UNCP Athletics

AS A JUNIOR (2019): Football Gazette all-region selection … Played in all 11 games … Logged 16 tackles (9 solo), including two tackles for loss (-10 yards) … Also posted two pass break-ups … Led nation in kickoff return touchdowns … Ranked fifth in NCAA Division II in combined punt return yards (908), and was listed 20^th in kickoff return average (27.4) … Returned 29 kickoffs for 794 yards and three touchdowns … Returned nine punts for 114 yards (12.7 yards/return). Winston-Salem State: Assisted on a tackle on a key third down stop in the fourth quarter … also tallied a 17-yard kickoff return and a 7-yard punt return. Virginia State: Logged a season-best four tackles (2 solo) … Returned three kickoffs for 126 yards (42.0 yards/return), including an 87-yard return for touchdown on the game’s opening kickoff … also tallied a 24-yard kickoff return later in the period. Catawba: Posted a solo tackle in the second quarter … Returned three kickoffs for 52 yards … also turned in a 44-yard punt return in the second quarter that set up UNCP’s second score of the game … returned the game’s opening kickoff 27 yards. Limestone: Returned six kickoffs for 114 yards (19.0 yards/return), while also tallying a pair of punt returns (6 yards) … registered a 40-yard kickoff return in fourth quarter. Carson-Newman: Assisted on a tackle in the second quarter … also logged a 25-yard kickoff return in the fourth period. Mars Hill: Tallied a season-best three solo tackles … Returned two kickoffs for 48 yards, including a 32-yard jaunt on the game’s opening kick … also broke up a second-down pass amid a potential game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter. #13 Wingate: Tallied two solo tackles … returned three kickoffs for 153 yards (51.0 yards/return), including a school record 100-yard kickoff return in the third quarter that gave the Braves their first touchdown of the contest … also had a 32-yard kickoff return in the opening quarter. Tusculum: Returned two kickoffs for 32 yards … also had a 15-yard punt return. Newberry: Tallied a solo tackle in the fourth quarter … returned three kickoffs for 142 yards (47.3 yards/return), including a 95-yard return for touchdown in the second quarter … also had a 25-yard return on the game’s opening kickoff … tallied a punt return (1 yard) in the first quarter as well. #4 Lenoir-Rhyne: Assisted on a tackle in the first period … returned five kickoffs for 85 yards, including a 42-yard return in the third quarter that set up a game-tying touchdown for the Braves … also posted an 11-yard punt return in the final period. UVa.-Wise: Assisted on tackles in the first and third quarters … also posted one punt return (no gain).
 
AS A SOPHOMORE (2018): Played in nine games … Amassed 20 tackles, including 19 solo stops, one interception and three pass break-ups … Registered three or more tackles against five opponents ... Returned 22 kickoffs for 469 yards (21.3 yards/return) and a touchdown … Also returned 14 punts for 128 yards (9.1 yards/return). Elizabeth City State: Tallied a pass break-up in the first quarter … returned five punts for 74 yards (14.8 yards/return), including a 31-yard jaunt in the third quarter. Newberry: Registered two kickoff returns for 16 yards, as well as a 3-yard punt return. Wingate: Returned five kickoffs for 84 yards, including a 39-yarder in the first quarter. Central State: Tacked up a season-best five tackles (4 solo) … also logged five kickoff returns for 109 yards (21.8 yards/return), as well as a 14-yard punt return … tallied two tackles amid a drive by the Marauders that bridged the first and second quarters … tallied a 42-yard kickoff return that started the second half and set the Braves up at midfield. Concord: Posted three solo tackles, while also logging three kickoff returns for 116 yards (38.7 yards/return) … returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to give UNCP a 7-3 lead early in the first quarter. #24 Lenoir-Rhyne: Tallied a pass break-up in the first quarter … also returned three kickoffs for 46 yards, including a 23-yarder in the first period. Mars Hill: ­­Matched a season-best with four solo tackles … also returned two punts for 27 yards, including an 18-yard return in the opening period. Carson-Newman: Tallied four solo tackles, while also logging a punt return (no gain) and a pass break-up. Catawba: Tacked up four solo stops for the third-straight game, as well as an interception … Also returned four kickoffs for 88 yards and two punts for 17 yards … tallied an interception in the first quarter that set the Braves up at the Catawba 33-yard line … registered a 30-yard kickoff return in the first quarter, as well as a 29-yard return in the fourth period.
 
AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2017): Played in 10 games … Registered 15 tackles (12 solo), including an assist on a tackle for loss (-2 yards) … Also recorded one interception at Carson-Newman … Tallied multiple tackles against four opponents, including a season-best three solo stops in home games with Winston-Salem State and Tusculum … Notched one pass break-up at Wingate … Returned 14 kickoffs for 292 yards (20.9 avg.), including a season-long 65-yard return at Mars Hill that set up a field goal in the first quarter … Also returned five punts for 17 yards.

AS A FRESHMAN (2016): Redshirted. Did not see game action.

HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Lake Norman High School for coach Rob McNeely … Earned second-straight all-county honors as a senior after registering 15 tackles and four interceptions … Also carried the ball 18 times for 137 yards, and hauled in 22 catches for 378 yards … Totaled 36 tackles (31 solo) as a junior, while also tallying three interceptions and nine pass break-ups … Also registered three receptions, carried the ball nine times for 48 yards and returned one kickoff for 32 yards … Also lettered in track & field for the Wildcats.

PERSONAL: The son of Anika and Carter Jones … Has two older brothers, Malik and Carter … Maintained a 3.0 cumulative grade point average at Lake Norman High School … A sports management major at UNCP.