Velus Jones Jr. WR Tennessee | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Velus Jones Jr. WR Tennessee
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Multi-Role Receiver | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/04/2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.31 seconds (97%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 27.7 DOB: 05/11/1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| NFL Combine & Pro-Day Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROLE: Multi-Role Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 03/04/2022 | |
| Draft Year: 2022 | |
| 40 time: 4.31 seconds (97%*) | |
| Age: 27.7 DOB: 05/11/1997 | |
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| NFL Combine & Pro-Day Results |
| Overall Rating: | 79.8 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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75% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 131.0 | |
| Hands: |
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80% |
| Short Receiving: |
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81% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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86% |
| Deep Threat: |
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85% |
| Blocking: |
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65% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#164
Position rank:
#23
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| College Games: 43 College Snaps: 1254 | ||
ESPN RATING: 80/100
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 87/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.8 (95%)
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Drafted: ROUND: 3 - Pick Number: 71 (CHI)
Draft Profile: Bio
Velius Jones made the USA Today All-Alabama first team, the AL.com Super All-State first team, the Alabama Sportswriters Association All-State Class 6A first-team, and All-Coastal Alabama first team as a senior wide receiver at Saraland High School. As a result, was highly recruited and handed a four-star grade by ESPN. He opted for USC over a number of potential suitors.He redshirted his first year in 2016 and in 2017 Jones saw action in all 14 games as a backup wide receiver and USC’s main kick returner.
As a redshirt Sophomore in 2018, he played time at wide receiver and kick returner - started four times and notched 24 receptions for 266 yards (11.1 avg) with one touchdown.
In 2019 Jones played in 12 games with two starts and returned 29 kickoffs for 704 yards and a TD. He Averaged 24.28 yards per kick return, which ranked third in the Pac-12.
He transferred to Tennesse in 2020 and had six starts at WR. Jones ranked third on the team in receptions (22) and receiving yards (280) while finishing second on the team in receiving touchdowns (3). He led the SEC in kickoff return yards (398) and was second in the league in kickoff return average (22.11).
In 2021 as a redshirt senior Jones became the only player in football with over 800+ receiving yards, 200+ punt return yards, and 600+ kickoff return yards. At the season's end, he earned a Reese’s Senior Bowl All-American, an All-SEC First Team, and the 2021 SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year award
On the year he caught 62 passes (10th in school history) for 807 yards and seven scores. His 1,722 all-purpose yards ranked third in the SEC and his 132.5 all-purpose yards per game was second in the SEC
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Fits a zone system, can sift through oncoming traffic and explode through tiny creases and cutback lanes. Elite, darting stop-and-go acceleration with elite track speed. Dangerous in the open field.
- An amazing kick-punt returner who could be drafted as a special teamer
- Has decent hands any NFL wide receiver coach and quarterback would covet. He tracks the deep ball over either shoulder and brings in passes easily.
- Plays fast and confident. Covers a lot of ground in the short half of the field and is slippery after the catch.
- Has rare suddenness with lightning footwork to create in tight areas with elusive shiftiness and change-of-direction skills.
- An impressive athlete with very quick acceleration to reach his top speed quickly and stretch the field. Very good body control and smooth movements. Plays fast and explosive.
- Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. Willing to go up and attack the ball.
- Good effort and technique as a blocker for his size. Can beat the press with elusiveness or physical contact. Runs crisp routes with sharp cuts.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Does not always use his hands to secure deep throws, allowing the ball into his pads and chest.
- A very old player who will be 25 by the time he takes the field in the NFL
- Has a very limited route tree and the routes he did run were often rounded
- Has had very limited production as a receiver throughout his college career - with the exception of 2021
- Has only really played in the slot and has very little experience out wide
- Not a great catch radius and his football IQ is not as high as you would like
- Runs with a weird kind of stutter-step that makes his less fluid
- Only offers an impact as a gadget player and a deep threat
Scouting Report: Summary
Velus Jones is an overaged prospect who offers help to a team as both a WR and kick returner. As a returner he is elite and will likely make an impact early, however, he is somewhat limited as a wide receiver where he is very raw and only really offers anything as a deep threat and as a speed threat in the screen game.He's probably going to be over-drafted due to his ridiculous combine forty of 4.31 secs - but we rate him as a late-round prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft who could make an impact on special teams.
Velus Jones Jr. percentiles vs other Wide Receivers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Velus Jones Jr. (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
152.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
23.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.