Where did Chris Jones go to college? Mississippi State football star anchors Chiefs' D-line
Kanas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones has proven to be a force to be reckoned with for opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks.
Over the last three seasons, Jones has become a game wrecker in the NFL. And his production speaks for itself: He leads all NFL defensive tackles in sacks (35), quarterback hits (75) and pressures (217) in that span. It has allowed him to help lead the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl for the second straight season and fourth time in the last five years.
"You got to take a second and look back at everything you had to go through," Jones said of appearing in another Super Bowl. "I never think it's about the destination but the journey to get to the destination. If you look at the journey we had to take, that is a huge appreciation on that."
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With Jones looking for his third Super Bowl ring in a span of five seasons, here's a look back at his college career in the Southeastern Conference at Mississippi State.
Where did Chris Jones go to college?
The Houston, Mississippi native stayed in the Magnolia State for college as he attended Mississippi State from 2013 through 2015. Jones — who was considered the nation's No. 2 strong-side defensive end and No. 18 overall prospect in the 2013 class per 247Sports' Composite ranking — picked the Bulldogs over the likes of Ole Miss, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, Michigan and North Carolina.
Jones made a splash during his freshman season with the Bulldogs, posting a team-best 10 quarterback hurries while tying the team lead with seven tackles for loss. That type of production, which included three starts, earned him freshman All-American honors by 247Sports and Bleacher Report in addition to an honorable mention by the Associated Press for its All-team.
In his final two seasons in Starkville, Jones recorded 70 tackles, 11 of which were for a loss, and 5.5 sacks. Jones helped Mississippi State to one bowl game victory in 2015 over NC State.
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When was Chris Jones drafted?
Draft: 2016
Round (pick): Second round (sixth)
Overall pick: 37th
Jones chose to forego his senior season and declared for the NFL draft after three years with the Bulldogs. He was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft with the 37th overall pick by the Chiefs.
Considering the Chiefs did not have a first-round pick, Jones became their first selection of the 2016 draft. He was also the fifth defensive tackle taken, and the first of three Bulldogs players (a list that year which included cornerback Will Redmond and quarterback Dak Prescott).
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Chris Jones NFL stats, awards
Jones brought his dominance and high-powered production from Starkville to Kansas City to play for legendary NFL coach Andy Reid, becoming a second-team All-Pro selection by his third season in 2018.
Over the last two seasons, Jones has continued to be a real force on the Chiefs' defensive line while becoming one of the best in the NFL, recording 26 combined sacks in defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's system. This season, Jones is only behind Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, whom Jones is often compared to, for most pressures with 75.
He entered this season ranked in the NFL among all defensive tackles in career sacks (65) since he entered the league in 2016. His then-65 sacks ranked fifth-most in Chiefs franchise history.
Here's a year-by-year look at his career stats in the NFL:
2016: 28 total tackles and two sacks
2017: 32 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception
2018: 40 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interceptions
2019: 36 total tackles, nine sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery
2020: 36 total tackles, 7.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries
2021: 27 total tackles, nine sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery
2022: 44 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery
2023: 30 total tackles and 10.5 sacks
Here's a look at the awards that Jones has picked up over the years:
Two-time Super Bowl champion
Two-time Firstf-team All-Pro
Three-time second-team All-Pro (2018, 2020, 2021)
Five-time Pro Bowl (2019–2023)
PFWA All-Rookie Team (2016)
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Chris Jones college: Mississippi State football career, revisited
