clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

4 DAYS TO 2020 KICKOFF: Wayne Jones

In which BracketCat counts down the fourth day until the 2020 kickoff with a profile of Kansas State defensive back Wayne Jones.

By BracketCat
#4 Wayne Jones
Wayne Jones (4) had an extremely effective first season as the full-time starting strong safety. As he enters his redshirt sophomore year, it’s exciting to dream about what the rest of his career may be.
Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

Goal No. 4: IMPROVE. Every day... as a player, person and student.

#4 Wayne Jones

Redshirt Sophomore | 6-0 | 208 lbs. | Owasso, Oklahoma
Wayne Jones
Wayne Jones
Courtesy Kansas State Athletics
  • Position: Defensive Back
  • Previous College: None
  • Projection: Starter
  • Status: On Scholarship

Harold Wayne Jones III (b. May 25, 2000) is a young, athletic defensive back who graduated high school early to enroll at K-State. He is majoring in communication studies.

Jones had two solo tackles and returned an interception of former quarterback Hunter Hall for 19 yards as a starter for the Purple team in the 2018 spring game.

He then played in two games in 2018, enough to preserve his redshirt, and saw time against both Texas Tech and Iowa State, recording a tackle on kickoff coverage in the latter game.

Jones started all 13 games in 2019 under the new coaching staff, finishing fourth on the team with 57 tackles to go along with half a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.

He carded a career-high 11 stops against TCU, while he had his first career pass breakup at Texas Tech, also had seven tackles against both Oklahoma State and West Virginia, and made six stops at both Mississippi State and Texas Tech.

Jones previously played under head coach Bill Blankenship at Owasso High School, where he was rated the 12th-best prospect in the state of Oklahoma for the Class of 2018 by 247Sports, while he is No. 17 by ESPN and No. 19 by Rivals.

Jones helped to lead the Rams to a 2017 Oklahoma Class 6A-I State Championship as he was named a second team all-state performer by The Oklahoman and The Tulsa World.

He was rated No. 10 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 rankings prior to the season and viewed as the third-best safety in Oklahoma, according to The Tulsa World’s preseason rankings.

Jones also participated in track and wrestling in high school. He picked the Wildcats over offers from Arkansas State, Illinois, Louisville, Memphis, Michigan State, Nevada, New Mexico, North Texas, Ohio, Oklahoma State, Purdue, SMU and UTSA.

Jones also drew Power 5 interest from Arizona State, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.