You remember that 2013 recruiting class? Most people don't. But if you look back at the defensive line rankings, you'll see a name that honestly didn't belong where it ended up. Chris Jones was this massive, gangly kid from Houston, Mississippi, who basically came out of nowhere to become one of the most dominant forces the SEC—and eventually the NFL—had ever seen. When we talk about Chris Jones Mississippi State history, we aren't just talking about a college career. We’re talking about a scouting anomaly that changed how people look at small-town prospects.
He wasn't a "can't-miss" kid from age fourteen. In fact, for a long time, he was just a basketball player who happened to be huge.
Then he put on the pads. Everything changed.
The Recruitment That Almost Didn't Happen
Mississippi State fans owe a lot to Dan Mullen’s staff for seeing what others missed early on. For most of his high school career at Houston High, Jones was a three-star recruit. He was a "sleeper." Scouts thought he was raw. Maybe too raw? He was lanky, lacked refined technique, and played against competition that wasn't exactly elite.
But then came the senior year explosion.
He grew. He got faster. He started tossing offensive linemen like they were made of cardboard. By the time the Under Armour All-America Game rolled around, the secret was out. He went from a three-star afterthought to a five-star phenom almost overnight. Rebels fans wanted him. The SEC West was in a total arms race. Ole Miss, Alabama, and Florida were all kicking the tires, but Jones stuck with the Bulldogs. It was a massive win for the program. It signaled that Starkville could keep the big fish at home.
Dominance in the Trenches at Starkville
When Chris Jones stepped onto the field at Davis Wade Stadium, he didn't look like a freshman. He was $6'6"$ and already pushing $300$ pounds. But he moved like a defensive end. That’s the thing about Jones—he’s a freak of nature. You don't see guys that size with that kind of lateral quickness.
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During his three years at Chris Jones Mississippi State tenure, he wasn't always the stat-sheet stuffer people expected him to be every single Saturday. He had 102 career tackles and 8.5 sacks. On paper? Good. In reality? He was a nightmare that required two blockers on every snap.
Why the Stats Lied
If you just look at the box score from 2014 or 2015, you might think he was "quiet." You'd be wrong. He was the anchor. Because he demanded double teams, guys like Preston Smith and Benardrick McKinney were free to roam and make plays. It’s that unselfish, space-eating style that NFL scouts eventually fell in love with. He had this weird ability to "skinny" through gaps that a man his size shouldn't be able to fit through.
I remember watching him against LSU. He’d just decide to live in the backfield for a quarter. It was demoralizing for an offensive line. You could see the guards looking at the sidelines like, "What do you want me to do with this guy?"
The 2016 Draft and the "Underachiever" Label
Here is where it gets spicy. Going into the 2016 NFL Draft, there was this weird narrative around Jones. Some "draft experts" (who shall remain nameless but we all know who they are) claimed he was "inconsistent." They questioned his motor.
"Does he play hard every down?"
"Is he too raw for the pro game?"
Basically, because he didn't have 15 sacks in a season at Mississippi State, people doubted his ceiling. He fell to the second round. The Kansas City Chiefs took him at 37th overall. Looking back, that is arguably one of the greatest steals in the history of the NFL Draft. Every team that passed on him—including those looking for defensive interior help—has been kicking themselves for nearly a decade.
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The Technical Evolution
What Jones learned at Mississippi State wasn't just how to bull rush. He learned how to use his hands. Under the coaching staff in Starkville, he started developing that "club-rip" move that has become his signature in the NFL.
In college, you can get away with just being bigger and stronger. In the SEC, you start to realize that doesn't work against future NFL tackles. Jones figured out leverage. He realized that if he kept his pads low—which is hard for a guy who is $6'6"$—he was unblockable.
$F = ma$
It’s basic physics, right? Force equals mass times acceleration. Jones had the mass. Mississippi State gave him the "a"—the explosive start off the ball.
Legacy of the #99 in Starkville
If you walk around the Mississippi State campus today, Jones is a god. He’s not just a guy who played there; he’s the standard. He’s the proof of concept for the "in-state hero" narrative. He represents the idea that you don't have to go to Tuscaloosa or Baton Rouge to become a multi-time Super Bowl champion and a future Hall of Famer.
He stays connected, too. He’s often seen supporting the program, and his success has directly helped the Bulldogs recruit other high-level defensive linemen. They can point to the screen on Sundays and say, "You see that guy wrecking the game? He sat in the same meeting rooms you’re sitting in right now."
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What Most People Get Wrong About His College Years
There’s this common misconception that Jones was a "project" when he left Mississippi State. Honestly, that’s lazy scouting. He was refined; he just played in a system that asked him to do the dirty work.
- The "Motor" Myth: People said he took plays off. If you actually watch the 2015 tape, he was chasing down screen passes 20 yards downfield. That’s not a lazy player.
- The Position Flex: At MSU, he played inside and outside. This versatility is exactly why he’s so valuable for the Chiefs now. He isn't just a nose tackle.
- The Basketball Background: His footwork didn't come from football drills. It came from the hardwood. You can see the "Euro-step" in his pass rush moves if you look closely enough.
How to Evaluate a Prospect Like Chris Jones
If you're a fan or an amateur scout trying to find the "next" Chris Jones, you have to look past the sack numbers.
- Look at Pressure Rate: How often is the QB moving because of him?
- Hand Combat: Is he winning the initial contact?
- The "Anchor" Factor: Does the line of scrimmage move backward when he's blocked one-on-one?
The Chris Jones Mississippi State story is about a kid who stayed home, ignored the "project" labels, and worked until his physical gifts matched his technical skill.
Actionable Takeaways for Football Fans and Students of the Game
If you want to truly appreciate what Jones did at Mississippi State and how it translates to his current dominance, do these three things:
- Watch the 2015 Egg Bowl Tape: Ignore the score. Watch #99. Even when the play goes away from him, look at how he displaces the center. It’s a masterclass in interior disruption.
- Study the "G-Lead" Block: Watch how Jones destroys pulling guards. Most college DTs get washed out by a pulling guard. Jones usually meets them in the hole and stops the play cold.
- Analyze his stance: Notice how he tilts his body toward the gap he's attacking. It’s a subtle thing he perfected in Starkville that allows him to get that first-step advantage.
Chris Jones didn't just play for Mississippi State. He became the blueprint for the modern defensive tackle. He proved that size and speed are great, but the ability to translate basketball footwork into a $300$-pound frame is what creates a legend. Whether he’s wearing the Maroon and White or the Chiefs' Red, he’s still that same kid from Houston, Mississippi, just trying to prove he’s the baddest man on the field.
He usually is.