Clemson football redshirt freshman Mike Jones Jr. had a nice spring game and showed the Tiger faithful what he is capable of bringing to the team.
The Clemson football defense is looking for players to step up and provide depth after losing several key players off of last year’s National Championship.
The Tigers will have to replace the likes of Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell, Dexter Lawrence, Austin Bryant and Albert Huggins on the defensive line; Trayvon Mullen and Mark Fields in the defensive backfield; as well as Kendall Joseph, Tre Lamar and the Davis twins at linebacker.
With all those openings, several Clemson football players are going to get shots at playing time.
One of those guys is redshirt freshman Mike Jones Jr.
Jones Jr., who came to Clemson as a 4-star linebacker out of IMG Academy, redshirted last year and has since been able to spend a year in the weight room and learning the system. Typically, it takes linebackers a year or two to develop before they’re able to provide much quality playing time and the same is true with Jones Jr.
Now that he has had some time to develop, it is paying off for the Tigers.
If you go back and watch him in the spring game, Mike Jones Jr. played a lot of that SLB/Nickel spot. He also played a little WLB. I think the Tigers are going to rely on him to be the backup at that Nickel/SAM position behind Isaiah Simmons.
In my opinion, that’s a perfect situation for him.
He’s got the same amount of athleticism and will be able to play meaningful snaps, all the while learning from an NFL-caliber player in Isaiah Simmons.
You’re going to be hearing a lot more about Mike Jones Jr. as we get into fall camp and I fully expect him to be a part of that two-deep at linebacker this coming year for the Tigers.