter

First Spartan to earn back-to-back consensus first-team All-America honors (2009-10) since Bubba Smith and George Webster in 1965-66 . . . only the fourth two-time consensus first-team All-American in program history (Smith, Webster, Lorenzo White: 1985 and 1987) . . . one of only two Spartans to earn first-team AP All-American honors twice (Webster) . . . just the seventh Spartan to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors three times . . . ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles for loss (second with 46.5), tackles (third with 465) and sacks (tied for sixth with 16.5) . . . led the team or tied for team lead in tackles in 31 of his last 39 games . . . started 46 of 52 career games, including 40 consecutive starts . . . produced double-figure tackle games 20 times in his career . . . led the team in tackles four straight years, becoming only the second Spartan to accomplish that feat.

One of 10 players in the nation to earn unanimous first-team All-American honors (The Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, Football Writers Association of American and the Sporting News) . . . was the only repeat selection from the 2009 team to the 2010 AFCA and AP All-America Teams . . . also garnered first-team All-America accolades by SI.com, Phil Steele, CBSSports.com and Scout.com . . . named to the All-Big Ten first team for the third straight year . . . earned the Governor's Award (Team MVP) . . . led the team and ranked seventh in the Big Ten in tackles (8.2 pg; 106 total) . . . tied for team lead team with 10.0 tackles for loss (20 yards) . . . tied for second in Big Ten with three forced fumbles . . . named one of 16 semifinalists for the Bednarik Award, one of 15 semifinalists for the Butkus Award and one of 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award . . . also named one of 23 quarterfinalists for the Lott Trophy, which is awarded to college football's Defensive IMPACT Player of the Year . . . in his final collegiate game, led team with two tackles for loss (2 yards) and tied for team lead with eight tackles in the 2011 Capital One Bowl against Alabama.

Playing in his last game at Spartan Stadium on Senior Day, compiled eight tackles and a pass break-up in comeback win over Purdue; named Spartan Defensive Player of the Week for his effort against the Boilermakers . . . recorded nine tackles for the third straight game, including 2.5 for losses (3 yards), against Minnesota . . . tied for team lead with nine tackles at Northwestern and at No. 18 Iowa . . . named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and also the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording a season-high 14 tackles and a pass break-up against Illinois . . . tallied five tackles in victory at No. 18 Michigan . . . recorded three tackles for loss (7 yards) and tied for team lead with eight tackles in win over No. 11 Wisconsin; named Spartan Defensive Player of the Week and also honorable mention National Linebacker of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards for his effort against the Badgers . . . named Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Week after recording two interceptions, the first of his career, along with four tackles and a forced fumble against Northern Colorado.

Recorded nine tackles, including a 6-yard sack, in overtime win vs. Notre Dame . . . tied for team lead with 11 tackles vs. Florida Atlantic at Ford Field; in addition, forced a fumble and collected a 2-yard tackle for loss . . . led team with nine tackles in season opener against Western Michigan; also forced a fumble and recorded a pass break-up . . . named the 2010 Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year . . . entering the season, was named the top player in the nation by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . described by Spartan defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi as "a tackling machine who is the heart and soul of the Michigan State defensive unit" . . . MSU linebackers coach Mike Tressel says: "Greg Jones is passionate about the game, and when he's on the field, nothing is going to stop him from getting to the football."

Consensus All-American ranked first in the Big Ten and third in the nation with 154 tackles (11.8 avg.) . . . ranked fifth in the Big Ten and tied for 30th in the nation with nine sacks (53 yards) . . . also ranked 10th in the conference and tied for 51st in the FBS with a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss (68 yards) . . . his 154 tackles were the seventh-highest single-season total in MSU history . . . earned first-team All-America honors by the American Football Coaches Association, The Associated Press, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), CBSSports.com, CollegeFootballNews.com, ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Phil Steele . . . ranked the top player in the Big Ten and the top linebacker in the nation by CollegeFootballNews.com . . . recipient of the Linebacker Trophy (National Linebacker of the Year) by the College Football Performance Awards, which is selected exclusively based upon objective scientific rankings of the extent to which individual players increase the overall effectiveness of their teams. . . . second-team Walter Camp All-American and third-team Sporting News All-American.

First Spartan to be named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (media) and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and the media . . . it marked the second straight year he has been named first-team All-Big Ten by the coaches . . . garnered Big Ten Defensive MVP accolades by Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com . . . named one of four team captains in a vote by his teammates and coaches . . . has appeared in 39 career games, including 33 starts . . . tied for a team high with 27 consecutive starts along with Eric Gordon . . . currently ranks tied for eighth all-time at MSU with 359 career tackles . . . enters the 2010 season ranked second among active FBS leaders in tackles per game (9.2) and tackles (359) . . . recorded double-figures in tackles in nine of 13 games in 2009 and 16 of his last 20 games overall . . . has 18 career double-figure tackle games . . . his 36.5 career tackles for loss (140 yards) are fifth in the MSU record books and his 15.5 sacks (93 yards) are tied for sixth . . . has led the team or tied for the team lead in tackles in 23 of the last 26 games . . . described by Spartan linebackers coach Mike Tressel as "an instinctive player with a great motor" and "a relentless competitor who never gives up on a play" . . . was one of 16 semifinalists for the Butkus (top linebacker) and Bednarik Awards (top defensive player) . . . also one of 20 quarterfinalists for the Lott Trophy (defensive impact player of the year) . . . recorded 13 tackles against Texas Tech, one shy of the Valero Alamo Bowl record . . . tied a career-high 15 tackles vs. Penn State, including 2.5 tackles for loss (11 yards) and 1.5 sacks (6 yards) . . . tallied nine tackles at Purdue . . . recorded 1.5 sacks (13 yards), a forced fumble, and eight tackles overall vs. Western Michigan.

