AUBURN, Ala. – Defensive tackle Jayson Jones might not have spent his entire collegiate football career on the Plains, but he’s well on his way to leaving his mark with the program as he enters his final season with the Tigers.
Jones, a native of Calera, Alabama, started his collegiate career at the University of Oregon, playing in 13 games in 2021 on the defensive line. He recorded 19 tackles and two sacks with the Ducks before making the decision to transfer. Jones admitted that was far from an easy decision, but he also says that he knows he made the right choice in choosing the Plains as his final collegiate destination.
“Auburn was close to home, but really it was the people that made me want to come,” Jones said. “The fans have all been so kind and welcoming. When people say, ‘If you love Auburn, it will love you back,’ they are not lying. It is true.”
His interest in football began at an early age and has consistently grown throughout his career. At the age of 5, he first stepped onto a field and competed.
“My dad asked me if I wanted to play football and I had nothing else to do so I thought sure, why not?” Jones said. “I picked it back up when I was in middle school and haven’t stopped playing since.”
Jones credits his long-lasting desire to play football to the competitive nature of the sport, the ability to grow as a team, and the satisfaction he gets from his performance on the field.
As a player for head coach Trey Simpson at Calera High School, he was a four-year letterman and a team captain. His performance also earned him a top 10 recruiting ranking in the state of Alabama.