2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

by Cory J. Bonini on March 4, 2013 @ 15:20:48 PDT

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Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker Jarvis Jones is an exciting prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft, but he comes with almost as much risk as upside.

Jones has tallied 28.0 sacks and 44 tackles for loss over the last two years. Perhaps the most impressive stat of all, he forced a whopping seven fumbles in 2012.

Star potential

Strengths

Extremely quick off the edge
Times snaps very well
Surprisingly strong for his size
Strong motor - constantly in pursuit and doesn't give up
Able to drop into the coverage
Tenacious desire to strip the ball
Shows awareness in clogging passing lanes
Good wrap-up tackler
Short-area closing speed
Pro-style 3-4 defense experience
Utilized on stunts and twists to blitz inside

Weaknesses

Undersized (6-foot-2, 245 pounds)
One-year starter
Lacks a full repertoire of pass-rushing moves
Can cover tight ends but struggles with fast running backs on wheel routes
Spinal stenosis diagnosis - a narrowing of the spinal column that has caused premature endings to several NFL careers
; Jones wasn't cleared to play at USC before transferring to Georgia
Struggles shedding bigger blockers

Expected draft placement

Jones has early first-round talent, but his medical grade will determine where teams feel comfortable taking a chance on him. He legitimately could go as early as about No. 5 (Detroit Lions) or fall out of the first round entirely. A placement in the mid-teens to early-20s is fair at this time.

About Cory J. Bonini

Cory is KFFL's General Manager. In late 2002, he joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst and has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association, as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, Bonini has been featured in print, on radio and on scores of websites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors. Follow @CoryKFFL