Georgia football: 30 greatest players of the Mark Richt era

• Second-Team All-American (2008)
• 2x Second-Team All-SEC (2008-09)
• 11 interceptions

Today, safety Reshad Jones is seen as arguably the best player on the Miami Dolphins. He is a two-time Pro Bowler with Miami and one of the best safeties in all of football. Like many former Georgia defenders before him, we saw glimpses of NFL stardom in Jones when he was playing for the Dawgs.

Jones was considered the best safety prospect in the 2007 high school graduating class. He didn’t have to travel far to play his college ball, as the Atlanta native starred for Booker T. Washington High School. Once he arrived on campus, Jones was ready to make plays in the UGA secondary.

He played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2007. Jones registered 57 total tackles, 3.0 for a loss of yardage and two interceptions for 65 yards. Georgia finished the 2007 campaign ranked No. 2 in the country in the AP Poll. Jones was part of the hype surrounding the team entering 2008 ranked No. 1.

While Georgia did lose a few games in 2008 and didn’t come close to winning a national title, it would be a breakout year for Jones. He would be named Second-Team All-SEC, as he had 76 total tackles, 2.5 for a loss of yardage and five interceptions for 32 yards. Jones led Georgia in interceptions that season. He also made a Second-Team All-American team.

As a true junior in 2009, Jones would continue to build on his breakout sophomore campaign in the Georgia secondary. He had 73 total tackles, 4.5 for a loss of yardage and four interceptions for 89 yards. Again, Jones was Second-Team All-SEC and led Georgia in interceptions.

After his junior year, Jones left school a year early to enter the 2010 NFL Draft. He would end up a fifth-round selection by the Dolphins. Now in year nine with the ‘Phins, Jones is the undisputed leader of Adam Gase’s defense down in Miami Gardens. Look for him to push for Pro Bowl No. 3 this fall with Miami.

Like many elite defensive talents that played in the middle third of the Mark Richt era, Jones didn’t get to maximize on his potential in Athens. Each season that Jones was with the Dawgs, the team got progressively worse. The Dawgs would rebound in 2011 by getting back to the SEC Championship, but Jones was already fully into his NFL career with the Dolphins.

Overall, Jones played safety in 39 games in three years, starting in 27 contests. He played the position with both a grace and a ferocity that made him one of the most complete defensive backs in the SEC during his playing days. Though he was certainly a good player at Georgia, his rise to Pro Bowl level in his late 20s as a member of the Dolphins has been a pleasant surprise for both Dawg Nation and the ‘Phin Faithful.