Kitwana Jones facts for kids
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| Born: | July 7, 1981 Wilmington, North Carolina |
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| Career information | |
| CFL status | International |
| Position(s) | Defensive end |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 240 lb (110 kg) |
| College | Hampton |
| High school | Emsley A. Laney (NC) |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2005–2008 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| 2009 | Edmonton Eskimos |
| 2009–2010 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| 2011 | Montreal Alouettes |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career stats | |
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Kitwana Shaloyd Jones was born on July 7, 1981. He is a former professional Canadian football player. He played as a defensive end, which is a position on the defense that tries to tackle the opposing team's quarterback or stop their running plays.
Jones played for several teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL). These teams included the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Edmonton Eskimos, and the Montreal Alouettes. Before playing professionally, he played college football at two different universities.
Playing Career
College Football Journey
Kitwana Jones began his college football career at the University of North Carolina (UNC). He started playing there in 2000, even though he was a new student. At UNC, he mostly played on special teams. Special teams are groups of players who are on the field during kickoffs, punts, and field goals.
Later, Jones decided to move to another university. He joined Hampton University for his last two seasons of college football. While at Hampton, he played in 19 games as a starter. In his senior year, he started 11 games. After his 2003 season, Jones was recognized as an All-Conference player in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. He was also named a Division I-AA All-America player, which means he was one of the best players in his division.
Professional Football Highlights
Jones started his professional career in the Canadian Football League (CFL) in March 2005. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He played his first game with the team in Week 10 of the 2005 CFL season. In his first season, he made 15 tackles and had one quarterback sack. A sack happens when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.
In the 2006 season, Jones continued to play for the Roughriders. He played on both defense and special teams. He finished that season with 31 tackles and eight quarterback sacks. He even had two games where he recorded two sacks each. The Roughriders had a great year in 2007 and won the 2007 Grey Cup, which is the championship game of the CFL. Jones played as a defensive end and linebacker, and also on special teams, helping his team win the championship.
For the 2008 season, Jones played as a full-time defensive end for the Roughriders. He led his team in sacks that year with five.
Before the 2009 season, Jones was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos. He played nine games for the Eskimos before he was released. After that, he had a choice to go back to the Roughriders or join the Montreal Alouettes. Jones chose to sign back with the Roughriders. The team's director of player personnel, Joe Womack, later said that trading Jones had been a mistake. Jones finished the 2009 season with 14 tackles.
Heading into the 2010 season, Jones was known for his hard work. He often played on special teams, where many people thought he was one of the best players in the CFL.
On March 13, 2011, Jones signed with the Montreal Alouettes. He played for them for a while before being released by the team on May 7, 2012.
Personal Life
Kitwana Jones grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina. He was one of ten children in his family. He went to Emsley A. Laney High School, which is also the high school that famous basketball player Michael Jordan attended. Jones also spent a year at Fork Union Military Academy.
When Jones is not playing football, he spends time helping young people in his hometown of Wilmington. He mentors troubled youth, guiding them to make good choices. During the football season, he also spends time with young fans who have special needs.
While Jones was playing for the Eskimos, he earned the nickname 'Batman'. This happened after an event where he chased down and caught a person who had stolen a woman's purse. Jones said he felt like he was in the right place at the right time to help someone in need.
