Ray Jones

Photo by: Jordan Burgess

Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Wilmington, Del.
Position:
Linebacker
Height:
6-1
Weight:
205
High School:
Hodgson
Major:
History

AT DELAWARE
Fourth-year member of the squad as a senior defensive back • dynamic football player who excels in all phases of the game.

2017 SEASON
Played and started in all 11 games as a defensive back as a junior • ranked third on the team in total tackles with 60 (34 solo) and had a season high nine tackles in the final game of the season vs. Villanova • tallied one interception on the year which came vs. Albany • ranked fifth on the team in tackles for a loss with five • had five pass breakups over the course of the season • named the Blue Hen Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Week for his effort in the first week of the season vs Delaware State • named the Blue Hen Touchdown Club Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance vs. Albany.

2016 SEASON
Played in nine games with eight starts at strong safety as a sophomore • did not play vs. Albany and Richmond late in the season due to injuries but did return for season finale vs. Villanova • ranked seventh on the team in tackles with 36 and was second on squad with four pass breakups • part of defense that ranked No. 6 in the Colonial Athletic Association in total defense (349.7 yards allowed per game) and No. 6 in passing defense (181.5) • had five or more tackles five times with career-high seven each in back-to-back games vs. Wake Forest and James Madison • had six stops vs. William & Mary • intercepted first career pass and returned it 33 yards in win over Lafayette • had two pass breakups vs. Wake Forest • returned eight kickoffs for 155 yards (19.4) on the season to rank No. 2 on the team • had a season-high 28-yard return vs. JMU and a 26-yarder vs. Delaware State.

2015 SEASON
Made an immediate impact on the Delaware defense and special teams as a true freshman • started every game at the strong safety spot and helped anchor a talented defensive secondary • ranked sixth on the team in tackles with 41 stops (26 solo) • had two tackles for loss and ranked third on the team with six pass breakups • recorded a season-high six tackles in his collegiate debut vs. Jacksonville and equalled that vs. Villanova • also had five stops against North Carolina • broke up a season-high two passes in season finale vs. Elon • led a unit that ranked No. 5 in the CAA and 24th in the NCAA in total defense (329.2) and was No. 3 in scoring defense (20.5/22nd in NCAA) • returned 29 kickoffs for 671 yards (23.1 avg.) with a long return of 50 yards against Albany • ranked No. 2 in the CAA in kick return average • 29 returns was the sixth highest total in UD history and 671 yards was the seventh highest • had four returns for 38+ yards on the season • returned four punts • Blue Hen Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Week vs. Jacksonville and Blue Hen Touchdown Club Special Teams Player of the Week vs. Villanova and Albany • chosen to carry the State of Delaware Flag at the Lafayette game.

HIGH SCHOOL
Four-year varsity starter at Hodgson High School for head coach and former UD player Frank Moffett • team captain as a senior • started at quarterback for three seasons after playing running back as a freshman • led team to four-year record of 42-8 and four state tournament appearances, including state titles in 2013 and 2014, runner-up finish in 2012, and semifinal appearance in 2011 • top player in the state of Delaware in 2014 in leading Hodgson to its second straight state title • played quarterback and linebacker • named Delaware Offensive Player of the Year by the News Journal as a senior when he was selected first team All-State at quarterback and linebacker and second team All-State on kick returns • also earned All-State honors at quarterback and linebacker in 2013 • four-time all-conference selection • also served as team's kicker • rushed for over 1,000 yards each of his four seasons and finished with 4,559 yards and 74 touchdowns • passed for over 1,300 yards each of his final three seasons and finished with 3,924 yards and 43 touchdowns • also scored nine times on defense and returns during his career • team MVP in both 2013 and 2014• also competed as a long jumper for Hodgson track & field team and holds school record with a leap of 22-4.5 • earned school's Academic Athlete of the Month and Athlete of the Month awards during his career • quarterbacked Blue team to victory in annual Blue-Gold All-Star Classic at Delaware Stadium in June and scored the deciding points on a two-point conversion in the final minutes.

PERSONAL
Raymond Tyrell “Ray” Jones, Jr. • nickname is “Buck” • born Sept. 21, 1996 • history major at Delaware • career goals are to play in the NFL, earn a master's degree in business, and own his own business • son of Raymond Tyrell Jones, Sr. and Char-Mar Jones • has two younger sisters • enjoys bowling, skating, and reading in his spare time • has worked at UD Football Camps during the summer • has four cousins who attended or attend Delaware • cousin, Jairus Jones, played linebacker at Michigan State in 2010-13 • uncle, James Jones, was an All-American running back at Florida who played in the NFL with Detroit (1983-88) and Seattle (1989-92) • cousin, Alvin Jones, Jr., was the all-time leading shot blocker in basketball in Georgia Tech history (1997-2001) and played one season with the NBA Philadelphia 76ers (2001-02).

CAREER STATISTICS

Year	G/S	Tackles (Solo)	Sacks/TFL	FR/FF	Int./PD
2017	11/11	60 (34)	0-0/0-0	0/0	1/5
2016	9/8	36 (26)	0-0/0-0	0/0	1/5
2015	11/11	41 (26)	1.5-7 / 0-0	0/0	0/6
Totals	31/30	137 (86)	1.5-7 / 0-0	0/0	2/16

Year	KOR	Yards	Avg.	Long	PR	Yards	Avg.	Long
2017	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2016	8	155	19.3	28	0	0	0.0	0
2015	29	671	23.1	50	4	-4	-1.0	3
Totals	37	826	22.3	50	4	-4	-1.0	3