Syracuse Football: Mikel Jones serious candidate for ACC Defensive POY

Syracuse football linebacker Mikel Jones had a terrific game against N.C. State and is compiling a tremendous 2020 campaign.

In a season where there isn’t a whole lot to feel optimistic about as it pertains to Syracuse football, linebacker Mikel Jones is putting forth an excellent fall term.

Yes, the Orange did lose in a rough manner by seven points to N.C. State this past Saturday afternoon in the 2020 home finale from the Carrier Dome, dropping the ‘Cuse to 1-9 in this stanza.

At this juncture, Syracuse football has one Atlantic Coast Conference clash left on the docket, and it is a trip to No. 2 Notre Dame this coming Saturday afternoon.

For my money, Jones should prove in significant contention for ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors, although suiting up for the league’s worst team will likely hurt his standing for this award.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Jones, a sophomore who hails from Miami, registered eight total tackles, including six solo tackles, as well as an interception which he ran back 27 yards in the Orange’s setback to the Wolfpack.

That gives Jones a total of four interceptions in 2020, which a cuse.com press release says is No. 1 in the ACC and No. 3 nationally in the FBS.

Syracuse football linebacker Mikel Jones warrants serious consideration for ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

According to his bio on the Orange athletics department Web site, Jones in 2020 has tallied 68 total tackles, 42 solo tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, three fumbles forced, two fumbles recovered and five quarterback hurries. That’s impressive.

Within the ACC to date, per league statistics, he is No. 11 in total tackles, No. 8 in solo tackles, No. 17 in tackles per game, No. 4 in fumbles forced and No. 9 in fumbles recovered.

Jones’ stellar sophomore term comes after he shined as a freshman on the Hill. As we previously reported, in 2019 when Syracuse football went 5-7, he played in all 12 contests, making four starts.

He paced ‘Cuse freshmen in tackles, with 38, and also owned two tackles for loss, half a sack and one pass break-up. For his efforts in 2019, Jones was named to the Pro Football Focus All-Freshman third squad.

A three-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting cycle, he attended the powerhouse IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., prior to joining the Syracuse football team.