Chris Jones arrives in Tallahassee, transforming Florida State's defense with tackling prowess and game-changing plays. Butkus Award buzz is already building.
The Florida State defense got a lot better during the transfer portal window in January by securing the services of former Southern Miss linebacker Chris Jones.
Jones was the leading tackler for a Golden Eagles team that finished 7-6 under "one and done" coach Charles Huff. Huff took the head coaching job at Memphis, which set Jones' transfer to Tallahassee in motion.
Jones was a tackling machine for the Golden Eagles, logging 135 stops. Jones also posted 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one interception.
With that kind of production, Jones is worthy of way-too-early consideration for the award given to college football’s top linebacker, the Butkus Award.
Last season, Jones posted double-digit tackles in eight games, including four consecutive contests down the final stretch of the season. Jones recorded season-highs of 15 tackles against Louisiana Tech and Texas State. In the Georgia Southern game, Jones made 11 tackles, two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in a 38-35 Golden Eagles victory.
Having Jones on that side of the ball wearing garnet and gold has FSU linebackers coach Ernie Sims doing cartwheels on the sidelines at Doak Campbell Stadium. The Seminoles were a top-30 unit in total defense last season, and with Jones arrival, the middle of the Seminoles defense got an immediate upgrade.
Jones single-handedly outproduced two other transfer linebackers who could be penciled in as starters in the fall: Mikai Gbayor and Rylan Kennedy.
Though Jones originally pledged Ole Miss during the transfer cycle, the Seminoles kept Jones in their sights and managed to persuade him sign with FSU.
The Seminoles' defense will be a talented and formidable next season. Jones, along with the Desir twins, Mandrell and Darryl, will make the Seminoles more aggressive on defense and will be a nightmare for opposing offenses. That is not to say Florida State does not need to improve.
The Seminoles ranked 114th in the FBS in opponents' red-zone conversions, and allowed their opponents to score from inside the 20-yard line over 88 percent of the time. Jones will be a disruptor in this regard, prowling from sideline to sideline, stopping the advance of opposing offenses and defending the Seminoles' half of the field like his life depended on it.
The 2026 regular season cannot get here fast enough for Coach Sims and the fans, who will be eager to see Jones perform in live-game action. If his style of play is any indication, keeping up with Jones from a game-plan perspective will be difficult, if not impossible.
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