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Searching the internet for information about Jones is problematic insofar as most of the Google returns point to the late Jacoby Jones, former WR and punt/kick returner with the Texans and Ravens who earned a Super Bowl ring at the end of the 2012 season, and who passed away last year.
The Jacoby Jones who will attend Commanders training camp is an undrafted rookie who will need a lot of skill and luck to equal the achievements of the former Raven.
The Commanders team website lists undrafted rookie Jacoby Jones at 6’3”, 228 pounds. Multiple websites (here; here) list his UCF pro day measurements at 6’1”, 225 pounds. That 2-inch height disparity means the difference between Jones being ‘one more’ 6’1” Commanders WR and being a big-bodied receiver who can differentiate himself.
After all, with a 4.68 time in the 40-yard dash, he’s not likely to win in the NFL with his speed.
Jacoby Jones attended Northwest Mississippi Community College for three years, and joins four other Northwest alums in the NFL — Gardner Minshew II (Kansas City), Damien Lewis (Carolina), Brandin Echols (New York Jets) and Jerrick Reed II (Seattle). Jones suited up for the Rangers for three seasons from 2019-21, earning an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19.
During his three seasons there, he helped Northwest to three straight MACJC/MACCC playoff appearances, including the 2020 MACCC and National Community College Football championships. Jones was also a member of the 2021 squad that competed in the inaugural NJCAA Division I Football Playoffs, falling to New Mexico Military Institute. In three years, Jones caught 63 passes for 929 yards and five touchdowns.
He later signed with Ohio to continue his career, earning Preseason All-MAC Third Team Offense by Athlon Sports prior to the 2023 campaign.
In 2022, Jones moved to Ohio University for his Junior year. Following a 2023 season that was short-circuited by injury, he finished his eligibility as a 2024 senior at the University of Central Florida.
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | Y/G | Att | Yds | Y/A | TD | Y/G | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD | Awards |
| 2022* | Ohio | MAC | JR | WR | 14 | 45 | 777 | 17.3 | 6 | 55.5 | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 0 | 0.8 | 47 | 788 | 16.8 | 6 | |
| 2023* | Ohio | MAC | SR | WR | 3 | 8 | 147 | 18.4 | 0 | 49.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 8 | 147 | 18.4 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | UCF | Big 12 | SR | WR | 12 | 22 | 327 | 14.9 | 2 | 27.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 22 | 327 | 14.9 | 2 | ||
| Career | 29 | 75 | 1251 | 16.7 | 8 | 43.1 | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 0 | 0.4 | 77 | 1262 | 16.4 | 8 | |||||
| Ohio (2 Yrs) | 17 | 53 | 924 | 17.4 | 6 | 54.4 | 2 | 11 | 5.5 | 0 | 0.6 | 55 | 935 | 17.0 | 6 | |||||
| UCF (1 Yr) | 12 | 22 | 327 | 14.9 | 2 | 27.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 22 | 327 | 14.9 | 2 | ||||||
The 24-year-old rookie now faces an uphill battle to crack a deep WR group headlined by Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel — though with this week’s reported Noah Brown injury, it may not be as deep as it seemed before the start of minicamp.
In 2024, the Commanders started and finished the season with 7 wide receivers.
Currently, the 2025 roster locks at the position group appear to be:
- Terry McLaurin
- Deebo Samuel
Noah Brown- Luke McCaffrey
- Jaylin Lane
That leaves 6 players competing for between 1 to 3 roster spots (partly depending on Brown’s health) and maybe 2-3 practice squad places:
- KJ Osborn
- Michael Gallup
- Chris Moore
- MIke Strachan
- Ja’Corey Brooks
- Jacoby Jones
My feeling is that Jacoby Jones is probably the 11th guy in an 11-man WR group (including practice squad). His otherwise slim chances to make the roster in some capacity may be enhanced if Noah Brown proves to have a serious injury.