Redshirt Freshman Report: OLB Cory Jones

Jones' speed will be utilized at linebacker and as a pass rusher
Jones’ speed will be utilized at linebacker and as a pass rusher

Prior to his senior year at Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), Cory Jones had never played a down of high school football.

“I actually had hoop dreams,” Jones said. “Basketball wasn’t working out, so I decided to give football a try to see what I could do.”

Two years after he decided to play high school football, Jones is now running with UVa’s second team at outside linebacker and poised to see playing time as a redshirt freshman. The coaching staff plans to utilize Jones’ speed and athleticism as a linebacker but also as a pass rusher, similar to how Max Valles was used in 2013 and 2014. Jones demonstrated at Carroll that he can make plays on defense, totaling 150 tackles including 26 sacks at defensive end. He began his Cavalier career at defensive end before moving to outside linebacker.

An excellent student, Jones had a 3.8 GPA in high school and was a member of the National Honor Society. He is off to a great start at UVa as well and is eyeing a major in Government and Politics with hopes to eventually becoming a defense attorney.

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