UCLA Football: Five Bruins to watch in the 2017 NFL preseason

Datone Jones

Continuing our theme of defensive linemen in new places, Datone Jones is the next guy I think we should all keep an eye on. Now he’s not a rookie but the former UCLA Football DE is in his second stop as an NFL player.

After being drafted in the first round by the Green Bay Packers in the 2013 NFL draft, Jones found himself as a heavy rotational player and occasional starter but never became the dominant player the Packers expected him to be.

Jones does offer some pass rush ability and is good with his hands but where I see him having the most success is as a base end that can be counted on to anchor the run defense. In Green Bay Jones tallied 9.5 total sacks 82 total tackles including post season play.

In his new stop with the Minnesota Vikings, Jones won’t be asked to be a dominant pass rusher but instead would play opposite one of the young pass rushing studs in the league in Everson Griffen. In fact many of the DEs on the Vikings roster are better pass rushers than run defenders so this could end up being a match made in heaven for Jones. I’m excited to see how he plays along side former Bruins Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks.