I like the Andy Jones signing. Dude is fast.
For Jacksonville University wide receiver Andy Jones, April 30 will be a day to remember.
He not only will graduate that day but will find out if he will be selected on the final day of the NFL Draft.
When the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Jones wasn’t invited to the scouting combine, his chances of being drafted didn’t seem promising, though he caught 144 passes for 2,120 yards and 17 touchdowns in his college career.
Jacksonville plays non-scholarship football and doesn’t have any players on a current NFL roster. Only four teams — the Jaguars, Giants, Colts and Eagles — sent scouts to the school’s pro day on Friday.
But the numbers Jones put up Friday — following a good showing at the University of Florida pro day — have vastly improved his chances of being selected.
Jones was one of four Dolphins to be invited to Florida’s pro day in Gainesville with the help of a recommendation by former JU coach Kerwin Bell, whose contract wasn’t renewed and is now coach at Valdosta State. The other three were offensive lineman Logan Williamson — considered the Dolphins’ second-best prospect — quarterback Kade Bell of Fleming Island and defensive lineman T.J. Jenkins.
Jones improved on his showing at UF’s pro day. He had a 40.5 vertical jump there but jumped 41.5 Friday.
That tied the best mark at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, recorded by both Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey and California’s Daniel Lasco. And Jones’ broad jump mark went from 10-7 to 11-1, which would have been the third-best at the combine, where Ramsey and Lasco tied at 11.3.
Jones also posted a 4.5-second time in the 40-yard dash after running 4.53 and 4.54 at UF.
The numbers were good enough that one scout, who declined to be identified, predicted, “He’s going to be drafted. There’s no doubt about it.’’
Trent Steelman, JU’s new receivers coach who organized the pro day, said, “He’s got what it takes to succeed in the league. He’s got the work ethic, the tools and the determination. The sky is the limit for him.’’
Steelman said has received more calls from NFL teams on Jones than any other JU player.
Jones said he thinks it’s possible he will be drafted but added, “I’m just trying to be ready wherever I go.’’
Jones said he’s hopeful his vertical leap has the attention of NFL scouts.
“A lot of people didn’t know I could jump like I did,’’ he said. “I definitely helped myself out, especially playing the receiver position. Being able to jump is a big part of it, that and running fast. I got a lot of good feedback.’’
Jones said he wasn’t heavily recruited coming out of Clermont East Ridge High School, adding, “I guess I was probably a late bloomer.’’
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Hopefully he can run routes and catch the ball. He sure seems to have the size and athletic numbers for the position.