Marcus Jones (cornerback)

Marcus Elliot Jones (born October 22, 1998) is an American professional football cornerback and punt returner for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Troy Trojans and the Houston Cougars. Jones was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Infobox

Positions

CornerbackPunt returner

Roster status

Active

Born

(1998-10-22) October 22, 1998 (age 27)Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.

Height

5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)

Weight

188 lb (85 kg)

High school

Enterprise (Enterprise, Alabama)

College

Troy (2017–2018)Houston (2019–2021)

NFL draft

2022: 3rd round, 85th overall pick

Total tackles

152

Sacks

1.0

Fumble recoveries

Pass deflections

Interceptions

Receiving yards

Rushing yards

Return yards

1,772

Total touchdowns

Tables

· College career › College statistics

Solo

Season

Solo

Ast

Tackles

Cmb

Tackles

TfL

Tackles

Sck

Tackles

Int

Tackles

Yds

Interceptions

Avg

Interceptions

Fumbles

Ret

Fumbles

Yds

Kick returns

Avg

Kick returns

Ret

Kick returns

Yds

Punt returns

Avg

Punt returns

Troy Trojans

Season

Troy Trojans

2017

Season

2017

Tackles

2.0

Tackles

0.0

Interceptions

110

Interceptions

55.0

Interceptions

Fumbles

Kick returns

879

Kick returns

29.3

Kick returns

Punt returns

115

Punt returns

8.2

Punt returns

2018

Season

2018

Tackles

0.0

Tackles

0.0

Interceptions

0.0

Interceptions

Fumbles

Kick returns

584

Kick returns

25.4

Kick returns

Punt returns

8.2

Punt returns

Houston Cougars

Season

Houston Cougars

2019

Season

2019

Tackles

Sat out due to NCAA transfer portal rules and redshirt

2020

Season

2020

Tackles

2.0

Tackles

0.0

Interceptions

22.0

Interceptions

Fumbles

Kick returns

102

Kick returns

20.4

Kick returns

Punt returns

337

Punt returns

19.8

Punt returns

2021

Season

2021

Tackles

1.0

Tackles

0.0

Interceptions

0.4

Interceptions

Fumbles

Kick returns

510

Kick returns

34.0

Kick returns

Punt returns

374

Punt returns

14.4

Punt returns

Career

Season

Career

Tackles

111

Tackles

153

Tackles

5.0

Tackles

0.0

Interceptions

134

Interceptions

14.9

Interceptions

Fumbles

Kick returns

2,075

Kick returns

28.4

Kick returns

Punt returns

875

Punt returns

13.9

Punt returns

Season	GP	Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles			Kick returns				Punt returns
Season	GP	Solo	Ast	Cmb	TfL	Sck	Int	Yds	Avg	TD	PD	FR	FF	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	TD
Troy Trojans
2017	13	34	15	49	2.0	0.0	2	110	55.0	1	6	0	0	0	30	879	29.3	3	14	115	8.2	0
2018	11	23	10	33	0.0	0.0	1	0	0.0	0	8	1	0	0	23	584	25.4	1	6	49	8.2	0
Houston Cougars
2019	0	Sat out due to NCAA transfer portal rules and redshirt
2020	7	18	6	24	2.0	0.0	1	22	22.0	0	4	0	0	0	5	102	20.4	0	17	337	19.8	1
2021	13	36	11	47	1.0	0.0	5	2	0.4	0	13	0	1	0	15	510	34.0	2	26	374	14.4	2
Career	44	111	42	153	5.0	0.0	9	134	14.9	1	31	1	1	0	73	2,075	28.4	6	63	875	13.9	3

Pre-draft measurables · Professional career › Pre-draft

5 ft 8 in(1.73 m)

Height

5 ft 8 in(1.73 m)

Weight

174 lb(79 kg)

Arm length

mw- .mw- .mw- .mw- 28+7⁄8 in(0.73 m)

Hand span

8+7⁄8 in(0.23 m)

All values from NFL Combine

Height

All values from NFL Combine

Height

Weight

Arm length

Hand span

5 ft 8 in(1.73 m)

174 lb(79 kg)

mw- .mw- 28+7⁄8 in(0.73 m)

8+7⁄8 in(0.23 m)

All values from NFL Combine

· NFL career statistics

Bold

Legend

Bold

Legend

Career high

Legend
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

· NFL career statistics

Year

Team

Games

Cmb

Games

Solo

Tackles

Ast

Tackles

TFL

Tackles

Sck

Tackles

Int

Interceptions

Yds

Interceptions

Avg

Interceptions

Lng

Interceptions

Fumbles

Yds

Fumbles

2022

Year

2022

Team

Games

Tackles

0.0

Interceptions

43.5

Interceptions

Fumbles

2023

Year

2023

Team

Games

Tackles

0.0

Interceptions

—

Interceptions

Fumbles

2024

Year

2024

Team

Games

Tackles

0.0

Interceptions

35.0

Interceptions

Fumbles

2025

Year

2025

Team

Games

Tackles

1.0

Interceptions

16.0

Interceptions

Fumbles

Career

Year

Career

Team

Games

102

Tackles

120

Tackles

1.0

Tackles

Interceptions

187

Interceptions

56.0

Interceptions

Fumbles

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions						Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	TFL	Sck	PD	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2022	NE	15	4	39	34	5	2	0.0	7	2	87	43.5	69	1	0	1	0	0
2023	NE	2	1	5	4	1	0	0.0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	1	0	0
2024	NE	14	9	58	48	10	1	0.0	10	1	35	35.0	35	0	0	2	17	0
2025	NE	13	7	50	34	16	6	1.0	11	3	65	16.0	33	1	0	1	0	0
Career		44	21	102	120	32	9	1.0	28	6	187	56.0	69	2	0	5	17	0

