A once highly-touted member of the Maryland football program is on his way out. Probably.
Late last week, Deon Jones took to Twitter to announce that he has decided to enter his name into the NCAA transfer database, the first step in a likely move away from Maryland football. According to the defensive back, he will graduate from the university in May.
Not only will he be eligible to play immediately at another FBS school in 2020, he will have another season of eligibility he can use in 2021 as well.
“I will forever be a TERP and I cannot thank this university enough for all of the opportunities they have afforded me over the past 3 years,” Jones wrote.
I’m Putting My Faith In God and Letting Him Lead Me 🙏🏾 Alhamdulillah #solid🖤🔒 pic.twitter.com/DC3KDcw0eH
— XIV (@jonesd_14) February 13, 2020
A four-star member of the Terrapins’ 2017 recruiting class, Jones was rated as the No. 3 player in the state of Maryland regardless of position. Only one signee in the Terps’ class that year, running back Anthony McFarland, was rated higher than Jones.
After taking a redshirt as a true freshman, Jones appeared in 21 games the past two seasons. He started six of those contests, with all six of those starts coming this past season.
Jones will finish his time with Maryland football with 51 tackles, two forced fumbles, one tackle for loss and one pass defensed.
More than a dozen players have left the Maryland football program since last season began, including a pair of quarterbacks.