The 2022 NFL Draft class was full of talented wide receivers. Not only did six get selected in the first round, but another 11 were picked in the second and third rounds. One of those 11 wide receivers was Tennessee’s Velus Jones Jr.
Jones was a three-star recruit in 2016. He was the 79th-rated wide receiver and the 16th-rated player in the state of Alabama. Even as a three-star recruit, Jones received offers from several of the top programs in the country, including Notre Dame, Oklahoma, and USC. After several visits and decommitments, Jones ultimately picked USC. However, things didn’t work out for Jones in Southern California.
He saw the field in only one game as a freshman. Jones played in 35 games for USC over the next three years. However, he had only 36 receptions and one receiving touchdown in that span. After four disappointing years at USC, Jones transferred to Tennessee before the 2020 season.
In his first year with the Volunteers, Jones had a mediocre season with 22 receptions for 280 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. However, Jones stuck around for another year thanks to the NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility waiver.
With his extra year of eligibility, Jones took a massive step forward in his play. He had 62 receptions for 807 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns last season. All three statistical numbers were more than his career total entering the year. The breakout season made Jones a third-round pick by the Chicago Bears in the 2022 NFL Draft.
