NFL Draft Profile: Travis Jones, Defensive Lineman, UConn Huskies

NFL draft profile scouting report for UConn defensive lineman, Travis Jones

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#57
Pos: DL
Ht: 6043
Wt: 325
Hand: 1028
Arm: 3428
Wing: 8268
40: 4.92
3-Cone: 7.33
Shuttle: 4.58
Vertical: 28.5
Broad Jump: 0902
DOB: _/_/_
Eligible: 2022
New Haven, CT
Wilbur Cross High School

Travis Jones
UConn Huskies

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One-Liners

A dominant run defender who pushes the pocket as a pass-rusher, Travis Jones’s skillset sees him create for his teammates as much as he does for himself. He has game-breaking potential.

Pros:

The University of Connecticut football team has quietly produced strong NFL talent in recent years. Next in line is Travis Jones, a defensive lineman capable of playing 0 through 3-tech in the league. The New Haven native has excellent play strength and above-average movement skills, regularly dominating one-on-one situations. When he lands his punches early, the Huskies’ star throws blockers around while flashing counters, hand fighting and a speed profile. He has the upper body strength to bench press, the length to manage distance and the power to close. The UConn standout’s strength, hand usage and solid change of direction help him disengage at will. Jones exhibits relentless leg drive to walk through full or half-man as blockers bounce off his frame. Against the pass, the Huskies’ captain pushes the pocket with a bull rush, creating sacks for his teammates when unable to record one himself. At contact, Jones has a dangerous bull rush and various speed rush moves to capitalize on poor blocking technique. A dynamic run defender, Jones reads both the offensive line and the mesh point when diagnosing. His stellar anchor allows him to maintain sound gap integrity. Further, he consistently stacks linemen and understands how to shed, two-gap and window. The Wilbur Cross product often makes tackles through engagement or forces bodies into rushing lanes. Jones’s dominance and playstyle consistently draw double or triple teams which creates for his teammates. Jones is a reliable tackler with the short-area agility to navigate the box and work to the ball in traffic. 

Cons:

Despite his well-rounded game, the Huskies’ star is not a perfect prospect. First and foremost, Jones has very little experience against NFL talent. Additionally, Jones typically plays high and surrenders his chest. This tendency functionally decreases his power and limits his overall pass rush efficacy. He has struggled against offensive linemen who employ a low pad level. Moreover, Jones often leads with his shoulder into contact. He sometimes employs late hands, further offering his chest to opponents. The UConn standout simply runs into linemen with the intent of overpowering them far too often. When he does lead with his hands, Jones’s wide punches further give up his frame. What’s more, the talented defensive lineman lacks a developed speed rush profile. He tends to attempt speed moves before first forcing linemen to respect his bull rush. He does not have the agility to win with pure speed. Against double teams, the Huskies’ captain can be knocked to his knees by well-timed chips. Likewise, contact to his side moves him or leaves him off-balance. Double teams and sometimes single blockers use the UConn star’s momentum to wash him out of the play. He does not consistently finish plays; that said, his game is predicated on opening opportunities for teammates. 

Summary:

A dominant run defender who pushes the pocket as a pass-rusher, Travis Jones’s skillset sees him create for his teammates as much as he does for himself. To reach his ceiling, he must refine his hand usage and drop his pad level. While he has starting potential in a 4-3, Jones projects as an early impact player at nose in a 3-4 scheme. He has game-breaking potential. 

Background:

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Travis Jones was a standout two-way football player at Wilbur Cross High School. The talented athlete was a standout guard on offense and a defensive tackle on defense. An accomplished high school player, Jones was named New Haven Register All-Area and All-State in 2016. He was honored as Class LL All-State and All-SCC in that same year. What’s more, Jones was selected to the 2016 Walter Camp All-Connecticut Team. Building upon his strong junior season, the Connecticut native recorded 61 tackles and seven sacks on his way to being named CHSCA All-State First Team and Walter Camp All-Connecticut First Team in 2017. Following his stellar career with the Governors, Jones received a three-star rating from 247Sports Composite Rankings. The same outlet listed him as the 1979th-overall player in his class, the 92nd-best offensive guard in his class and the 10th-ranked player from Connecticut in his year. Since arriving on UConn’s campus, Jones has undergone a positional change and a body transformation. Once a 356-pound offensive guard recruit, the Huskies’ star was a 350-pound defensive lineman in his freshman year, a 336-pound defensive lineman in his sophomore year and is listed as a 333-pound defensive lineman for the 2021 season. In his first year with UConn, Jones played in 12 games. He recorded 46 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and one-half sack. He was also named to the 2019 Preseason Athlon Sports American Athletic All-Conference Defensive Fourth Team. The New Haven native managed to improve upon his impressive freshman campaign as a sophomore. In 2019, Jones posted 40 tackles, six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and one fumble recovery. After the season, he was recognized as the 2019 UConn Defensive Player of the Year at the team’s annual award ceremony. The Huskies’ football program canceled its 2020 season in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, expectations are high for the team’s star nose tackle. Jones is a 2021 team captain and has also been named to the 2021 Bednarik Award Watch List, given to the nation’s best defensive player. Despite his (and every other UConn player’s) layoff due to COVID, the Wilbur Cross product has accumulated substantial playing experience through two years. Jones has started 21 games entering his senior year (and his third year of eligibility). The talented defensive lineman is an exploratory major. 

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Grades

Current Player Value/Potential Player Value

7.8 / 8.8

Floor/Ceiling: Starting Nose Tackle / Pro Bowl Defensive Lineman

Scheme Fit: Nose Tackle in a 3-4

Grade: Second Round

Serritella On Location: NFL Draft Profile: Travis Jones, Defensive Lineman, UConn Huskies

2/8/22 - It wasn't long ago that (Linval) Joseph was the top nose tackle in the NFL. The multi-time pro bowler was a dominant run defender who had solid juice as a pass rusher. Jones has a similar makeup to Joseph and should test exceptionally well at the combine. At the Senior Bowl, Jones showed off special power to collapse the pocket and take on double teams. He had several highlight-worthy one-on-one reps, which resulted in the offensive linemen on the ground, but he was also extremely impressive in 11 on 11s. Expect Jones to come off the board in the top 50 picks and be a day one starter for whoever drafts him with a good combine. Joseph is a lofty comparison, but Jones has the tools to ultimately reach that level of play.

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