In the decreasing years of Nick Saban’s career in Alabama,, The school has become a bit of a full -fledged receiver factory. He produced the Choices of first round Amari Cooper (2015), Calvin Ridley (2018), Henry Ruggs and Jerry Jeudy (2020), Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith (2021) and Jameson Williams (2021).
Even with this impressive pedigree, However, 2011 n ° 6 Global choice Julio Jones is the most impressive in the group with a professional career in the temple of football fame now officially to its credit.
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Jones, who retired on Friday, was the first wide receiver of Alabama to be drafted in the first round since Joey Jones was chosen ninth in the general classification by the Falcons in 1984. 220 pounds wide.
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What followed was a 13 -year career in the NFL during which Jones amassed 914 catches (27th of all time), 13,703 yards (16th all time) and 66 affected. Jones did not play in 2024, so although his retirement is, in a sense, a formality, he will always be the best receiver in the history of Falcons to date.
Before terrorizing the NFC South, however, Jones presented himself for Saban with the Tide Crimson. How good was it? Here is an overview of Jones in Alabama.
When did Julio Jones play for Alabama?
Jones was recruited as player No. 3 of the country and receiver n ° 1 According to the composite classification of 247sports. Originally from Foley, in Alabama – four hours by road south of Tuscaloosa – he directed the 2008 class of the tide, which also presented Mark Ingram II and including Hightower.
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Jones would play three seasons for Alabama from 2008 to 2010, won the Honors of the SEC in the three seasons (second team in 2008 and 2009, first team in 2010) and the second All-American team in 2010.
Did Julio Jones win a national championship in the college?
Jones was part of the winning team of the Alabama National Championship. He led the team with 43 catches, 596 yards and four affected.
2009, however, was the least productive year of Jones in Alabama, because this offense was carried out through Ingram, which won the Heisman trophy, and its safeguard, the future winner of the Doak Walker Award, Trent Richardson. However, when Greg Mcelroy passed the ball, Jones was his favorite target.
Julio Jones Alabama Statistics
Apart from this ruthlessly effective offense in 2009, Jones was a key element in the infraction of the Alabama.
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He had 924 yards in the first year, almost triple of the second receiver of the team. He also had four affected. During his only season of 1,000 yards, 2010, Jones succeeded 78 catches for 1,133 yards and seven affected. At the time, these 78 receptions were a record, although it was exceeded five times since.
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2008: 58 receptions, 924 yards, four affected, 15.9 yards / reception
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2009: 43 receptions, 596 yards, four affected, 13.9 yards / reception
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2010: 78 receptions, 1,133 yards, seven affected, 14.5 yards / reception
Julio Jones scouting report
Even with this relatively silent 2009 season, Jones’ talent could not be hidden at the NFL scout combination.
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Jones ran a dashboard of 4.42 by 40 yards, showed a crazy vertical jump of 38.5 inches and bent a wide absurd jump of 11 feet 3 inches, Everything with a broken foot.
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His performances left the NFL Network Desk in admiration.
Jones NFL project page is a lasting testimony to its impressive. It is noted by 7.50, an “all-professional perennial” in the language of the site (a prophecy that the five-time all-pro managed to be up to par), and its total score was a 94, the best among the receivers.
Nick Saban on Julio Jones
Saban and Jones have talked a lot about the other over the years, and there is clear mutual respect between the two. But one of the most revealing quotes from Saban occurred in 2021, when he spoke of the importance of Jones as a pioneer for what was going to happen in Alabama.
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“They all came here when we were not good. We just came from a 6-6 season or something like that, ” Saban said to the 2008 recruitment class media. “So they came here and they believed and trusted what we are trying to do to create a program, and they came here to prove something.”
Sabana distinguished some players in this class, but Jones obtained some of the brightest praise of the legend of training.
“There was no one we had, it was a better leader or did more to improve the culture of tenacity, give efforts, finish games, be a great competitor that Julio Jones,” said Saban. “I mean, he used to kick off and did not get out of the kick -off team during the games, and he is one of the best receivers in the country.
“So, from the point of view of culture, from the point of view of the impact in the first years, there were a lot of guys who had a big impact, but Julio was one who probably opened the way as much as anyone.”
This article originally appeared on Tuscaloosa news: Julio Jones in Alabama: revisiting the legendary WR university career
