Name: Kody Jones
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 193 lbs.
High school: Memphis (TN) Germantown
Position: Safety
Class: Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: #14
Last year: I ranked Jones #67 and said he would be a backup defensive back and special teamer (LINK). He played in three games and made 1 tackle.
TTB Rating: 80
The situations for Jones and yesterday's subject Myles Pollard (LINK) are pretty similar: both have been at Michigan for two years and haven't played much. And in both cases, Michigan went out and recruited transfer portal defensive backs instead of looking to Pollard and Jones to step up their roles. Jones has bounced around a little bit, having a go at cornerback and safety and some run at nickel.
Nickel seems like the best path for Jones, who's got safety skills but cornerback size. However, Zeke Berry appears to be the starter there and the next guy mentioned is always Ja'Den McBurrows. The third-string nickel probably isn't that big of a role, but Jones does have some positional flexibility if there's a run of injuries in the defensive backfield somewhere. Overall, it appears he might be on the Terry Richardson path to playing a few games per season before winding up elsewhere to finish out his career.
Prediction: Backup defensive back, special teamer
I had high hopes for Jones as a recruit but things have been VERY quiet.
ReplyDeleteI don't see a path to playing time for Jones in 2024 with all the transfer DBs coming in, at nickel or anywhere else. So this feels a bit high in the countdown for a non-factor.
I'm not sure I buy the line about CB size. Jones is a pretty typical sized DB at 5'11-6'0 and 190-200 pounds. CBs tend to be taller, safeties tend to weigh a bit more. He's on the low end of both so I agree nickel maybe a little more likely but it also depends what Wink decides to scheme-wise. Minter wanted his nickel to be able to play safety and vice versa.