Jones Opts for NFL
January 05, 2005 05:30 PM | General
January 5, 2005
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – An emotional Adam “Pac-Man” Jones announced Wednesday afternoon that he is forgoing his senior season at West Virginia University to enter the NFL draft.
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| Adam "Pac-Man" Jones announced Wednesday that he is leaving West Virginia University a year early to enter the NFL draft.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
Jones, reading from a prepared statement, said during a press conference held at the Milan Puskar Center that he consulted his family, the West Virginia coaching staff and the National Football League before making his decision.
“After carefully reviewing my decision with family, Coach Rod and my other coaches, I have decided to declare myself eligible for the 2005 NFL draft and not return for my senior season,” Jones said. “It’s an extremely difficult decision especially after the bowl game, but I am deciding to make this decision because I feel I am ready mentally and physically (to play) in the NFL.”
The junior cornerback said he filed the appropriate paper work before the bowl game and his evaluation came back Monday notifying him that he had received a first-round grade.
“There are like five grades you can get: first round, second to a first round, third round, fourth round and not projected at all,” Jones said. “Coach Rod and I had talked about this earlier and he felt that if I had a first-round grade and I felt that was the best decision for my family then I should make it.”
The Big East special teams player of the year earned first team All-America honors from College Sports Report.com and Collegefootballnews.com after leading West Virginia in tackles with 76 in 2004. He produced three tackles for losses, made two sacks, picked off three passes and broke up seven more passes despite teams often avoiding his side of the field.
The College Park, Ga., resident, returned 26 kickoffs for 608 yards for an average of 23.4 yards per return, and also returned 21 punts for 306 yards and a touchdown. His average of 14.1 yards per return just falls short of the school’s single season top 10.
In 36 career games, Jones finished with 201 career tackles, 22 pass breakups, nine tackles for losses, eight interceptions and two each in sacks, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries.
He returned 59 career kickoffs for 1,475 yards and one touchdown and he returned 27 punts for 404 yards for an average of 11.2 yards per return. Jones ranks second in WVU history in kickoff return yardage, fifth in career punt return average (11.2) and sixth in career kickoff return average (25.0).
“Morgantown has become my home away from home and it’s always tough leaving your home,” said Jones, who indicated that financial reasons played a big part in his decision.
“Back home it’s nothing but my mom and my cousins,” he said. “That had a lot to do with this decision and it wasn’t an easy decision.”
Jones becomes the second WVU underclassmen to declare early for the NFL draft this year. Following West Virginia’s 30-18 Gator Bowl loss to Florida State, junior wide receiver Chris Henry announced his intention to leave school a year early to enter the draft.
It’s just the second time two West Virginia underclassmen have declared a year early at the same time: offensive tackle Soloman Page and running back Amos Zereoue did it in 1999. Page went in the second round to the Dallas Cowboys while Zereoue was a third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In all, six WVU players have declared early for the NFL draft and eight (running backs Eddie Williams and Kerry Marbury left for the CFL in the early 1970s) have departed early for professional football.
Quarterback Major Harris entered the 1990 NFL draft a season early and was a 12th-round pick by the Los Angeles Raiders and fullback Rodney Woodard announced early for the 1994 draft but was not selected.
West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez was in New Jersey recruiting and was not able to attend Jones’ press conference. He did release a statement.
“We will certainly miss Pac-Man as a player and as a valued member of the Mountaineer football family, but I certainly understand his decision,” Rodriguez said. “We have been told that he could be a potential first-rounder in the upcoming NFL draft. There are no guarantees, of course, but that is an exceptional opportunity. All our staff wishes Pac-Man the very best of luck as he moves forward with his future.”
Defensive backfield coach Tony Gibson says Jones’ big heart is something the casual fan might not know about him.
“I remember a couple of years ago during his sophomore year there was a kid who came over in a wheel chair and Pac-Man spent the whole day with him,” Gibson said. “He pushed the kid around, brought him into the team meeting room and was out on the field with him. When that little boy left Pac-Man cried, cried and cried. He’s got such a big heart and he cares so much for other people.”
ESPN NFL draft analyst listed Jones as the nation’s fifth-best junior prospect behind USC quarterback Matt Leinart, Virginia offensive tackle D’Bickashaw Ferguson, Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams and Virginia linebacker Ahmad Brooks.
Kiper’s most recent Top 25 draft board lists four cornerbacks: Miami’s Antrel Rolle at No. 16, Florida State’s Bryant McFadden at No. 18, Auburn’s Carolos Rogers at No. 21 and LSU’s Corey Webster at No. 25.
Jones says he will take a short family vacation to Las Vegas before returning to Morgantown to address the team on Jan. 10. Then he’s going to New Orleans to train in preparation for upcoming NFL workouts. Jones eventually plans on returning to WVU to complete work on a degree in athletic coaching education.
Jones spent time thanking several people, including the fans of West Virginia University football calling them the “best fans in the nation.”
