The former Seminole is sure that he will fit in well with Jacksonville’s new coaching staff.
The Jacksonville Jaguars shook up the franchise this summer by hiring former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen as their next head coach. Coen is shaking things up in his first opportunity to head a team during his coaching career. Last year, the Jaguars draughted Jarrian Jones, a former Florida State cornerback, in the third round. Jones had a decent rookie season, aside from going viral after being pushed by Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. He played in all 17 games and made four starts, totalling 40 tackles, one tackle for loss, eight pass deflections, and an interception.
Jones was unsure of his role on the defence going into his second season with the team. He played largely at nickel last season, but hoped to return to the outside.
This was his first inquiry to Coen and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile. Fortunately for him, they had the same feeling. “Last season, when I was playing 100% nickel, I asked them, ‘Can I go to corner?’ That is what I play. “Obviously I play nickel, but bro, I guard people like that’s what I do,” Jones told News4JAX’s Jamal St. Cyr. “I guard people; that is what I do. Do you understand what I am saying? I’m not sure what went into that, but last season they refused to let me do it.
“So the coaching staff letting me be able to go do that, that’s something when I first met with coach Camp [Anthony Campanile], when I first met with Liam [Coen], that’s something I asked them, ‘can I please go play corner?’ and they was like ‘well, actually that’s what we were thinking’ and I was like ‘ok, well we all cool together,'” Jones recalled.
Jones should only improve as he prepares for the 2025 season. There is yet another level for him to reach, as proven by his continuous development at Florida State. Jones enjoyed a stellar year in his last season with the Seminoles. He was a starter in the 2023 ACC Championship. Jones was named an all-conference honourable mention and received FSU’s Most Improved Player on Defence, as well as the Bobby Bowden Leadership Award, after recording 25 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, three pass deflections, and three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
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