Will Christian Jones Take a Big Leap in Year 5?

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Chase Petersen | Last updated 8/16/22

Christian Jones is a 5th year OL that has started 22 games for the Longhorns. He started every game at left tackle in 2021, a season in which the Texas OL struggled mightily. Now, Jones wasn’t the whole reason the OL was bad, but he certainly did his part. However, it was his first year in a new system, so there is a ton of room for growth. Kyle Flood has proven to be one of the best OL developers in the nation, so hopefully he can help Jones reach his peak potential.

High School and Recruiting:

Jones was recruited by Herb Hand out of Cy Woods High School in Cypress, TX. He was ranked as the 56th OL in the nation, and the 724th player overall. Jones was named a captain as a senior and went on to be named first team all district. He took visits to Texas, Virginia, and Cal-Berkley before deciding to stay home with the Longhorns. His list of offers includes the aforementioned Cal and Virginia, Yale, Iowa State, and Houston amongst others.

On Field Skills:

The first thing you notice about Jones is that he is an NFL sized OL. He is listed at 6’6” 328 pounds with pretty long arms. With his size profile, just one great year of tape could get him looks from NFL organizations. He is a fairly impressive athlete at his size. His feet are good enough to match most pass rushers, but not elite enough to keep up with super explosive guys. His punch could be a bit stiffer as well, but I don’t believe his power is a negative. If Jones can put it all together in his fifth season, second under Kyle Flood, he has NFL potential. It has just yet to be realized.

Outlook for Texas in 2022:

If I were to bet on the starting OL today, I would have Christian Jones as the starting RT. His size is exactly what Coach Flood loves, and his experience is unmatched in the room. He has a lot of talented freshmen below him pushing for the job, however, so he’ll need to bring his A-game to maintain the spot. Don’t be surprised if Jones starts week one, but is usurped by Cam Williams or maybe even Devon Campbell early in the season. Jones has the size and talent to keep and maintain the starting job, but this year it will be harder than ever.

Career Outlook:

As I’ve said a few times, Christian Jones has an NFL body and athletic profile. Currently, he just doesn’t have the on the field goodness to attract NFL scouts. If he can take a big step in year two of this system, then perhaps he could draw interest from some front offices. Either way though, the kid had a Yale offer out of high school, and now a degree from the University of Texas. Even if he doesn’t make it in football, he is set up to win in life regardless.

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