Taiwan Jones (linebacker) facts for kids

Taiwan Markis Jones (born December 1, 1993) is an American former professional football player. He played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). A linebacker is a defensive player who lines up behind the defensive line. They are important for stopping runs and covering passes. Taiwan Jones played college football for the Michigan State Spartans. After college, he joined the New York Jets in 2015. Later, he was chosen by the Michigan Panthers in the 2022 USFL draft.

Early Life and High School Football

Taiwan Jones grew up in Michigan and went to Anchor Bay High School. He was a very talented football player. Experts like Rivals.com and Scout.com thought he was one of the best linebackers in the country. He was also named to the PrepStar's All-Midwest Team.

During his senior year, Jones received many awards. The Detroit News and Associated Press named him to their all-state first-team. He was also part of the all-county and all-conference teams. He even won the Macomb Area Conference Blue Division MVP award.

Jones was a very versatile player in high school. He played in many different positions, including running back, wide receiver, and quarterback. In his 2010 season, he made 46 tackles and caught three interceptions. Besides football, Jones was also a three-year starter for the Anchor Bay basketball team. He earned an honorable mention for the Associated Press Class A All-State team in the 2010–11 basketball season.

College Football Career

After high school, Taiwan Jones decided to play college football for the Michigan State Spartans. He committed to Michigan State on March 23, 2010. He was recruited as an outside linebacker. At the time, he was 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed about 205 pounds.

During his time at Michigan State, Jones continued to show his skills. In 2014, he was recognized as a Second-team All-Big Ten player. This means he was one of the top players in the Big Ten Conference.

Professional Football Journey

After finishing college, Taiwan Jones hoped to play in the NFL. Before the 2015 NFL draft, experts thought he might be picked in the fifth round. He was measured at 6 feet 2 and 5/8 inches tall and weighed 245 pounds.

Starting with the Jets

In May 2015, Taiwan Jones signed with the New York Jets. He joined the team as an undrafted free agent. This means he wasn't chosen during the main NFL draft, but a team still wanted to sign him. On December 18, 2015, he was moved up to the Jets' main team roster.

However, professional football teams often make changes to their players. On September 3, 2016, the Jets released Jones as they finalized their team roster. He was re-signed by the Jets on October 26, 2016, but then released again on November 22, 2016.

Playing in Other Leagues

After his time with the Jets, Taiwan Jones played in other professional football leagues. On April 1, 2019, he signed a contract to play for the Memphis Express in the Alliance of American Football (AAF). However, the very next day, the league announced it was stopping its operations.

In October 2019, Jones was chosen by the Los Angeles Wildcats in the 2020 XFL Draft. He played for them until the XFL also stopped its operations on April 10, 2020.

Later, in the 2022 USFL draft, the Michigan Panthers selected Taiwan Jones. He was the 11th pick in the 21st round.