Connecticut’s Travis Jones Could Give The Green Bay Packers A Dominant Defensive Line

Observe: The NFL Draft begins April 28 and the Inexperienced Bay Packers have the 22^nd and 28^th decide within the first spherical. Because the begin of the month, I’ve evaluated 20 gamers the Packers would possibly take.

At the moment marks participant No. 20, Connecticut defensive finish Travis Jones.

TRAVIS JONES, DE, CONNECTICUT

THE SKINNY

Began 32 video games throughout his three years with the Huskies. Connecticut did not play in 2020 on account of COVID-19 issues.

Jones misplaced greater than 30 kilos throughout his time in Storrs and diminished his physique fats from 30% to 13%. He completed his UConn profession with three-year totals of 8.0 sacks, 19.0 tackles for loss and 133 tackles.

In 2021, Jones began all 11 of video games and had 47 tackles, with 7½ for loss and a team-high 4½ sacks. He missed one sport in September with a foot damage.

Jones was one of many stars of the Senior Bowl, although, and thrust himself up draft boards and into the dialogue of potential first rounders. He adopted that with a stable mix, as properly.

MEASURABLES

Top: 6-4

Weight: 325

Bench press: —

40-yard sprint: 4.92

Vertical bounce: 28 1/2”

Broad bounce: 9’2”

Arms: 34 1/4”

Fingers: 10 1/4”

SCOUTING REPORT

Whereas some see Jones as strictly a nostril deal with, he does have large athleticism and will play defensive finish in a 3-4 scheme.

Jones is extraordinarily stout in opposition to the run and infrequently out of his hole. Jones has energy, mass and a excessive soccer IQ. These qualities imply he can tackle double-team blocks and is basically immovable by single crew blocks.

Whereas stopping the run is Jones’ greatest attribute, he can push the pocket on passing downs. He can even energy by means of the sides and put strain on quarterbacks.

His effort stage at Connecticut was inconsistent, although. And plenty of scouts marvel if the actual Jones is the one they watched at Connecticut — or the one who was sensational on the Senior Bowl?

PACKERS’ PREDICAMENT

Inexperienced Bay has an elite nostril deal with in Kenny Clark. For years, although, Clark hasn’t had high notch assist.

Dean Lowry is a stable participant coming off a 12 months during which he had a career-best 5.0 sacks. The remainder of the group contains veteran Jarran Reed, second-year man T.J. Slaton and undrafted Jack Heflin.

Inexperienced Bay’s secondary and linebacking items may rank among the many greatest in soccer this season. If the Packers added one other dominant piece up entrance, their protection might be particular.

THEY SAID IT

NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah on Wyatt’s Senior Bowl: “I used to be speaking to a crew that simply had him in (for a pre-draft go to), and we have been discussing him. The tape was good from the autumn. It wasn’t nearly as good as he was within the Senior Bowl. He placed on a present down there. It is laborious to seek out guys which might be that large and that highly effective and that athletic. He adopted that up with an impressive mix.

“He is most likely helped himself by means of the method as a lot as anyone has. Should you return once more and simply return to the tape, you’d most likely be somewhat bit upset, need somewhat bit extra, need him to dominate somewhat bit extra. However you realize it is all there. It is all in his physique.”

Jones on his spectacular Senior Bowl: “Coming from UConn we don’t play big-time colleges each week and I needed to go down there and present I may dominate anyone within the nation. I had a chip on my shoulder and I really feel like I went down there and did my job.”

Dennis Dottin-Carter, Jones’ place coach at UConn: “My private hope for him was that when he obtained to the Senior Bowl, that he would simply open up everyone else’s eyes. We already knew what he was able to doing, and I feel he did precisely that.

“He took that chance, and I believed he knocked it proper out of the park. He did an impressive job, and he did an impressive job simply being precisely who he’s. He did not have to vary. He did not wish to change. He simply did what he does each single day. He was simply Travis Jones, and now everyone is aware of who Travis Jones is.”

PREVIOUS PLAYERS SPOTLIGHTED

• Ohio State huge receiver Chris Olave

• Central Michigan offensive deal with Bernhard Raimann

• Arkansas huge receiver Treylon Burks

• Purdue exterior linebacker George Karlaftis

• Boston Faculty offensive deal with Zion Johnson

• Georgia defensive deal with Devonte Wyatt

• Minnesota exterior linebacker Boye Mafe

• Penn State huge receiver Jahan Dotson

• Northern Iowa offensive deal with Trevor Penning

• North Dakota State wideout Christian Watson

• Houston defensive finish Logan Corridor

• USC huge receiver Drake London

• Michigan security Daxton Hill

• Georgia huge receiver George Pickens

• Texas A&M offensive lineman Kenyon Inexperienced

• Iowa middle Tyler Linderbaum

• Tulsa offensive lineman Tyler Smith

• Florida State exterior linebacker Jermaine Johnson

• USC exterior linebacker Drake Jackson