· NFL career statistics

Year

Team

Games

Rec

Games

Yds

Receiving

Avg

Receiving

Lng

Receiving

Ret

Receiving

Yds

Kick returns

Avg

Kick returns

Lng

Kick returns

Ret

Kick returns

Yds

Punt returns

Avg

Punt returns

Lng

Punt returns

2022

Year

2022

Team

Games

Receiving

19.5

Receiving

Kick returns

645

Kick returns

23.9

Kick returns

Punt returns

362

Punt returns

12.5

Punt returns

2023

Year

2023

Team

Games

Receiving

—

Receiving

Kick returns

—

Kick returns

Punt returns

7.0

Punt returns

2024

Year

2024

Team

Games

Receiving

18.0

Receiving

Kick returns

—

Kick returns

Punt returns

386

Punt returns

14.8

Punt returns

2025

Year

2025

Team

Games

Receiving

Kick returns

Punt returns

358

Punt returns

18.8

Punt returns

Career

Year

Career

Team

Games

Receiving

19.2

Receiving

Kick returns

645

Kick returns

23.9

Kick returns

Punt returns

1,127

Punt returns

14.6

Punt returns

Year	Team	Games		Receiving					Kick returns					Punt returns
Year	Team	GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	Ret	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD
2022	NE	15	4	4	78	19.5	48	1	27	645	23.9	46	0	29	362	12.5	84	1
2023	NE	2	1	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	3	21	7.0	21	0
2024	NE	14	9	1	18	18.0	18	0	0	0	—	0	0	26	386	14.8	62	0
2025	NE	13	7	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	19	358	18.8	94	2
Career		44	21	5	96	19.2	48	1	27	645	23.9	46	0	77	1,127	14.6	94	1

References

Selected as a return specialist.
Selected as a cornerback.
Dothan Eagle
https://dothaneagle.com/enterprise_ledger/sports/ehs-star-player-steps-away-from-basketball-court-to-focus-on-football/article_6865ef04-d355-11e6-af95-cb82333d454d.html
Dothan Eagle
https://dothaneagle.com/sports/high_school/enterprise-star-marcus-jones-commits-to-troy-other-locals-set-to-sign/article_0c337c3a-e75d-11e6-ae62-7b1c8bf99564.html
WSFA.com
https://www.wsfa.com/story/37042377/troys-jones-earns-espn-freshman-all-american-honors/
Dothan Eagle
https://dothaneagle.com/sports/troy/former-enterprise-troy-star-marcus-jones-announces-transfer-to-university-of-houston/article_91f29972-5336-11e9-92fb-7364e3eced7b.html
AL.com
https://www.al.com/sports/2019/03/troy-star-enters-ncaa-transfer-portal.html
Houston Chronicle
https://www.chron.com/sports/cougars/article/Ex-Troy-All-American-Marcus-Jones-transfer-Houston-13738457.php
Houston Chronicle
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/college/article/Houston-Cougars-Marcus-Jones-Bednarik-Award-16324170.php
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/sports/college/football/2021/09/03/texas-tech-football-houston-how-they-match-up/5691387001/
The Athletic
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4193314/2021/10/31/houston-hands-no-19-smu-first-loss-on-marcus-jones-100-yard-kickoff-return/
Houston Chronicle
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/college/article/Houston-Marcus-Jones-Paul-Hornung-Award-16685031.php
AP All-America team: Young and Tide lead with 3 1st teamers by Ralph D. Russo. AP News, 13 Dec 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-1
https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-ohio-alabama-crimson-tide-football-alabama-cfc6067ea8e0e269617f20fee772c9c9
theamerican.org
https://theamerican.org/news/2021/12/1/american-announces-2021-football-awards-winners-and-all-conference-teams.aspx
NFL.com
https://www.nfl.com/prospects/marcus-jones/32004a4f-4e58-7578-6b87-c99102b3d30d
draftscout.com
https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1023281&DraftYear=2022
si.com
https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-marcus-jones-draft-press-conference-cornerback#gid=ci029ff91730002718&pid=patriots---marcus-jones
USA TODAY
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2022/11/20/marcus-jones-late-punt-return-lifts-patriots-over-jets-10-3/50957827/
RSN
https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/nfl-twitter-reacts-marcus-jones-game-winning-punt-return-td-vs-jets
NFL.com
https://www.nfl.com/news/rookie-cb-marcus-jones-goes-the-distance-returns-punt-for-patriots-14th-straight
ESPN.com
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35158972/marcus-jones-scores-scintillating-48-yard-td-patriots-bills
ESPN.com
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35315545/patriots-marcus-jones-intercepts-joe-burrow-69-yard-pick-six
www.patriots.com
https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/marcus-jones/logs/2025/pre/
Boston Herald
https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/01/13/patriots-land-one-player-on-2022-ap-all-pro-teams/
Pro-Football-Reference.com
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2022.htm
Patriots.com
https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-qb-will-grier-to-the-53-man-roster-from-the-cincinnati-practice-sq
Pro-Football-Reference.com
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JoneMa06/gamelog/2024/
ESPN
https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401772847
NBC Sports
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/marcus-jones-is-the-afc-special-teams-player-of-the-week
www.patriots.com
https://www.patriots.com/news/analysis-patriots-sign-cb-pr-marcus-jones-to-long-term-contract-extension
ESPN.com
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46757801/patriots-marcus-jones-agree-contract-extension
Pats Pulpit
https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-news/112993/patriots-marcus-jones-afc-defensive-player-of-the-month-october