Alright – now that Super Bowl LVII has come and gone, it’s time to immediately shift gears and focus on the 2023 NFL Draft. There is no rest for the wicked in this NFL content game – we can all sleep when we’re dead. One of the most fun aspects of every NFL Draft as a writer is scouting prospects and trying to identify those hidden gems….the diamonds in the rough, if you will…guys who might not be Day 1 or Day 2 picks, but sure as hell seem to have what it takes to make it in the NFL. Over the course of the next couple months, I’ll be highlighting some guys from this year’s draft class that I believe will be a steal for someone come April. Let’s kick this thing off with a look at linebacker Cam Jones out of Indiana.
One of my favorite things about the Senior Bowl is that it gives us a chance to scout lesser known prospects. Jones wasn’t even on my radar heading down to Mobile a couple of weeks ago, and yet, he just kept popping up.
Scouting other linebackers this week, but #Indiana LB Cam Jones kept showing up in different ways and commanding my attention, including nice flashes as a potential pass rusher. #SeniorBowl
— Stoney Keeley (@StoneyKeeley) February 3, 2023
: @FWordsPod, coverage sponsored by: @LyonsFord37091 pic.twitter.com/R0LabbImd6
All Senior Bowl content is sponsored by Lyons Ford. They’re not your typical dealership! They will always give you every discount you qualify for, and give you you the most bang for your buck for your trade-in vehicle. You won’t regret doing business with them. Reach out to Zach on Twitter if you’re looking at getting a new or used vehicle.
What stood out about Jones the most to me was his willingness to initiate contact, his closing speed, his relentless pursuit chasing the play down, his instincts, his potential as an interior pass rusher, value on special teams coverage units, and his leadership qualities. He was constantly signaling to guys, and hyping up his teammates. For his attitude alone, he made my vaunted Senior Bowl “got that dawg in him” list.
Here are the raw notes I jotted down every time Cam Jones showed up while I was in Mobile attending Senior Bowl practices and the game itself:
- Day 2: “Watch Cam Jones” (I was watching another linebacker when Zach nudged me and said “dude, you gotta keep an eye on this Cam Jones kid from Indiana,” so I did!)
- Day 2: Competitive individuals: Jones beats Evan Hull on 1st step
- Day 2: Jones beats Hull outside, but Hull recovers nicely
- Day 2: Jones tight in coverage
- Day 2: Good patience and positioning in team drills
- Day 2: Jones tenacious in closing on the play – play recognition, patience, running to the play
- Day 3: Jones relentless
- Day 3: Jones PBU on Camerun Peoples – he was all over him – better in coverage than people seem to think
- Senior Bowl: Jones going around hyping up his teammates on special teams before the game
- Senior Bowl: Jones PBU in the game
- Senior Bowl: Cam Jones, good closing speed on Eric Gray in the open field
It kind of surprised me to see how effective he was in those pass rush drills during which he was going one on one with a running back attempting to pass protect. He has a great first step in those one on one matchups, and he plants his foot and finishes. He routinely beat whoever he was lined up against – now, it’s hard to watch every little thing at Senior Bowl practices…but, for the most part, every time I noticed Jones in those drills, he was winning. If you just read the scouting reports, you’d think Jones lacks power because of his size, but that’s not at all what I saw that week. Jones plays a relentless, explosive style. He was a spark plug out there – both in playing his game and in lifting his teammates up. He showed an ability to quickly diagnose the play in front of him and crash on it. That’s right – he didn’t just close on the play…he crashed on it. In short, he was everywhere.
I’ve seen other analysts say Jones isn’t going to be the most powerful pass rusher and edge setter, but like…that’s what you have defensive ends and OLBs for, no? I don’t see how that is Jones’ game anyway. Who is going to be asking him to line up one on one with an offensive tackle and bend the edge on the guy? Jones’ injury history is a valid concern as he missed a lot of time in 2022, but I’ll say this…I would’ve never known the guy was hurt last season from watching him practice at the Senior Bowl. He didn’t seem tentative at all. I’ve seen analysts call his size into question – he came in at 6’1″ and 227lbs at the Senior Bowl. But, it still just depends on what he’s asked to do in whichever defense he lands with in the NFL.
What I see is a “rally the troops” type and an enforcer. There’s an old school element to his game, and he strikes me as the type of middle linebacker that can be a ranger in the middle of the field with added value on special teams and in your locker room. He might not be a guy you want starting Week 1, but he can develop into a nice player as he learns how to translate his traits to the NFL level.
If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to The Unofficial Titans Podcast on Apple Podcasts, follow us on Spotify, or wherever you take in your podcasts!
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
Subscribe to the SoBros Network Patreon here – $5/month gets you instant access to an exhaustive content library of articles, podcasts, and videos created exclusively for our subscribers!
