Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jarvis Jones will be one of the best rookies in the NFL this season. He will be one of the best rookies and, in my opinion, the best defensive rookie in the league.
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted the talented linebacker from the Georgia Bulldogs in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He became their first pick and the 17th pick overall, showing the Steelers’ need for a talented linebacker on a roster that is thin at the position.
While head coach Mike Tomlin says that Jones will not just be ‘given’ the role of starting outside linebacker, I believe the 23-year-old will earn the spot.
He was known as a blitzing linebacker at Georgia, racking up 28 sacks in his two seasons at the school.
Starting his collegiate career with the USC Trojans, Jones struggled to find a home, recording just 13 tackles in his freshman season in 2009. After his transfer from the school, he finally found a home at Georgia, making his two-year career with the school worthwhile recording 156 tackles, 28 sacks and an interception.
There’s no doubt that Jones has the skill set to be the best rookie defensive player in the league, and in my opinion he will be the clear-cut favorite to win defensive rookie of the year in 2013.
Oh, did I mention that Jones can put the hurting on ball-carriers as well? He forced four fumbles in his senior season with the Bulldogs.
Jones will likely join of the best starting linebacker crew in all of football with LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons and Larry Foote. Being the fourth linebacker in the base 3-4 defense will help him learn from the best. He will have one of the biggest sack total seasons of any rookie in recent memory and will be quite the contributor for the top defense in football.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
