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Redshirt junior offensive lineman Sam Jones became the second Arizona State junior to announce he’ll forgo his senior season and enter the 2018 NFL Draft, joining defensive end JoJo Wicker.
Redshirt junior Christian Sam is expected to enter the 2018 NFL draft — sundevilsource.com and devilsdigest.com reported — but has not made his decision official.
Jones announced his decision via his Twitter page Thursday morning.
@CoachGrahamASU @FootballASU @SixZeroStrength pic.twitter.com/yeizUJk8uH
— Sam Jones (@samthejonesy) January 4, 2018
The 6-5, 290-pound Highlands Ranch, Colorado native played in each game of the 2017 season following an injury-riddled sophomore year.
Jones was deemed one of three ASU captains alongside Wicker and Kalen Ballage and proved as a leader when he was awarded to smash the rock at the end of summer workouts.
As a unit, the offensive line improved greatly since allowing seven sacks in its season-opener against New Mexico State. Six games in, ASU allowed just two sacks to then-No. 5 Washington and zero to Colorado in week 10.
Jones is rated No. 55 of 180 offensive guards in the 2019 draft class by NFLDraftScout.com.
With the departure of Jones and senior center A.J. McCollum, ASU’s offensive line retains sophomores Cohl Cabral and Zach Robertson and juniors Quinn Bailey and Steven Miller as starters from last season.