Most Impactful Rebels for 2019: No. 13 Jacquez Jones
OXFORD, Miss. — As we count down the days until the Ole Miss season opener against Memphis in the Liberty Bowl, we are releasing who we think the Top 50 Most Impactful Players will be for the Rebels this season. This series is a way for Ole Miss fans to learn more about players to keep an eye on this fall.
With 13 days before kickoff, coming in at No. 13…
Jacquez Jones
Linebacker Jacquez Jones was a four-star prospect according to ESPN when he signed with Ole Miss in the class of 2018, and the Tuscaloosa, Alabama native was ranked as the No. 10 inside linebacker in the country.
The 6-foot, 232-pound Jones finished a fantastic senior season at Hillcrest High School, recording 163 tackles–including 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, and three forced fumbles. He represented Alabama in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game, recording six tackles and one tackle for loss.
As a true freshman at Ole Miss, Jones was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after appearing in all twelve games for the Rebels. He tallied 36 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss during his first season in Oxford, including a career and team-high nine tackles against No. 1 Alabama.
Jones also achieved success in the classroom as he was named to the 2018 Athletic Director’s Fall Honor Roll for his outstanding academic performance.
Congratulations to Ole Miss LB Jacquez Jones for being named to the 2018 SEC All-Freshman Football Team! #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/Cs54wwYZRV
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) December 6, 2018
Heading into the season, the Rebels have a number of very talented players competing for the inside linebacker spots, but regardless of who ultimately starts, they will all see the field as the coaches try to keep everyone fresh on defense.
Defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre has been pleased with Jones’ performance in fall camp. “All the young men have bought into what we are trying to do. They are playing hard and physical and Jacquez is right in the mix,” said MacIntyre. “We have been playing him at Mike and Jack LBs. He’s doing a good job at both positions,” he added.
Jones understands the amount of competition at the inside linebacker spot this fall. “We have six guys in there who are all wanting playing time and all of us are capable this year,” said Jones.
“I gotta say, every day in practice, you better be ready to strap it on and be ready to produce or someone else will.”
Ole Miss LB Jacquez Jones
With the talent the Rebels have at the position, linebacker will be one of the strengths this fall in Mike MacIntyre’s 3-4 defense. Jones is doing his part to make the unit much more productive than the previous two seasons. “We are determined to put Ole Miss back on the map again, so we are all working hard and competing and pushing each other,” he said. “We have more to play for this year. We are trying to win a championship and go to a big bowl,” Jones added.
LB Jacquez Jones hurries Auburn QB Jarrett Stidham in the Rebels’ game vs. the Tigers in 2019. (Photo: Dan Anderson, The Rebel Walk)
Jones believes the defense has grown a lot from last season. “We were all young and inexperienced last year and we were also on probation and it seemed like turmoil was always around us,” said Jones.
“This year, we have clear heads and we are determined to make a mark. We want to turn heads in the SEC and the whole country.”
Jacquez Jones
With the expertise of inside linebackers’ coach Jeff Koonz and the experience of defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre, the Landshark defense is ready to make a significant leap forward in productivity — with Jacquez Jones and the linebackers leading the charge in the 3-4 defense.
We fully expect Jones to continue to build off of his award-winning, true freshman performance. He’s going to be used heavily in the rotation at linebacker and will be a big factor in stopping the run this fall.
Keep your eye out for No. 10 on the Landshark defense!
Hotty Toddy!
Most Impactful Rebels for 2019
13. Jacquez Jones
14. Miles Battle
15. Jerrion Ealy
16. Braylon Sanders
17. Eli Johnson
18. Myles Hartsfield
19. Dontario Drummond
20. Jon Haynes
21. Montrell Custis
22. Demarcus Gregory
23. Bryce Mathews
24. Royce Newman
25. Tylan Knight
26. Tariqious Tisdale
27. Octavious Cooley
28. Jalen Julius
29. Luke Logan
30. Nick Broeker
31. Austrian Robinson
32. Quentin Bivens
33. Willie Hibbler
34. Isaiah Woullard
35. Jadon Jackson
36. Grant Tisdale, Kinkead Dent, John Rhys Plumlee
37. Keidron Smith
38. Snoop Conner
39. Michael Howard
40. Vernon Dasher
41. Ryder Anderson
42. D’Vaughn Pennamon
43. C.J. Miller
44. Charles Wiley
45. Sincere David
46. Mac Brown
47. Jason Pellerin
48. Chandler Tuitt
49. Dannis Jackson
50. Jonathan Mingo
Derrell Hart
Derrell has covered Ole Miss athletics in the past for Rebels247 at 247Sports. He attended Delta State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Biology. He is currently pursuing his Pharm.D. at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy with an expected graduation of May, 2020.