Racked up 12 tackles, including a 2-yard sack, at Minnesota . . . led team team with 12 tackles against Iowa . . . tied for the team lead with 14 tackles, including a career-high two sacks (9 yards), vs. Northwestern . . . led team with 11 tackles at Illinois, including a 6-yard sack and two quarterback hurries . . . outstanding all-around game in win over Michigan, collecting eight tackles, including a half sack for 6 yards, while returning a fumble 15 yards in the fourth quarter . . . recorded 14 tackles and a quarterback hurry at Wisconsin . . . saw his streak of nine consecutive games with double-digit tackles come to an end at Notre Dame, as he compiled nine tackles against the Irish . . . it was the longest streak of consecutive games with double-digit tackles by a Spartan since Chuck Bullough accomplished the feat 15 games in a row in 1990-91 . . . tied his career high with 15 tackles vs. Central Michigan, including 1.5 for losses (3 yards) . . . registered 14 tackles in the season opener against Montana State with 2.5 for losses (16 yards) and 1.5 sacks (11) . . . named to preseason watch lists for three national awards: Butkus Award, Lombardi Award (lineman of the year) and the Nagurski Trophy (defensive player of the year) . . . named Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year . . . rated as the Big Ten's "hardest hitter" by the Sporting News.

First-team All-Big Ten selection by the league's head coaches and second-team pick by the media . . . first Spartan linebacker to earn All-Big Ten first-team honors since Josh Thornhill in 2001 . . . named to CollegeFootballNews.com's All-Sophomore Team (first team) . . . presented MSU's Outstanding Underclass Back Award . . . started all 13 games (eight at SAM linebacker and five at middle linebacker) . . . led the team in tackles for the second straight season with 127 (80 solos, 47 assists) . . . his 127 tackles were the most by a Spartan since Thornhill had 128 in 2001 and tied for 18th most on MSU's single-season chart . . . led the team in tackles in 11 of 13 games, becoming the first Spartan to record 100 tackles in a season since Eric Smith (101) in 2005 . . . ranked third in the Big Ten and 17th nationally in tackles, averaging 9.8 per game . . . led the Big Ten in tackles (89) in conference games, averaging 11.1 per game . . . also led the Spartans in tackles for loss (14 for 38 yards) and production points (299).

Produced double-figure tackles in each of the last seven games, becoming the first Spartan to record double-digit tackles in seven straight games since Thomas Wright in 2002 . . . posted double-figure tackles against Northwestern (11), Ohio State (13), Michigan (10), Wisconsin (13), Purdue (12), Penn State (career high 15) and Georgia (12) . . . set career highs for tackles, tackles for loss (3.5 for 9 yards) and production points (47) against the Nittany Lions . . . selected Spartan Defensive Player of the Week vs. Ohio State and Wisconsin . . . compiled 35 production points against the 12th-ranked Buckeyes, including 2.5 tackles for loss (8 yards) . . . recorded 27 tackles in two career games against Ohio State . . . made nine solo stops at Indiana . . . totaled nine tackles vs. Notre Dame, including one for a loss . . . had a team-best eight tackles in season opener at California, including two for losses (6 yards).

Named first-team Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News, CollegeFootballNews.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com . . . led the team with 78 tackles in 2007, becoming the first true freshman to lead the Spartans in tackles since Dan Bass made 111 stops in 1976 . . . also ranked first among Big Ten freshmen with 78 stops, including 40 solos and 38 assists . . . ranked third on the team in sacks (4.5 for 25 yards) and fourth in tackles for loss (8.5 for 33) . . . appeared in all 13 games, including seven starts at SAM linebacker . . . averaged 7.3 tackles per game as a starter . . . also averaged a team-leading 6.5 tackles per game in Big Ten play . . . led the Spartan special teams in tackles with 12 - all coming on kickoff coverage . . . tied for team lead with five tackles against Boston College in the Champs Sports Bowl, including a 10-yard sack of Eagle quarterback Matt Ryan that resulted in a forced fumble . . . recorded double-figure tackles in back-to-back games against top-ranked Ohio State (season-high 14 stops) and Iowa (11) . . . in his first career start, collected eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for losses vs. Northwestern . . . registered five tackles vs. Pittsburgh, with two resulting in losses (6 yards) including a 3-yard sack . . . compiled six tackles vs. Bowling Green . . . made seven stops in his collegiate debut vs. UAB, including a 6-yard sack.

Rated among the country's top strong-side linebackers by Scouts.com (No. 24) . . . ranked among the nation's top outside linebackers by Rivals.com (No. 36) . . . also listed among the country's top defensive ends by Scouts, Inc. (No. 97) . . . named to PrepStar's All-Midwest Team . . . rated among Ohio's top 50 seniors by Rivals.com (No. 16) and Scout.com (No. 26) . . . earned special mention on the all-state team in 2006 . . . first-team all-district and all-city pick as a senior . . . two-time All-Greater Catholic League selection for Coach Bob Crable at Archbishop Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio . . . led the Crusaders in tackles as a senior, with 53 (35 solos, 36 assists). . . recorded 23 tackles for losses (110 yards) in 2006, including 11.5 sacks (78) . . . posted a career-best five sacks vs. Elder . . . also produced five tackles for losses vs. LaSalle . . . finished fourth on the team in tackles as a junior, with 42 (29 solos, 26 assists) . . . registered 13 tackles for losses (44 yards) in 2005, including three sacks (16) . . .

Son of Greg and Beverly Jones . . . born Oct. 5, 1988 . . . majoring in engineering.