Senior linebacker received same accolade in 2009
CHICAGO, IL -- For the second-straight year, Michigan State linebacker Greg Jones and Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor have been selected as the Big Ten’s Preseason Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year, respectively, by media members attending the conference’s football media days.
It marks the first time since 1998 (Ohio State linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer and Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne) that the Big Ten’s Preseason Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year have been repeat selections from the previous season. Jones also becomes the first back-to-back Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year since Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis in 2007-08.
As a junior in 2009, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound Jones led the Big Ten and ranked third in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision with 154 tackles, the seventh-best single-season total in MSU history. The 2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year earned First-Team All-America honors from The Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), CollegeFootballNews.com, Rivals.com, CBSSports.com and Phil Steele. In addition, Jones was named recipient of the 2009 Linebacker Trophy (National Linebacker of the Year) by the College Football Performance Awards. He also was recognized as the nation's No. 1 linebacker by CollegeFootballNews.com.
Jones ranked third in the NCAA FBS in tackles per game (11.8), tied for 30th in sacks (0.69 per game) and tied for 51st in tackles for loss (1.08 per game). He also finished among the Big Ten leaders in sacks (fifth) and tackles for loss (10th). Jones led the team in tackles (154 total), tackles for loss (14.0 for 69 yards), sacks (9.0 for 53 yards) and production points (282). He became the first Spartan to record back-to-back 100-tackle seasons since 2003-04 when both linebacker Ronald Stanley and free safety Jason Harmon reached the milestone.
“Honestly, I’m a little surprised to be named Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row because there are so many quality defensive players in this league,” Jones said. “I have a lot of respect for those guys and I've seen them compete at a high level. I'm very happy about the preseason honor, but my focus is still to win games and a Big Ten Championship."
“Greg Jones is certainly deserving of again being named the Big Ten Preseason Defensive Player of the Year,” Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio said. “Greg is not only an outstanding leader, but he's the catalyst for our entire defense. A consensus All-American and the unquestioned MVP of our defense, Greg is the perfect guy to build this 2010 team around because he does things the right way. He never has been motivated by individual honors or individual stats. Greg is driven to strive for team goals, and his No. 1 priority is to help this team compete for a Big Ten title.
“It speaks volumes about our football program that he elected to return for his senior year. Greg placed a greater value on completing his education and having the ability to pursue a Big Ten Championship along with his teammates, than he did of fulfilling his childhood dream of playing in the NFL. He has the respect of his teammates and coaches alike.”
The Cincinnati, Ohio, native reached double-figure tackles for the ninth time in MSU's 41-31 loss to Texas Tech in the 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl. His 13 tackles against the Red Raiders fell just one stop shy of the Alamo Bowl record.
He also posted double-digit tackles against Montana State (14), Central Michigan (career-high 15), Wisconsin (14), Illinois (11), Northwestern (14), Iowa (12), Minnesota (12) and Penn State (career-high 15). Jones produced a career-best two sacks (9 yards) in MSU's 24-14 Homecoming victory over Northwestern.
Jones has posted double-digit tackles in 16 of his last 20 games overall, averaging 12.0 stops (240 total) during that stretch. A model of consistency, he has led the team in tackles in 23 of the last 26 games.
Jones has started 33 of 39 career games, including 27 consecutive starting assignments. He has 359 career tackles, including 36.5 for losses (140 yards) and 15.5 sacks (87 yards). Jones ranks second among NCAA FBS active leaders in both total tackles (359) and tackles per game (9.2). He already ranks among MSU's all-time leaders in tackles for loss (fifth) and total tackles (eighth). Jones has produced double-figure tackles 18 times in his career.
Jones has been named to 2010 preseason watch lists for four national awards: Butkus Award (top collegiate linebacker), Lombardi Award (college lineman of the year), Lott Trophy (defensive player of the year) and Bronko Nagurski Trophy (nation’s best defensive player).
Michigan State's 2010 season and home opener is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 4 against Western Michigan.
