Going into the 2022 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Tigers roster.
Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.
Next on the list is an upperclassmen linebacker who is likely to start and could see a leading role on the defense in Mike Jones Jr. A transfer from Clemson who appeared in all 13 games last season, Jones could be poised for a breakout season during his second campaign in Baton Rouge.
Mike Jones Jr. Preseason Player Profile
Hometown: Nashville, TN
HT: 6-0
wt: 232
247Sports Composite Ranking
Four Stars | No. 36 in Florida | No. 15 Outside Linebacker
Class in 2021: Sophomore
Career Stats
| year | G | Total | Solo | TFL | Bags | FF | DB | INT |
| 2018 (Clemson) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 (Clemson) | 15 | 19 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 (Clemson) | 10 | 26 | 13 | 4 | 0.5 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 2021 (USL) | 13 | 34 | 14 | 2.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
PFF Grades
| year | Defense | Run Defense | Tackling | Pass Rushing | Coverage |
| 2018 | 77.8 | 60.5 | 77.0 | – | 77.3 |
| 2019 | 72.3 | 78.1 | 74.6 | 73.5 | 64.9 |
| 2020 | 77.9 | 53.6 | 33.3 | 69.0 | 90.2 |
| 2021 | 60.1 | 63.0 | 69.3 | 60.7 | 55.3 |
Depth Chart Overview
A former blue-chip recruit from the prestigious IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, by way of Nashville, Tennessee, Jones had high expectations from Day 1 when he signed with the Clemson Tigers.
After appearing in just three games in his first season in 2018, he saw action in all 15 during the 2019 season (including against LSU in the national championship, in which he played on special teams). He saw a much larger role during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, starting seven of 10 games he appeared in.
He was fantastic in coverage that year, registering an elite grade from Pro Football Focus with four pass breakups and two picks. He transferred to LSU the following offseason, and he had a bit of a disappointing first campaign.
He registered a career-high in tackles (34) and tackling grade from PFF (77.8) but he struggled quite a bit in coverage and started just five games despite appearing in all of them. Still, he’s in a good position to start this season.
With Damone Clark out, LSU will likely turn toward Jones and Greg Penn III for starting reps, though players like Micah Baskerville and West Weeks can’t be ignored, either.
Mike Jones Jr.’s Photo Gallery
texas bowl football
Kansas State tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe (0) makes a gain after breaking the tackle attempt by…
Kansas State tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe (0) makes a gain after breaking the tackle attempt by LSU linebacker Mike Jones Jr., bottom, as linebacker Greg Penn III (30) chases during the second half of the Texas Bowl NCAA college football game Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
LSU v Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – NOVEMBER 06: Brian Robinson Jr. #4 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled…
TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – NOVEMBER 06: Brian Robinson Jr. #4 of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Neil Farrell Jr. #92 and Mike Jones Jr. #19 of the LSU Tigers during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 06 , 2021 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NCAA Football: Louisiana State at Alabama
Nov 6, 2021; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) scrambles away from…
Nov 6, 2021; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young (9) scrambles away from LSU Tigers linebacker Mike Jones Jr. (19) during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Sugar Bowl-Ohio State vs. Clemson
Jan 1, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney talks to linebacker…
Jan 1, 2021; New Orleans, LA, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney talks to linebacker Mike Jones Jr. (6) during the second quarter of the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch
Clemson Tigers linebacker Mike Jones Jr. (6) comes up with the interception in the end zone…
Clemson Tigers linebacker Mike Jones Jr. (6) comes up with the interception in the end zone against Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Chris Olave (2) in the third quarter during the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021. College Football Playoff Ohio State Faces Clemson In Sugar Bowl
NCAA Football: Syracuse at Clemson
Oct 24, 2020; Clemson, SC, USA; (Editors Notes: Caption Correction) Clemson linebacker Mike Jones Jr.…
Oct 24, 2020; Clemson, SC, USA; (Editors Notes: Caption Correction) Clemson linebacker Mike Jones Jr. (6) runs in for a touchdown out of the grip of Syracuse player Nykeim Johnson (4) in the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Syracuse at Clemson
Oct 24, 2020; Clemson, SC, USA; (Editors Notes: Caption Correction) Clemson linebacker Mike Jones Jr.…
Oct 24, 2020; Clemson, SC, USA; (Editors Notes: Caption Correction) Clemson linebacker Mike Jones Jr. (6) celebrates a touchdown in the second half against Syracuse at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
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