the NFL Draft Less than two weeks later, and while the major sports networks and draft sites have evaluated the best prospects through and through, several small school players are still starting to make waves.
One of these young players is Truman Jones, who played at Harvard University. While the Ivy League school is better known for its academics than its athletics, it currently has nine players on NFL rosters, Harvard Four of them.
Jones brings an exciting mix of rushing moves, athletic ability, and football smarts to the table, giving him a recruiting opportunity.
The untouched
Jones blew his scouts away at Pro Day in March, showing explosiveness and athleticism.
Listed at 6’3″ and 250 pounds, Jones is on the smaller side for a defensive end prospect and is almost a better fit as a defensive 3-4 outside linebacker or as a pass specialist prospect in a 4-3 defense. His running was effective and he showed he had the athletic ability To compete in the NFL:
Here are Truman Jones’ total workout numbers from today’s Pro Day.
90+ percentage in jumps, sprints, and agility drills above average.
It would be amazing for me to get out of the draft. Athletic, smart, tall, and just keeps getting better. #Shreen Powell pic.twitter.com/5qt0wTzDRW
– Eric Galko (@EricGalko) March 9, 2023
Jones excelled in the vertical and long jump—both great tests of an athlete’s explosive range and fluidity, and his quick 10-yard split in the 40-yard dash showed a player capable of short zone acceleration, which is what the NFL will need.
His light frame may be a potential concern for some teams, but he still has room to add mass to his frame and continue to develop his strength.
pass rush
Jones finished with 6.0 sachets Through the 2022 season, in 30 career games, she has collected 28.5 total. Although he was undersized, even by Ivy League standards, Jones often used his influence to his advantage, with the bull lunging and speed off the ball for his advantage.
Truman Jones #90 with a nice bull rush here. He presses on his back with his inner hand and fights to free his outer hand. Once the QB has scrambled he throws his outside hand toward the ball and gets to the tape sack. Interesting Ivy League prospects. pic.twitter.com/BLLxfXXpGY
– Caleb James (@CJScoobs) April 13, 2023
Jones releases the ball and it goes from speed to electric. Using a long arm, he presses the handle into the pocket. Using his influence to push the pocket back, he breaks off the block as soon as the quarterback starts scrambling.
He sprints once free from the block and uses his freely worked hand in his lunge to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hand and force his team into a turn.
Jones used the pace to run frequently but also had a lot of flexibility to bend the arc and sometimes cause problems in the middle. The pass rush is king in the NFL, so any ability to reach after a college passer will be closely evaluated no matter the level of competition.
Exposure to Jones has been limited due to his playing in the Ivy League, but his talent as a starting quarterback will give him an opportunity to be an eventual draft pick.
Football IQ
It is no coincidence that a player who attended Harvard had a high IQ while on the football field. Jones frequently displayed his quick thinking and play recognition, personifying plays early and then taking pains to disrupt them.
Truman Jones is versatile. He lines up on the edge feinting on rushing passes and then drops a running back, reads a screen pass, unties a blocker, and walks away with a TFL. Displays a high IQ and top level athleticism on the play. pic.twitter.com/ZfjJlRlGWR
– Caleb James (@CJScoobs) April 14, 2023
Jones lines up as a defender on the edge, but in the snap, he drops into coverage and appears to be looking for a short cut around the line of scrimmage.
The fullback sells that he is in pass protection but quickly breaks flat as the screen pass develops. Jones quickly reads this and realizes the back is the intended target, but the right guard attaches himself to Jones and looks to seal himself inside.
Jones has seen the path develop and track the fullback, but now he must find a way out of the barrier because there is so much open space between the fullback and the other closest defender.
His athletic instinct and ability take over, and he battles over the top of the block and meets the running back for a major tackle and losing yards on the play.
Sportsmanship is visible in this play, but without his quick reaction time and recognition skills, this play would not have been accomplished.
This kind of mental processing will separate Jones from his peers, who can also be taken in the late rounds. NFL coaches will need late starters to quickly set the rules of the game and not have time to wait. Those who struggle with the mental processing required to play in the NFL will be cut short, and it all comes with the raw ability to study and piece together the intricacies of the professional scheme.
bottom line
With a combination of his athletic ability, streak, football smarts, and wit, Jones drew attention towards the end of this draft cycle.
The Kansas City Chiefs were among the teams interested in his skill set, Hosted in Top 30 Hits.
While perhaps not the physicality that defensive coordinator Steve Spagnolo looks for in linebackers, his versatility to line up and rush or give up the line of scrimmage could be valuable.
the man who studies Biomedical engineering At Harvard, you will likely have no problem choosing the Spagnuolo scheme, which in the past was more complex and suited to more experienced players.
Jones will still be a project in many respects, needing to continue to add size to play the edge in the NFL, OR
The Chiefs have had no problems playing late rookies on defense in the past, and with the skill and knowledge to excel in certain situations—running rushes, potential in-zone blitzes, touchdowns—Jones has a chance to come in and make contributions right away if he’s drafted. by the team.