One of the best kept secrets in the collegiate ranks, this former track and basketball star was a late bloomer on the football field. He did not begin playing organized football until his junior year in high school, and actually began his college career on a track scholarship at Southeastern Louisiana before transferring to Lane College in 2003.

Because of his commitment to the other two sports, Jones missed considerable offseason experience with the football team. He decided to concentrate strictly on improving his receiving skills and improving his strength before the 2006 season. The progress he made was evident. He increased his bulk by close to 20 pounds while maintaining that blazing speed that made him a kickoff return threat as a junior.

Jones would go on to earn All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors at three different positions (receiver, punt returner, kickoff returner), in addition to picking up SIAC MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors during his final season. The All-American pick ranked fifth in the nation in all-purpose yardage and became the first SIAC player to lead the league in five different categories in the same season (all-purpose, kickoff returns, punt returns, receptions, yards receiving).

At Marion Abramson High School, Jones excelled in track as a sprinter, earning all-area and all-parrish honors. He was a receiver and defensive back his final two seasons on the football team and also excelled in basketball.

He attended Southeastern Louisiana in 2002 on a track scholarship, but decided the following year that he wanted to try his hand at football. He enrolled at Lane College, where he was thrust into the lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2003. He went on to catch 36 passes for 677 yards (18.8 average) and seven touchdowns.

In 2004, Jones split his time at Lane College, lettering in track and football while also appearing briefly in one game with the basketball team. He clocked personal bests of 10.28-seconds in the 100 meters and 21.3 in the 200 meters. On the football field, he led the team with 46 grabs for 664 yards (14.4 avg.) and five touchdowns, adding 158 yards on 11 kickoff returns (14.4 avg.) and 45 yards on seven punt returns. He also excelled on special teams, where he registered four solo tackles and blocked three kicks to earn All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference second-team honors.

Jones continued to play all three sports in 2005. He was a first-team All-SIAC choice as he ranked 12th in the nation with an average of 175.3 all-purpose yards per game. He again led the team with 50 receptions for 587 yards (11.7 avg.) and three touchdowns, picking up 62 more yards on nine carries (6.9 avg.). He threw a 65-yard pass for a score, set school and SIAC records with 931 yards and two touchdowns on 42 kickoff returns and averaged 9.6 yards on 18 punt returns to finish with 1,753 all-purpose yards. He also made one solo tackle and returned a fumble recovery 45 yards.

After the football season, he joined the 2005-06 basketball team, starting 16 of 28 games. He averaged 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, adding 25 steals, four blocked shots and 14 assists. After the basketball season ended, he joined the outdoor track team, where he competed in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, finishing sixth at the SIAC Finals with a 10.89 clocking in the 100 meters.

Football became Jones' sole priority over the summer, and he showed up for August camp sporting close to 20 more pounds of muscle. He was the SIAC MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 2006, leading the league with 68 catches for 822 yards (12.1 avg.) and six touchdowns. He averaged 22.3 yards with two scores on 38 kickoff returns and 13.8 yards with a touchdown on 24 punt returns. He added 89 yards and a score on nine carries (9.9 avg.) and even saw action on defense, making two tackles and assisting on a sack while amassing 2,089 all-purpose yards.

Jones started all 43 games that he appeared in at Lane. He caught 200 passes for 2,750 yards (13.8 avg.) and 21 touchdowns while rushing 22 times for 147 yards (6.7 avg.) and a score. He returned 49 punts for 548 yards (11.2 avg.) and a touchdown, adding four scores on 91 kickoff returns for 1,937 yards (21.3 avg.). He also completed all three pass attempts for 105 yards and a touchdown, recorded seven tackles (six solos) with an assisted sack for minus-8 yards and blocked three kicks. He finished his career with a school-record 5,380 all-purpose yards.

