Former Vols WR Velus Jones Jr just received some major praise from ESPN
Former Tennessee Vols wide receiver Velus Jones Jr has seen his draft rise significantly over the last couple of months. Jones, who wasn't on the NFL draft radar before Josh Heupel's arrival at Tennessee in early 2021, is being projected as a third-round to fifth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. The Alabama native caught […]
Former Tennessee Vols wide receiver Velus Jones Jr has seen his draft rise significantly over the last couple of months.
Jones, who wasn't on the NFL draft radar before Josh Heupel's arrival at Tennessee in early 2021, is being projected as a third-round to fifth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Alabama native caught 22 passes for 280 yards in 2020 as a redshirt senior under previous Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt. Jones took advantage of his extra year of eligibility (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and returned to Tennessee for one final season in 2021.
That turned out to be a wise move. Jones had a breakout season in 2021, catching 62 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns.
Since the end of the season, Jones has improved his draft stock via a strong performance at the Senior Bowl and a good showing at the NFL combine/Tennessee's Pro-Day.
One thing that has impressed scouts is Jones' ability in space.
In fact, ESPN's Todd McShay has Jones as one of the best players in the 2022 NFL Draft when it comes to operating in space.
McShay recently ranked the former Vols standout as his No. 7 player in space in the draft.
From ESPN:
Jones' 4.31 in the 40-yard dash ranked fourth among all participants at the combine (second among receivers). He has a running back's build (6-foot, 204 pounds) and a sprinter's speed. That, as you'd imagine, can be a nightmare for defenders trying to tackle him in space.
A midrounder with upside, Jones is an instinctive runner in the open field with great contact balance and a unique ability to accelerate upfield. Jones tracks the deep ball well, but he is at his best on quick slants. There, his ability to break an initial tackle and take off makes him dangerous on offense. In 2021, Jones forced 21 missed tackles and averaged 8.4 yards after the catch.
Jones has elite speed and great after-catch abilities. He could end up playing like a first-round pick in the NFL. But at the same time, there's some legitimate concern about whether or not Jones' breakout season in 2021 was due to finally playing in a competent offense (with a coach who property utilized his skills) or if it was because he was a sixth-year senior playing against much younger competition.
It's an understandable concern. But it's a concern that teams will be fine with in the middle rounds of the draft.
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
