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Skinny: Jones is a physical specimen that has uncanny athleticism for his size and might just have the highest upside of any player in this draft class. He’s an outstanding blocker downfield because he plays with a nasty disposition and loves mixing it up with his opponents physically. He has a ways to go as far as running routes but he is a very capable player if he receives the proper coaching. While some scouts might attempt to point out injury concerns, he hasn’t missed any playing time and showed a lot of toughness competing at the combine through a broken bone in his foot. Jones has an entire world of untapped potential because the Alabama offense didn’t really utilize him to his full capabilities. With the right team and quarterback throwing him the ball, Jones could be leading the NFL in touchdown catches one day very soon.

2010: The true sophomore led the BCS Champion Crimson Tide in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in 2009, but it’s safe to say that Jones didn’t put up the numbers that were expected following his spectacular true-freshman season. The Alabama native had a rookie campaign that no one had ever approached before at the storied program; the 6’4” man-child appeared NFL-ready from day one. A bruised knee caused Jones to miss just one contest last season, but he never seemed himself after suffering the injury in week two against Florida International. He played well against both LSU and Auburn, making big plays in two of the Tide’s toughest games of the season. However, his 102 yards against the Bayou Bengals was his lone 100-yard game of his sophomore campaign; he had three as a freshman when he caught 58 balls for 924 yards and eight touchdowns. Jones is as physical as they come, using his large frame to win battles at the line of scrimmage. He is also able to shield defenders away from the football which allows him to make plays even when he doesn’t get separation. At times it’s as if Jones looks for contact and relishes pushing defensive backs around. His game isn’t strictly about power, and while he may not run a 4.4 in the forty-yard dash, the Crimson Tide plays fast and is more than capable of running away from defenders. Jones has top-10 talent, but if he wants to go that high in the draft—whether it be in 2011 or 2012—he will need to produce more on the field as a junior than he did in 2009.

SCOUT'S TAKE

From the moment Jones stepped onto the field as a 6’4”, 220-plus pound freshman at Alabama he made the rest of the SEC feel his presence. However, in 2009, despite adding a National Championship to his resume, the man-child had a lackluster sophomore campaign, due in part to nagging injuries. Now about to enter his junior season, Jones has NFL scouts in a feeding frenzy to see him justify their lofty expectations. He is as physical as they come and a difficult player to cover one-on-one. This could be a turning point for the highly-touted pass catcher—will he flourish and have the type of All-American season everyone believes he can, or flounder in mediocrity and make everyone wonder if we all overrated him as a freshman? Make no mistake; the Crimson Tide wide out has the ability to have that All-American season, which could translate to a top-10 selection in the spring of 2011.

News

10/26/10 - Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones said he feels pain in the hand every time he catches a pass, pain he rated a “five or six” on a scale of 1-10. But he also noted that mentally strong players can perform without being affected by pain. “I’ve got teammates, 10 other people that count on me to be there and do my job,” Jones said. “Everybody is hurt at this time in the season. You’ve just got to persevere.” — Tuscaloosa News

10/11/10 - Star Alanama junior WR Julio Jones reportedly broke his hand early in Saturday's upset loss at South Carolina. Jones had a plate and screw inserted in the hand, but still could play this coming weekend.