Michigan State Football: Top 5 prospects for 2021 NFL Draft

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EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 21: Naquan Jones #93 of the Michigan State Spartans is grabbed by Sam Stovall #56 (L) and Jared Thomas #65 of the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on September 21, 2019 in Evanston, Illinois. Michigan State defeated Northwestern 31-10. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

There was a point during his recruitment when it looked like Michigan State was going to miss out on Naquan Jones. He de-committed from the Spartans and then re-committed before National Signing Day after Ole Miss made a major push for him. He was a hot commodity as a four-star defensive tackle from Illinois.

As a major piece from that now-infamous 2016 recruiting class, Jones redshirted as a freshman and heads into the 2020 season as a senior leader and one of the most important defensive linemen on the roster — if not the most important.

Jones had a quiet redshirt freshman season with 13 total tackles and five tackles for loss and then he perked up as a sophomore with Michigan State’s elite defense, posting 25 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and his first career sack. He then took a step back in 2019 with 15 tackles and a sack, but he has the potential to be a star.

Not only does Jones possess the talent to be a top defensive lineman in the Big Ten, but his frame is almost unblockable at 6-foot-4 and 338 pounds.

With Raequan Williams and Mike Panasiuk gone, Jones is a clear starter in the middle and now is his time to shine.

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