STARKVILLE — Kelley Jones is usually content to wear whatever uniform number he is given.
But although he has played in just three games with Mississippi State, his teammates saw enough potential in him to suggest he switch from 29, which he wore last year as a true freshman, to No. 1.
“My teammates, they just came to me, they felt like I was the one,” Jones said. “I never asked for it. They just came and said they feel like I should get it. I could shock a lot of people and possibly be a first-round (NFL Draft pick).”
Jones won’t be eligible for the NFL Draft until 2026, but he does possess tools that could help him become the Bulldogs’ next shutdown cornerback. For the last five years, MSU has had an outstanding cover corner on its roster, from Martin Emerson to Emmanuel Forbes to Decamerion Richardson, all of whom are now playing at the next level.
Brice Pollock, who played 11 games and started three as a freshman last fall, is the Bulldogs’ most proven returning corner, and MSU also added some experience in the transfer portal with DeAgo Brumfield and Montre Miller. At 6-foot-4, though, Jones is the Bulldogs’ tallest defensive back and could find himself matched up against some of the biggest, fastest and most physical wide receivers in the Southeastern Conference.
“He’s athletic, he can move, he can bend and he has tremendous speed,” cornerbacks coach Corey Bell said. “Now it’s just about cleaning up the little things, which he and I talked about, so we’re on the same page with that. He’s doing a great job with that. You don’t find a lot of 6-foot-4 corners, so when you have one, it’s a unique situation. There’s some adjustments to it in terms of what’s comfortable for him.”
Jones made his collegiate debut in the season opener last year against Southeastern Louisiana, then appeared in two more games against Alabama and Western Michigan without registering any statistics. But he was taking first-team repetitions when MSU opened fall camp last Thursday.
Head coach Jeff Lebby said Wednesday that the defense, a group full of question marks at all three levels, dominated practice Monday and Tuesday, but Wednesday’s session was more evenly matched. He said Jones was beaten on a couple of bang-bang plays but ended the day with a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown.
“He’s just playing the next play and a guy who’s getting out of his own way,” Lebby said. “He’s preparing the right way; he’s taking care of his body. The guy is incredibly talented. He’s a dude who is thankful for opportunity. You see it on his face, you hear it in his conversation, and he’ll be a guy who maximizes his potential.”
Akharaiyi named to Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list
Coming off a monster year at Texas-El Paso, senior receiver Kelly Akharaiyi was named to the preseason watch list Wednesday for the Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to the top pass-catcher in college football. The award is named for Fred Biletnikoff, a former superstar receiver at Florida State who played 14 seasons with the Oakland Raiders.
Akharaiyi started his college career at Tyler Junior College in Texas, leading the team in receiving yards in 2021. In 2023, he led the Miners with 1,033 receiving yards on 48 catches with seven touchdowns, ranking fifth among all Football Bowl Subdivision players with 21.5 yards per reception.
“Kelly is a guy who’s played a ton of ball,” Lebby said. “Our expectation is that he’s going to play a ton of ball for us and have a bunch of success for us. He has to continue to work and create this consistency for him to be able to go do what we all want him to do.”
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