Kevin Jones (American football)
Encyclopedia
Kevin S. Jones is an American football
running back
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
30th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Virginia Tech
.
Jones has also played for the Chicago Bears
and Hartford Colonials.
when he came to Cardinal O'Hara High School
as a freshman. Coach Stratts had no choice but to put him in as a freshman. Jones broke many records at O'Hara and finished his career up with a Philadelphia Catholic League Championship. In that game he scored four touchdowns.
He was the #1 overall recruit and could not decide between Penn State and Virginia Tech, eventually choosing to be a Hokie to the surprise of many. He said, "If you're a blue-chipper from Pennsylvania, you go to Penn State. But I've always been a little contrary. On the day of my press conference, I still hadn't decided between Virginia Tech and PSU. As I sat down in front of everybody, I had both jerseys with me. I pulled the Penn State jersey out of a bag and said, "I will ... not be attending Penn State." Then I ripped off my sweater and had a Mike Vick jersey on underneath. The entire room was flabbergasted. Afterward, I got plenty of hate mail, lots of it racial. People weren't afraid to use the N-word."
, where he was the highest rated recruit in the program's history. Following an injury to Lee Suggs
, Jones won the starting job and set a school record for rushing yards from a freshman. In 2002, Suggs and Jones split time at tailback and were together called by the school "The Untouchables", following a contest for fans to give them a nickname.
He finished his college career with 3,475 yards and 35 touchdown
s on 616 carries (5.6 yards per car. avg.), and 24 receptions for 229 yards (9.5 yards per rec. avg.). His 3,475 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns both rank second on the school's career-record list.
season with the Lions and became only the third running back
in franchise history to rush
for 1,000+ yards in his rookie season, joining the ranks of Billy Sims
and Hall of Famer
Barry Sanders
. He was sidelined at the end of the 2006 season
with a Lisfranc fracture
.
Jones, still working himself back from the Lisfranc fracture suffered in 2006, looked impressive early on in the season splitting carries with Tatum Bell
and saw his first action as a starter in Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. Jones rushed for 105 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown in his second start of the season in a Week 8 victory over the division rival Chicago Bears
. In Week 7, Jones became the full time starter, getting the bulk of the carries for the Lions, with backup T. J. Duckett seeing only limited action. But Jones injured himself again, creating concern about his durability.
On March 13, 2008, the Lions released Jones. However, it was reported that the team could bring him back at a reduced salary.
or Pittsburgh Steelers
the following day. On July 15, he signed a one-year, $605,000 contract with the Bears.
On March 6, 2009, the Chicago Bears
agreed to terms with Kevin Jones on a two-year contract worth approximately $3.5 million. The deal includes a $1 million bonus and $2 million in the first season. He was intended to be the primary backup to Matt Forte
.
On September 3, 2009, Kevin Jones was injured during a preseason football game when he was hit out of bounds by Cleveland Browns
linebacker Marcus Benard
. Kevin Jones was out for the 2009 season with torn ligaments in his left ankle.
Jones was released on March 9, 2010 after the Bears signed Chester Taylor
during free agency.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
30th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
.
Jones has also played for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Hartford Colonials.
Early years
Jones was a standout in footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
when he came to Cardinal O'Hara High School
Cardinal O'Hara High School
Cardinal O'Hara High School is a coeducational Catholic High School of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The school is named after John Francis O'Hara who was Archbishop of Philadelphia from 1951 to 1960. It is located in Springfield, Pennsylvania and was first opened in September 1963.- Academics...
as a freshman. Coach Stratts had no choice but to put him in as a freshman. Jones broke many records at O'Hara and finished his career up with a Philadelphia Catholic League Championship. In that game he scored four touchdowns.
He was the #1 overall recruit and could not decide between Penn State and Virginia Tech, eventually choosing to be a Hokie to the surprise of many. He said, "If you're a blue-chipper from Pennsylvania, you go to Penn State. But I've always been a little contrary. On the day of my press conference, I still hadn't decided between Virginia Tech and PSU. As I sat down in front of everybody, I had both jerseys with me. I pulled the Penn State jersey out of a bag and said, "I will ... not be attending Penn State." Then I ripped off my sweater and had a Mike Vick jersey on underneath. The entire room was flabbergasted. Afterward, I got plenty of hate mail, lots of it racial. People weren't afraid to use the N-word."
College career
Jones played college football at Virginia TechVirginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
, where he was the highest rated recruit in the program's history. Following an injury to Lee Suggs
Lee Suggs
Lee Ernest Suggs, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia Tech...
, Jones won the starting job and set a school record for rushing yards from a freshman. In 2002, Suggs and Jones split time at tailback and were together called by the school "The Untouchables", following a contest for fans to give them a nickname.
He finished his college career with 3,475 yards and 35 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s on 616 carries (5.6 yards per car. avg.), and 24 receptions for 229 yards (9.5 yards per rec. avg.). His 3,475 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns both rank second on the school's career-record list.
Stats
- 2001: 175 carries for 957 yards (5.47) and 5 TD. 6 catches for 47 yards.
- 2002: 160 carries for 871 yards (5.44) and 9 TD. 4 catches for 21 yards.
- 2003: 281 carries for 1647 yards (5.86) and 21 TD. 14 catches for 161 yards.
Detroit Lions
Jones had a successful rookieRookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season with the Lions and became only the third running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in franchise history to rush
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
for 1,000+ yards in his rookie season, joining the ranks of Billy Sims
Billy Sims
Billy Sims is a former college football and NFL running back. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1978.-Early years:...
and Hall of Famer
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
. He was sidelined at the end of the 2006 season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
with a Lisfranc fracture
Lisfranc fracture
The Lisfranc fracture is a fracture of the foot in which one or all of the metatarsals are displaced from the tarsus.It is named after 18th- and 19th-century surgeon and gynecologist Jacques Lisfranc de St. Martin.-Causes:...
.
Jones, still working himself back from the Lisfranc fracture suffered in 2006, looked impressive early on in the season splitting carries with Tatum Bell
Tatum Bell
Tatum Antoine Bell is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
and saw his first action as a starter in Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. Jones rushed for 105 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown in his second start of the season in a Week 8 victory over the division rival Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In Week 7, Jones became the full time starter, getting the bulk of the carries for the Lions, with backup T. J. Duckett seeing only limited action. But Jones injured himself again, creating concern about his durability.
On March 13, 2008, the Lions released Jones. However, it was reported that the team could bring him back at a reduced salary.
Chicago Bears
On July 14, 2008, it was reported that Jones would sign with either the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
or Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
the following day. On July 15, he signed a one-year, $605,000 contract with the Bears.
On March 6, 2009, the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
agreed to terms with Kevin Jones on a two-year contract worth approximately $3.5 million. The deal includes a $1 million bonus and $2 million in the first season. He was intended to be the primary backup to Matt Forte
Matt Forté
Matthew Garrett Forté is an American football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
.
On September 3, 2009, Kevin Jones was injured during a preseason football game when he was hit out of bounds by Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
linebacker Marcus Benard
Marcus Benard
Marcus Benard is an American football defensive end for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was signed by the Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Jackson State. Benard was promoted from the Browns practice squad to the active roster on...
. Kevin Jones was out for the 2009 season with torn ligaments in his left ankle.
Jones was released on March 9, 2010 after the Bears signed Chester Taylor
Chester Taylor
Chester Lamar Taylor also known as "Che Tay" is an American football running back of the National Football League who is currently on the Arizona Cardinals. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
during free agency.