Michigan State University Athletics
Spartan NFL Combine Report: Friday
2/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
INDIANAPOLIS - Linebacker Taiwan Jones was the fourth former Spartan to meet with the media at the NFL Scouting Combine as he spoke to reporters Friday afternoon during interview sessions at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Since helping the Spartans win the Cotton Bowl Classic over Baylor on New Year's Day, Jones has been busy preparing for the next phase of his football career. He had a chance to display his skills for scouts at the East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Florida, in mid-January with a good week of practice, and he capped the week with five tackles for the West squad in the game.
"I'm enjoying it," Jones said of his NFL Combine experience. "You only have these opportunities once in a lifetime, so I'm going to take advantage of it. My main goal is to go out there and have fun. When you're nervous, that's when you make mistakes. You can't think about it too much. I'm going to give this opportunity my best shot."
Jones has the benefit of being able to show teams he can play multiple positions at the next level, as he started at weakside linebacker on MSU's Rose Bowl and Big Ten Championship team that finished No. 2 in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in total defense in 2013, and then moved inside to the Mike on last year's team that also finished in the FBS Top 10 in total defense.
"I've been getting a lot of positive feedback," said Jones, who recorded a career-high 12 tackles for loss and four sacks as a senior in 2014 while earning second-team All-Big Ten honors. "They said they like what they see on film. Especially at the end of the interview process, I'm doing a good job of talking to them and going over my defense and explaining it to them. They're taking a lot of interest in me and I feel like I'm putting out a good name for myself right now."
Jones will test on the field for the NFL Scouts on Sunday, but has been interviewing with teams so far during his time in Indianapolis. He also has noticed a Spartan presence at the combine.
"I'm having fun, and I'm glad they're all here having fun," said Jones of having a Big Ten-best six Spartans (Kurtis Drummond, Jones, Jeremy Langford, Tony Lippett, Keith Mumphery and Trae Waynes) at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine. "I'm glad Michigan State has a lot of guys out here trying to make a name for the program.
"I learned a lot from those guys (who have been at the NFL Combine before). They told us what to expect. I feel like Michigan State made us great young men to be able to get this opportunity, not just for our play on the field, but how we act off the field as well."
Although Jones is leaving a huge hole in the middle of the Spartan defense that has finished in the NCAA FBS Top 10 the past four seasons - the only school to do so since 2011 - he's confident in the talent that will be replacing him in East Lansing in 2015.
"Riley (Bullough) did a good job leaving off last year, but you also have (Jon) Reschke stepping in after his (shoulder) surgery," remarked Jones. "You have a lot of guys who can go out there and compete for that middle spot, (and) you also have a lot of guys who can play multiple positions, which is going to help them. You have Ed Davis, you have Darien Harris coming back. They're going to be great leaders. You also have Chris Frey, who got a little bit of experience last year as a freshman. I feel like they have a lot of depth, which is really going to make them push each other competition-wise and make them better athletes at the end of the day."
No matter where Jones ends up in the NFL, he will always cherish his time as a Spartan.
"What I'll remember most about Michigan State is the 2013 season, being here (in Indianapolis) and winning the Big Ten Championship Game (against Ohio State) and going out to the Rose Bowl, and winning that Rose Bowl game," he said. "And also the last game that we played against Baylor (in the Cotton Bowl), when we came back from being down 20 in the fourth quarter. It's different not being able to be there (right now), but life goes on, and I'll always be able to have those memories."
WHAT'S NEXT: Live coverage of on-field workouts continues Saturday, Feb. 21 at 9 a.m. with the running backs, quarterbacks and wide receivers, and continues with the linebackers and defensive linemen on Sunday, Feb. 22, and defensive backs on Monday, Feb. 23. Coverage of workouts begins each day at 9 a.m. on the NFL Network and NFL.com. Wide receivers Tony Lippett and Keith Mumphery are both in group No. 5 and will be featured on NFL Network at 11 a.m., while Jeremy Langford is in group six and will be on NFL Network at 1 p.m. In addition, safety Kurtis Drummond and cornerback Trae Waynes will meet with the media on Saturday.