Positives: Worked hard before the 2006 season to add needed bulk to his frame, putting on an additional 17 pounds without it affecting his overall quickness … Has exceptionally long arms and excellent leaping ability to consistently win jump-ball battles … Has a tight waist, good hip snap, well-developed thighs and calves … Spent considerable time in the coaches' office before the 2006 season reviewing game film and working on his route running technique, showing much better ability to get off the line of scrimmage as a senior than he did in the past … Long strider who has that angular, sprinter's burst, but it is a rapid stride with quick feet and excellent change-of-direction agility … Elusive runner after the catch who shows good effort to compete for the ball in a crowd (was much more physical attacking the ball in 2006 than in previous seasons) … Has improved his strength needed to break tackles and flashes explosive game speed … Is sometimes late off the snap, but it is more a timing rather than a speed issue, as he has the ability to explode out of his stance, but must be conscious of the pre-snap … Uses his long reach and hand punch to defeat the jam and also has the quickness and burst to force defensive backs to come out of their backpedal too early … Runs crisp routes, keeping his pad level down to square in his patterns and has the spin moves needed to turn around and frustrate his coverage assignment … Has the feet and plant-and-drive agility to separate instantly on his cuts … Runs posts and slants well and understands stems, sticks and level, but still needs to work on showing more consistency in transition … Quick to locate the soft areas on the field to sit down in and finds seams and avoids defenders well in the open … Showed improvement in adjusting on the quarterback scramble and has the second gear needed to elude after the catch … Separates out of his breaks cleanly and can run past his opponent on deep routes (must improve transition cuts, though) … When he keeps his pads down and head on a swivel, he can turn on the afterburners to turn a short pass into a big gain … Has very small hands that could be a concern, but knows how to extend and catch outside the framework … Learned how to set up his moves and ride up on the defender better in attempts to separate during 2006 … Alert to the quarterback scramble and works back to the ball quickly … Times his leaps well to go after jump balls and has the body control needed along with the slide to catch the ball in his frame … Has improved his strength to the point that he can consistently run through arm tackles, showing the savvy moves needed to elude … Willing blocker who still needs technique refinement, but gives effort and knows how to use his frame to shield defenders from the ball … Must be more patient waiting for blocks to develop, but has that explosive straight-line burst to consistently be a threat on returns … Has also proven to be a capable kick blocker … His field awareness and vision greatly improved in 2006, as he had only four passes deflected by the opposition, compared to 25 the previous season.

Negatives: Has improved his overall strength, but needs to develop a stronger hand punch, as he tends to get good placement, but lacks power when trying to punch and lock out the defender as a blocker … Will compete for the ball in a crowd, but could be much tougher working his way to the ball … Has excellent quickness, but sometimes takes a rolling start off the snap, making him late to get into his route progression … Needs to improve his ball concentration when working in close quarters, as he tends to hear the defender's feet and the result is he will not always come down with the ball … Has very small hands, but worked hard to use his long arms and utilizes a finger-grab technique to secure the ball (lets the ball into his fingers rather than the palm of his hand) … Shows good urgency to separate on short routes, but sometimes gets turned trying to look the ball in over his outside shoulder on deep throws … Needs to maintain position and shoot his hands quicker when asked to block along the line … His small hands and lapse in concentration have led to several costly fumbles in recent years (eight of nine fumbles recovered by the opposition) and he needs to secure the ball better before turning up field.

Compares To: Kassim Osgood, San Diego Chargers … Much like the Chargers' special teams standout, Jones will need time to develop at the next level, but there is no question that the athletic talent is there … Even though he played vs. lesser competition, he continued to show progress throughout his career … He has only five years of football experience, so he will need time to grasp the playbook, but in the interim, he can bring instant value as a return specialist … He could be this year's second-day draft steal.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 4.49 in the 40-yard dash … 2.58 20-yard dash … 1.52 10-yard dash … 34-inch vertical jump … 7½-inch hands … Right-handed.

Combine: 4.53 in the 40-yard dash … 1.65 10-yard dash … 2.66 20-yard dash … 4.31 20-yard shuttle … 7.03 three-cone drill … 34-inch vertical jump … 10-foot-9 broad jump.

Attended Marion Abramson (New Orleans, La.) High School, playing football for the first time as a junior … Competed two seasons for head coach Jerome Woods … All-area selection in basketball … Also an all-area sprinter in track, competing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

Interdisciplinary studies major … Born July 11, 1984 … Resides in New Orleans, La.