Maurice Jones-Drew facts for kids
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Jones-Drew in 2010
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| No. 32, 21 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | March 23, 1985 Oakland, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | De La Salle (Concord, California) | ||||||||||||
| College: | UCLA (2003–2005) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 2 / Pick: 60 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Maurice Christopher Jones-Drew (born March 23, 1985), also known as "MJD", is a former American football player. He played the running back position in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, where he was honored as a unanimous All-American in 2005.
The Jacksonville Jaguars chose Jones-Drew in the 2006 NFL draft. During his career, he was selected for the Pro Bowl three times. In 2011, he led the entire NFL in rushing yards, which is the total distance a player runs with the ball. He played eight seasons with the Jaguars before playing his final season with the Oakland Raiders in 2014.
After retiring from football, Jones-Drew became a broadcaster. He works as a football analyst for the NFL Network and other sports shows. He is currently an analyst for the Los Angeles Rams.
Contents
Early Life and High School
Jones-Drew was born in Oakland, California, and grew up in Antioch. He went to De La Salle High School, which is famous for its football team.
De La Salle's football team had the longest winning streak in high school history, with 151 straight wins. During the three years Jones-Drew played, his team never lost a game. He was a star running back and return specialist.
In 2001, his team played in a nationally televised game against the number two team in the country. Jones-Drew scored all four of his team's touchdowns, leading them to a 29-15 victory. One of his touchdowns was a spectacular forward somersault into the end zone.
During his junior year, he rushed for almost 2,000 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. He was considered one of the best high school players in the nation. He is also on the cover of the book When the Game Stands Tall, which is about his high school's amazing winning streak.
College Career at UCLA
Jones-Drew played football for the UCLA Bruins from 2003 to 2005. Even though he was considered small for a running back, he led the team in rushing yards all three years. He was also a great receiver and kick returner.
In 2005, he set a college football record for the highest average yards on punt returns in a single season. He also set many UCLA records, including the most all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, and return yards combined) in a career with 4,688 yards.
One of his most amazing games was against the University of Washington. He set a UCLA record by rushing for 322 yards and scoring five touchdowns in a single game. In the first quarter alone, he ran for 169 yards and three touchdowns.
In his final year at UCLA, he was named a unanimous All-American, which means he was recognized as one of the best players in the country. He was the first UCLA player since the famous Jackie Robinson to lead the nation in punt returning.
College Statistics
| Year | Team | G | Rushing | Receiving | Scrimmage | Kick Return | Punt Return | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Plays | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | Ret | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2003 | UCLA | 13 | 135 | 582 | 4.3 | 5 | 15 | 104 | 6.9 | 0 | 150 | 686 | 4.6 | 5 | 20 | 533 | 26.7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | UCLA | 11 | 160 | 1,007 | 6.3 | 8 | 18 | 262 | 14.6 | 3 | 178 | 1,269 | 7.1 | 11 | 7 | 185 | 26.4 | 0 | 10 | 152 | 15.2 | 1 |
| 2005 | UCLA | 12 | 186 | 914 | 4.9 | 13 | 31 | 453 | 14.6 | 4 | 217 | 1,367 | 6.3 | 17 | 5 | 69 | 13.8 | 0 | 15 | 427 | 28.5 | 3 |
| Total | 36 | 481 | 2,503 | 5.2 | 26 | 64 | 819 | 12.8 | 7 | 545 | 3,322 | 6.1 | 33 | 32 | 787 | 24.6 | 2 | 25 | 579 | 23.2 | 4 | |
Professional Career
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 6+3⁄4 in (1.70 m) |
207 lb (94 kg) |
28+1⁄8 in (0.71 m) |
8+1⁄4 in (0.21 m) |
4.39 s | 1.53 s | 2.57 s | 4.38 s | 7.08 s | 36 in (0.91 m) |
9 ft 8 in (2.95 m) |
18 reps | |
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Jones-Drew in the 2006 NFL draft. Many teams didn't choose him because they thought he was too short. To prove them wrong, he chose the number 32 for his jersey, because all 32 teams had passed on him in the first round of the draft.
Becoming a Star (2006–2008)
In his first season, Jones-Drew was used for kick-off returns and as a backup running back. He quickly made an impact, setting a team record with a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He scored 16 total touchdowns and was one of only two players that year to score by rushing, receiving, and returning a kick.
In 2007, he continued to be a versatile player. In the playoffs against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had 198 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, helping the Jaguars win the game.
By 2008, he was a key part of the offense. He rushed for 824 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. He also became more involved in the passing game, catching 62 passes.
Peak Years and Rushing Title (2009–2011)
In 2009, Jones-Drew became the main starting running back for the Jaguars. He had an amazing season, rushing for 1,391 yards and 15 touchdowns. He was selected for his first Pro Bowl, which is an all-star game for the NFL's best players.
In 2010, he rushed for over 1,300 yards again and was named to his second Pro Bowl. He was also named Running Back of the Year by the NFL Alumni Association.
His best season came in 2011. He led the entire league with 1,606 rushing yards. This broke the Jaguars' team record for the most rushing yards in a single season. He was named to his third Pro Bowl and was also selected as a first-team All-Pro, an honor given to the best players at each position.
Later Years (2012–2013)
Jones-Drew's 2012 season was cut short by an injury, and he only played in six games. He returned in 2013 and rushed for 803 yards and five touchdowns. After the 2013 season, he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Oakland Raiders
On March 28, 2014, Jones-Drew signed a three-year contract with the Oakland Raiders, his hometown team. He played one season in Oakland. His playing time was limited, and he shared carries with other running backs.
Retirement
On March 5, 2015, Jones-Drew announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 29. He signed a one-day contract with the Jaguars so he could officially retire as a member of the team where he had his greatest success. He finished his career as the second-leading rusher in Jaguars history.
Life After Football
After retiring, Jones-Drew began a career in broadcasting. He hosts a radio show on Sirius XM about fantasy football. He has also appeared on TV shows, including the comedy The League.
In 2013, he supported a campaign for the animal rights group PETA called "Ink Not Mink," which speaks out against wearing fur. That same year, he returned to UCLA to finish his college degree.
He now works as an analyst for NFL broadcasts in the United Kingdom and for the Los Angeles Rams.
Personal Life
Jones-Drew was raised by his grandparents, Maurice and Christina Jones. In 2005, during a college game, his grandfather had a heart attack. Jones-Drew left the game to be with him at the hospital. To honor his grandfather, he added "Jones" to his jersey, becoming known as Maurice Jones-Drew.
He is married to Ashley Jones-Drew and they have three children: two sons and a daughter. He is also a cousin of former NFL player T. J. Ward.
