Christian Jones

Jones was a five-star prospect by Rivals.com coming out of Lake Howell High School in Winter Park, Fla. While he considered offers from Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, Jones was a natural fit to land at FSU, where his father, Willie Jones, Sr., starred as a defensive end. As a true freshman, Jones saw action in all 14 games on special teams and as an occasional reserve linebacker, finishing the season with 18 tackles, three sacks and three tackles for loss. Jones entered the starting rotation at strong-side linebacker in 2011, finishing second on the team with 56 tackles, six for losses, along with three sacks and a team-high two forced fumbles. He again started every game in 2012 while moving to the weak side, finishing with a team-high 95 tackles. Jones racked up more tackles in 14 games as a junior than he had in his first 27 games entering the season. Jones was on the move again as a senior, this time to the middle under new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. He went on to finish sixth on the team with 49 tackles while starting 11 of 12 games heading into the BCS title game. Jones also had 7.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks to go along with six quarterback hits.

strengths

Tremendous athlete with has fluid footwork who flawlessly flips his hips to blanket tight ends or receivers down the field in coverage. Tall and long, which he uses well in coverage. Plays with excellent range and speed to chase down the action, taking proper angles in pursuit. Flashes the take-on strength to blow past blockers when he uses proper technique.

weaknesses

Needs to improve his awareness to turn his head and find the ball. Length is advantageous, but at times will cause him to play too upright, and he needs to improve his overall leverage, especially on tackle attempts. Will get hung up on blocks at times.

Widely regarded as one of the nation's elite athletes not only at outside linebacker, but across the board

an FSU legacy player whose father Willie Jones, Sr. starred for the `Noles at defensive end, a position also played by his brother Willie Jones, Jr. Carried a five-star rating by Rivals

Rivals ranked the Lake Howell star as the No. 2 outside linebacker in the country, the No. 2 prospect in Florida and the 20th-best player nationally

Scout.com listed him as a four-star prospect and the No. 5-rated outside linebacker in the country

ESPN ranked Jones as No. 2 outside linebacker and No. 27 prospect overall

MaxPreps gave him a No. 71 national ranking

SuperPrep All-America 290 had him listed as the No. 2 outside linebacker in the nation and No. 2 player in the state, bestowing the honor of SuperPrep Dixie Defensive Player of the Year

checked in at No. 20 on Sporting News' Top 100 list of players nationally. Rolled up 126 tackles, including 12 for losses and four sacks as a senior

had 160 stops as a junior and finished three-year Lake Howell career with 326 tackles

No. 1 outside linebacker on Florida Super 75 by the Times-Union

rated No. 7 player overall on Bill Buchalter's Florida 100 and No. 2 linebacker

participated in the Under Armour All-Star Game. Selected FSU over Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Tennessee, but also had offers from LSU, USC, Miami and Michigan

born February 18, 1991.

Born February 18, 1991.