Chad D'Orsey Jones, born on October 5, 1988, is an American former baseball and football player whose career at Louisiana State University (LSU) was marked by exceptional achievements in both sports. His journey is one of remarkable success, resilience, and determination.
Jones attended St. Augustine High School in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina forced him and his family to relocate to Baton Rouge just before his junior season. He enrolled at Southern Lab, recording 81 tackles, eleven pass deflections and four interceptions to earn first-team All-District and All-State Class A honors. As a senior, Jones had an outstanding season while leading Southern Lab to a state semifinal berth. He collected 138 tackles and 12 interceptions, returning six of them for scores, while rushing for 464 yards and 12 touchdowns to earn first-team All-District and All-State honors for the second-straight season. He was a consensus five-star All-American by every recruiting service, and was one of four defensive backs in the country to be named to the prestigious Parade All-American Team.
Jones was considered one of the best safeties in the nation and was the number one rated safety by Rivals.com and Scout.com.
From a young age, both brothers aspired to one day have careers as professional athletes. Their father, Al Jones, Jr., encouraged the boys to achieve those goals. "If they want to be in that one percent, then that's what they should be.
It was a "family affair" for Jones and his brother, defensive lineman Rahim Alem, the last three seasons, as Tigers fans got to see the duo star for the Louisiana State defensive unit.
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He chose to follow his older brother to Louisiana State, where he played both sports for the school, turning down a $745,000 signing bonus from the Astros.
The Day Chad Jones Became An ACE
Football Career at LSU
Jones joined the Tigers football program in 2007 and immediately began making his presence felt. As a true freshman in 2007 Jones played in all 14 of the Tigers games at cornerback and was a member of their National Championship team. As a true freshman, he played in all fourteen games and provided the team with versatility and depth, returning kickoffs and punts in addition to serving as a backup safety, handling dime package duties. He also made his mark on LSU's special teams coverage units, where he registered a team-leading 23 tackles in that capacity, finishing the year with a total of 34 tackles, two sacks and an interception. He also broke up four passes and caused one fumble. The highlight of his season came vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide, when he collected four tackles and two sacks. In the final moments of the game, Jones sacked Tide quarterback John Parker Wilson and forced him to fumble, setting up a game-winning touchdown as the Tigers recovered the loose ball. LSU capped off the season with a victory over Ohio State in the BCS National Championship Game.
In his second year, Jones saw his role on defense expand as he played in all 13 games and started five contests (one a free safety, one at dime, three at nickel). His best game of the season came in a 40-31 victory over Troy, when Jones collected nine tackles (four solo), two quarterback hurries, two pass deflections and one interception. His first career start at free safety came vs. Georgia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Widely considered to be the best all-around athlete on the team, Jones gave the Tigers secondary a boost when he moved into a full-time starting role at free safety as a junior. In 2008, the defense ranked 73rd in the country as they allowed 215.38 passing yards per game. The unit saw an increase in effectiveness a year later when Jones stepped into the starting lineup, ranking 29th nationally giving up just 194.23 aerial yards per game. The free safety chipped in a team-high three interceptions for a squad that improved its number of pass thefts from eight in 2008 to thirteen in 2009. