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Georgia LB Jones declares for NFL Draft

Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones announced on Friday that he will enter the 2013 NFL Draft, giving up his remaining college eligibility.

Jones made his announcement with a statement released through the school, which read, "This has been a difficult decision, and one that I have talked over with my family and coaches. "I want to thank my family, teammates, coaches and support staff and the Bulldog Nation for everything over the last three years. I will always appreciate the chance Georgia gave me after my injury at Southern Cal. There is nothing like the Bulldog fans and I will forever be proud to wear the 'G'. I think this decision comes at the right time for me and my family and I look forward to seeing what the next level holds for me. Go Dogs!"

Jones, a redshirt junior, is ranked by NFLDraftScout.com as the No. 1 linebacker in the draft pool and No. 3 overall. He's considered a potential top-10 overall pick in April.

A first-team All-SEC performer, Jones broke Georgia's season sack record with 14.5, finishing the 2012 season with 85 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception.

A Georgia-native and USC-transfer, he leaves Athens with 28 career sacks, leading the conference in this category the past two seasons.

In his final college game, Jones was credited with two sacks in Georgia's Capital One Bowl victory over Nebraska on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-2, 242-pound Jones excelled at Georgia after overcoming a neck injury and a transfer from Southern California. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award as a junior after finishing the 2011 season wtih 70 tackles.

Although not limited to a 3-4 defense, Jones' best fit at the next level will be on a defense that allows him to stand up and rush the passer, needing room to operate. He is explosive athlete with the quickness and range to make plays all over the field and attack from different angles at the line of scrimmage. He will draw comparisons by many to Denver Broncos pass rusher Von Miller, but Jones doesn't have the same body type or power to consistently shed once engaged.

Additionally, his medical history will be a hot topic over the next few months due to a condition known as spinal stenosis, which could affect him down the road in his career.

Based on his ability, Jones projects as a first-round pick, but the injury concerns could push him down several draft boards.