Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt OL Named All-UFL Selection

Former Pitt Panthers lineman Jaryd Jones-Smith was the best at his position in the UFL this year.

Stephen Thompson

Nov 19, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back Qadree Ollison (37) and offensive lineman Jaryd Jones-Smith (55) celebrate a touchdown by Ollison against the Duke Blue Devils during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 56-14. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back Qadree Ollison (37) and offensive lineman Jaryd Jones-Smith (55) celebrate a touchdown by Ollison against the Duke Blue Devils during the fourth quarter at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 56-14. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- Former Pitt Panthers offensive lineman Jaryd Jones-Smith has been playing in the UFL instead of attending Organized Team Activities in the NFL but he's been making the most of his professional football career nevertheless.

Jones-Smith, an anchor of some strong Pitt lines during his time with the Panthers, brought his talents to the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL and did more of the same. And those efforts led to him earning a first-team All-UFL honors as a tackle.

Jones-Smith signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2018 and bounced around between Miami, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Baltimore, appearing in six total games split evenly between the Ravens and Raiders. In between stints with the Battlehawks, he spent the 2023 season on the Washington Commanders' practice squad.

Jones arrived at Pitt as a three-star recruit by way of West Catholic High School in Philadelphia, a short drive from his hometown of Camden, New Jersey. He made 33 appearances and 13 starts over the course of his career, including nine his senior year, when he blocked for current Steelers starting quarterback Kenny Pickett in his coming out party - a 24-14 upset of then-No. 2 Miami in Pittsburgh. 

Now another opportunity at the highest level of professional football could be coming for Jones-Smith after a strong season in the UFL.

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work: