Marcus Jones
DB
#52
Experience: R
Height: 5-8
Age: 23
Weight: 175 lbs
College: Houston
Biography
CAREER TRANSACTIONS
Marcus Jones was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round (85th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.
AWARDS:
- 2021 Paul Hornung Award Winner
- 2021 ESPN First‐Team All‐America (kick return)
- 2021 CBS Sports First‐Team All‐America (all purpose)
- 2021 CBS Sports Second‐Team All‐America (cornerback)
- 2021 CBS Sports Second‐Team All‐America (punt return)
- 2021 FWAA All‐America First Team (returner specialist)
- 2021 Sporting News All‐America First Team (returner)
- 2021 The Athletic First‐Team All‐America (all purpose)
- 2021 AP First‐Team All‐America (defensive back)
- 2021 Senior Bowl All‐America (defensive back)
- 2021 Senior Bowl All‐America (kick return)
- 2021 Walter Camp Second‐Team All‐America Defense (kick return)
- 2021 The American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year
- 2021 The American First Team All‐Conference (return specialist)
- 2021 The American Second Team All‐Conference (cornerback)
- 2021 Dave Campbell All‐State First Team (cornerback)
- 2021 Dave Campbell All‐State First Team (returner)
- 2021 Dave Campbell's Top Special Teams Player
- 2020 Phil Steele All‐America First Team (Punt Returner)
- 2020 FWAA All‐America First Team (Punt Returner)
- 2020 CBS/247Sports All‐America First Team (Punt Returner)
- 2020 PFF All‐America Fourth Team (Cornerback)
- 2020 American Athletic All‐Conference First Team (Return Specialist)
- American Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 16, 2020)
- 2017 Phil Steele All‐America Third Team (Kickoff Returner)
- 2017 FWAA Freshman All‐America (Kickoff Returner)
- 2017 ESPN Freshman All‐America (Kickoff Returner)
- 2017 All‐Sun Belt Second Team (Return Specialist & All‐Purpose)
- 2017 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year
SEASONAL REVIEWS
Senior Year (2021):
- Ninth Cougar to be named consensus All‐American
- 2021 Paul Hornung Award winner as the nation's most versatile player
- First‐Team All‐American Athletic Conference as a return specialist and second‐team as a cornerback
- Led all of the NCAA with two punt return touchdowns
- Tied for third in the nation with two kick return touchdowns
- With five interceptions led the American Athletic Conference and finished third in the nation
- Recorded a 73‐yard punt return touchdown and the only receiving touchdown of his career against Navy (Sept. 25)
- Recorded a 98‐yard kickoff return touchdown against East Carolina (Oct. 23)
- Recorded an interception and with just 17 seconds remaining returned an SMU kickoff 100 yards for a game‐winning touchdown to upset then ranked number 17 SMU (Oct. 30).
Junior Year (2020):
- Earned first‐team All‐America honors from the FWAA, Phil Steele Magazine and CBS/247Sports as a punt returner
- Also was a fourth‐team All‐American by Pro Football Focus as a cornerback
- Named to The American's All‐Conference First Team as a return specialist
- Led the FBS and The American in punt return average (19.8) on 17 returns for 337 yards and one touchdown
- Also led the FBS in punt return yards (337)
- Ranked fourth in Houston single‐season history in punt return yards and punt return average
- Was the only player in the FBS to have two games with at least 100 punt return yards
- Made seven starts at cornerback, finishing with 24 tackles (18 solo), 2.0 tackles for loss, one interception and five pass breakups
- Recorded five kickoff returns for 102 yards (20.4 average)
- Made immediate impact in season‐opening win over Tulane (Oct. 8), with seven punt returns for 108 yards
- Logged seven tackles in road win at Navy (Oct. 24)
- Made three tackles against UCF (Oct. 31)
- Posted seven tackles at Cincinnati (Nov. 7) and recorded two punt returns for 46 yards
- Picked up 72‐yard punt return against USF (Nov. 14) and finished with four punt returns for 145 yards (36.3) along with one tackle
- Was named The American's Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance vs. USF
- Was the first UH player to record a punt return touchdown inside TDECU Stadium
- Had five tackles and recorded one interception at Memphis (Dec. 12)
- Made one stop and added two punt returns for 20 yards vs. Hawaii in the New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 24).
Redshirt Year (2019):
- Redshirted after transferring from Troy.
At Troy (2017-18):
- Medical redshirt. Became Troy's second All‐American since moving to the FBS level as a true freshman in 2018 when named to Phil Steele's All‐America Third Team as a kick returner
- Also named to the ESPN and FWAA Freshman All‐America Teams ... Named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year
- Named to the All‐Sun Belt Second Team as both a return specialist and an all‐purpose player in 2017
- Set the Troy single‐season record and tied the Troy career record with three kickoff returns touchdowns
- Tied the NCAA record with two kick return touchdowns in a game against Coastal Carolina
- Added a 99‐yard return for a touchdown in Troy's Sun Belt title‐clinching win at Arkansas State
- Returned 29 kicks for 879 yards
- 30.31 average ranks as the third‐best in Troy's single‐season history
- Returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown vs. Arkansas State; longest interception return and just the fourth 100‐yard play in Troy's FBS history
- Picked off a fourth‐quarter pass and recorded a career‐high eight tackles in Troy's win at No. 22 LSU, which snapped the Tigers' 49‐game non‐conference home winning streak
- Finished fifth on the team with 49 tackles (34 solo), two tackles for loss and six pass break ups
- Returned 14 punts for 115 yards
- Tied for first in the Sun Belt and second nationally with three 90‐plus yard all‐purpose plays
- Four all‐purpose plays of 80‐plus yards ranked fourth nationally
- Named All‐Sun Belt First Team as a return specialist and Second Team as a defensive back as a sophomore in 2018
- Second in the Sun Belt averaging 25.6 yards per kickoff return, including a 96‐yard return for a touchdown against Coastal Carolina
- Allowed a catch against him on just 52.8 percent of targets against him (19‐of‐36)
- Broke up nine passes with a season‐high three in the opener against Boise State.
HIGHSCHOOL:
- Three‐star recruit by ESPN and Rivals
- Named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association 7A All‐State First Team as a senior
- Helped lead Enterprise to an 11‐2 record and a berth in the second round of the Alabama 7A Playoffs
- Named to the AL.com Super All‐State Team following senior season
- Recorded 27 tackles and five interceptions
- Also returned three punts for a touchdown and one kickoff for a touchdown
- Added a receiving touchdown and fumble return for a touchdown
- As a junior, recorded 50 tackles, three interceptions, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and eight pass break ups; returned one interception for a touchdown.
- Also played basketball for the Wildcats.
