6’2″ 230 pounds; Hometown: Waycross, Ga.
After leading the South Carolina Gamecocks with 97 tackles last year, Ernest Jones is emerging as one of their top playmakers on defense. He also had five and a half tackles for a loss, a sack and two interceptions. Oh, he also had five pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a sack on the year, really bursting onto the scene as just a sophomore.
As a result, he’s the perfect linebacker to handle exactly what Tennessee football is going to try to do against Will Muschamp’s team on Saturday. Jones is actually the Henry To’o To’o of the group, and he’s the guy who will be used in every situation to handle what Jeremy Pruitt’s team will likely do on a consistent basis Saturday.
Jim Chaney will want to use an intermediate passing and rushing attack to beat South Carolina. They’re too experienced in the secondary to get beat deep that often, so methodical drives will be what counts. However, Jones could be key to stopping that, as he has proven his ability to be an elite playmaker, whether it’s stopping the run as the second line of defense or stopping the pass.
Because of that, UT needs to account for him at all times. Jones can attack around the edge if he has to, but he’ll likely be around to make sure Ty Chandler and Eric Gray don’t torch the front seven on the ground. If Chaney isn’t prepared for that, the Vols are in trouble.