T. J. Jones
| No. 13 Detroit Lions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Date of birth: | July 19, 1992 | ||||||||||
| Place of birth: | Winnipeg, Manitoba | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 188 lb (85 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Gainesville (GA) | ||||||||||
| College: | Notre Dame | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2014 / Round: 6 / Pick: 189 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2015 | |||||||||||
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Tai-ler "T. J." Fitzgerald Jones (born July 19, 1992) is a Canadian-born American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Lions in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.
High School
Jones attended Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia. He was named MaxPreps.com second-team All-American as senior in 2009. He finished his senior season with 76 receptions for 1,399 yards and 18 touchdowns, which earned him all-state honors, while helping Gainesville get to the Georgia state championship game for the first time since 1982. He caught 81 passes for 979 yards as junior in 2008.
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was rated as the 19th best wide receiver in the nation.[1] After originally being committed to Stanford, he switched his commitment to Notre Dame.
College career
Jones enrolled early at Notre Dame in January 2010. As a true freshman, he worked his way onto the field, playing in 12 games, starting 7, while catching 23 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns. Jones became a full-time starter for the Irish in 2011. He played in all 13 games, starting every game but one, and recorded 38 receptions for 366 yards and three touchdowns. In 2012, Jones had his best season yet for the Fighting Irish, accumulating 50 receptions for 649 yards and 4 touchdowns. His year was highlighted by a game winning catch against Stanford in overtime and a berth to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game in Miami, Florida. In the National Championship game, Jones recorded 6 receptions for 90 yards in a 42-14 loss versus Alabama. In his senior season, he set career highs in receptions (70), receiving yards (1,108) and receiving touchdowns (9). He also rushed for 67 yards on nine carries (7.4 avg), scoring two touchdowns.
Professional career
2014 NFL Draft
He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round (189th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.[2]
Detroit Lions
On August 23, 2014, Jones was placed on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list with a shoulder injury.[3]
On September 3, 2016, Jones was waived by the Lions and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[4][5] He was promoted to the active roster on December 3, 2016.[6]
Personal life
Jones was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. His father, Andre Jones, who died from a brain aneurysm in 2011, was a starting defensive end on the 1988 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team that won the 1989 Fiesta Bowl and were named national champions, the last in school history.[7]
Jones' godfather is Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, a former NFL and CFL wide receiver and former Notre Dame star. His brother, Malachi Jones, a former Appalachian State football player, signed a free agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons following the 2016 NFL Draft. His other younger brother, Jahmai Jones, a former top ranked high school baseball player in the class of 2015, was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as the 70th overall pick in the 2nd round of the 2015 MLB Draft.[8]
Jones' uncle, Clarence Jones, is a former NFL Running Back who played 1 seasons in the league for the Miami Dolphins, and played his college years at West Point. He has a daughter, Jazmin Jones, who plays soccer at Washington State University and two younger sons.
Jones and his fiancé Theresa Gonzalez had their first child, a daughter, named Easton Kaia Jones on December 5th, 2015.
References
- ↑ T. J. Jones - Yahoo Sports
- ↑ Lions pick TJ Jones
- ↑ Tim Twentyman on Twitter: The #Lions have also placed TJ Jones on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform.
- ↑ "Lions establish 53-man roster". DetroitLions.com.
- ↑ "Lions sign 8 players to team's practice squad". DetroitLions.com.
- ↑ "Lions sign WR TJ Jones to active roster and activate DE Armonty Bryant". DetroitLions.com. December 3, 2016.
- ↑ Jones following in father's footsteps
- ↑ Angels select Georgia HS OF Jahmai Jones with 2nd-round pick in draft