Former South Carolina football star named among NFL's elite

Just like with college football, NFL storylines are a year-round part of the sports world. When on-field play, roster moves, and preseason practice aren't active parts of the discussion, "list season" is a major season of the news cycle. One South Carolina football alum has found himself firmly part of one of these offseason NFL lists.

Recently, Pro Football Network's Dallas Robinson released his list of the top linebackers in the National Football League, and former Gamecock Ernest Jones made the cut.

According to Robinson, the Los Angeles Rams star is the 12th-best 'backer in pro football, but based on his own evaluation, Jones should have been ranked even higher.

In 2023, no other traditional linebacker (this excludes stand-up EDGE players in 3-4 defenses) in football pressured quarterbacks more than Jones (37 pressures), he allowed 0 touchdowns on 52 targets as a coverage player, and he broke the Rams' all-time franchise record for single-season tackles (145).

Based on elite production in the three main duties of a linebacker (making tackles, rushing the passer, and pass coverage), Jones is one of the very best in the NFL. He also was the only active captain in the NFL last season who played for the South Carolina football program and was among the youngest captains in the league.

Jones trailed Fred Warner (San Francisco 49ers), Roquan Smith (Baltimore Ravens), Matt Milano (Buffalo Bills), Demario Davis (New Orleans Saints), Quincy Williams (New York Jets), CJ Mosley (New York Jets), Frankie Luvu (Washington Commanders), Dre Greenlaw (San Francisco 49ers), Bobby Okereke (New York Giants), TJ Edwards (Chicago Bears), and Lavonte David (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) in Robinson's linebacker rankings.

During his Gamecock career, Jones was an All-SEC contributor and a Butkus Award semifinalist who played with toughness and a team-first mentality. As a freshman, he voluntarily burned his redshirt to help USC on special teams in their bowl game and then went on to lead the team in stops as a sophomore and junior before being selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft.