Datone Jones

Early years

Jones was born in Los Angeles, California. Jones attended Compton High School in Compton, California, where he played as a defensive end for the Compton Tarbabes high school football team. As a junior in 2006, he had 60 tackles and four sacks. As a senior in 2007, Jones had 91 tackles, seven sacks, two fumble recoveries, nine hurries and three pass deflections. Jones was named second-team all-state by Cal-Hi sports. Additionally, he was also the Moore League co-defensive player of the year.

He played basketball in middle school and high school, when he was a point guard. On the weekends, he played with the likes of Houston Rockets guard James Harden and current Toronto Raptors DeMar DeRozan, who played at Jones' high school. Jones quit basketball his junior year to focus on football, and in addition to that, he also lettered all four years in track and field.

During the spring, Jones ran the 100-, 200-, and 400-meter sprints at Compton. His best time in the 200 meters was 22.47 seconds as a sophomore. As a junior at 240 pounds, he ran a personal-best time of 56.69 seconds in the 400 meters at a track meet in Long Beach.

College recruiting

Jones was highly recruited coming out of high school and was given a four-star prospect ranking by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.8 seconds. Scouts said that he had good explosion, pass rushing skills, and quickness off the ball, but also expressed concern about his techniques and moves. "I go low, fast and hard. That's my strength," Jones said. "Every coach I talk with says how much they love how I fly around sideline-to-sideline and hit. I think quarterbacks are afraid of me and I'm really hard to block because I have such a fast get off." He had a 3.0 GPA and an 810 SAT score which he planned to retake. He received scholarship offers from UCLA, Arizona State, Colorado, Notre Dame, Oregon, Arizona, Nebraska, and USC. Jones have ultimately decided to attend the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

College career

In UCLA, Jones played both defensive end and defensive tackle for the UCLA Bruins football team from 2008 to 2012. He completed his Bruin career with 43 starts, including his final 28 straight games and finished with 148 tackles (90 solo), 36.5 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks, five passes defensed, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

In his first year with the team, Jones played in ten games with two starts. His first start came against California, where he had a season-high six tackles (4 solo). He finished the year with 15 tackles and was named to the Rivals.com All-Pac-10 Freshman team.

In his sophomore season, Jones started all 13 games. During the season opener against San Diego State, Jones defended two passes, a career-high. On October 3 on against Stanford, he had three tackles and sacked quarterback Andrew Luck, forcing a fumble which he recovered. He finished the season with four sacks, and 11 tackles for a loss, which earned him Sophomore All-America honorable mention honors from College Football News.

In 2010, Jones missed the entire season due to fracturing his right foot in Fall Camp. Returning from the injury the next season, he again started every game for the team and was named to the Hendricks Award watch list, given annually to the best defensive linemen in college football. During the game against California, he had a career-best two sacks. Jones led the Bruins in tackles with 41, while also topping the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks.

In his final year with the team, he continued to be the starter and was named to the Chuck Bednarik award watch list, given annually to the best defensive player in college football. During a game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Jones had a career best 3 tackles for loss and also was given credit for forcing a safety. Later in the season against Houston, he matched his career-high with three tackles for a loss and also caught a seven-yard touchdown pass. Later on against Rice, Jones had six tackles and matched his career high with two sacks. When the Bruins faced California, Jones had five tackles (four solo),a sack and blocked an extra point. At the end of the year, Jones was selected to be a second-team all-conference by the league coaches. He finished with 148 tackles (90 solo), 36.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, five passes defensed, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He was also selected to play in the all-star Senior Bowl.

Professional career

Jones was projected to be a late first, early second round pick in the NFL Draft. Scouts commented that he was a well built athlete that had a good initial explosion off the ball and used his hands well. However, he was also described as a tweener who lacks the sustained speed and flexibility to be a 4-3 defensive end who also tired quickly.

Green Bay Packers

Jones was selected in the first round (26th overall) by the Green Bay Packers in the 2013 NFL Draft. He became the first UCLA defensive lineman taken in the first round since 1979 when Manu Tuiasosopo was drafted 18th overall by the Seattle Seahawks and the first UCLA player selected in the first round since Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis back in 2006.

2013 season

Jones overcame an ankle injury suffered during the preseason to ready himself in time for the regular-season opener, and did not miss any action during the year. Jones was one of only 4 Packers rookies to appear in all 16 games (joining tackle David Bakhtiari, safety Chris Banjo and cornerback Micah Hyde), rotating at defensive end and as one of the interior rushers in the team's sub-defenses. For the season, he appeared on 267 defensive plays and finished with 10 tackles (7 of them solo), 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery, while also blocking an extra-point attempt on special teams. His sack total led all Packers rookies and he was one of only two Green Bay rookies to recover a fumble on the season.

2014 season

In 2014, Jones played in 13 games, starting three of those games. He finished the regular season with 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception returned for 18 yards, two passes defended, and a fumble recovery. In terms of quarterback pressures, Jones ranked fourth on the team with 15 and tied for No. 5 in quarterback hits with eight.

In week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had first interception as the Packers won 20-3. In a postseason divisional round contest against the Dallas Cowboys on January 11, 2015, he became the first Packer to register a blocked field goal and a fumble recovery in a playoff game, helping the Packers advance to the conference championship game.

2015 season

On July 2, 2015, the NFL announced that they would suspend Jones for 1 game for violating the league policy against substances of abuse. It was also reported that he was cited for marijuana a day after the Packers 28-22 overtime collapse in Seattle. He played 15 games during the regular season while also appearing in both postseason contests. He posted 20 tackles (14 solo), three sacks, three passes defended, and one kickoff return for nine yards. He had 13 quarterback hits, good for No. 2 on the team and 12 quarterback pressures that ranked him No. 5. His three passes defensed were the most among Packers defensive linemen.

In Week 5, Jones recorded the second blocked field goal of his career when he deflected Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein's 50-yard attempt. In week 6 against the San Diego Chargers, he recorded a sack of Philip Rivers with 6 minutes to play and he also stuffed Danny Woodhead for a 1-yard loss with 30 seconds left as the Packers would win 27-20. On November 19, 2015, defensive coordinator Dom Capers announced that Jones would be converted to outside linebacker.

2016 season

On March 22, 2016, head coach Mike McCarthy announced that Datone Jones would continue playing outside linebacker as well lining him up as an elephant edge rusher. On May 3, 2016, the Packers declined the fifth-year option from Jones, making him a free agent after the season. He played in 15 games in the regular season and appeared in all 3 postseason contests. He posted 22 tackles (17 solo), 1 sack, and had 2 passes defended.

Jones and teammate Nick Perry had strong performances in week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars to open up the 2016 season and both were critical in holding the Jaguars to 48 rushing yards as the Packers would win 27-23. On November 4, 2016, he was fined $36,434 for roughing the passer in Week 8 against the Atlanta Falcons. On December 23, 2016, he was fined $9,115, this time for a facemask penalty.

Minnesota Vikings

On March 14, 2017, Jones signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. After signing with the Vikings, he stated that the Packers weren't interested in re-signing him and said the Vikings suit him better. On September 2, 2017, the Vikings placed Jones on injured reserve. He was released on September 8, 2017.