Travis Jones NT Connecticut: Scouting Report

Height: 6’4’’

Weight: 327

Overall

Travis Jones is a nose tackle in Connecticut’s 4-3 defense. In his 4 college seasons, he played in 36 games, starting 22 of them. He played on a very poor defense resulting in not having a lot of help along the defensive line. He has very good size for his position and shows flashes of NFL-caliber power.

Pass Game

In the pass game, Jones had good sack production throughout his college career but on film he lacked the explosiveness and athleticism to truly be a threat as a pass rusher. He has poor lateral quickness and does not show hand technique to successfully get off blocks. At times, he can eat up space by bull-rushing his man but not enough to make a consistent impact.

Run Game

Against the run, Jones has the size and power to fill gaps, but he again shows the lack of block shedding to make plays. His poor lateral movement skills make it easy for lineman to wash him out of plays and get him out of position. At times, he will use his length to create separation from the lineman to read the play but other times, he gets to close to his man making it difficult for him to find the running lane.

Last Word

Jones projects best as a nose tackle in a 4-3 scheme. He was used on a rotation while in college which brings up questions about his durability and he will likely need to be used on a rotation in the pros as well. His lack of pass rushing ability will make him a liability on 3rd down passing situations. His size and strength though will allow him to play on special teams where he can have some impact.

One-Liner: Travis Jones has the size and power to be a nose tackle in the NFL, but his lack of technique and athleticism will cause him to be used on a rotation for the early portion of his career.

Grade: 5.9 (Backup Nose Tackle)

Games Watched: 2021 – Clemson, Purdue

Team Fits: Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles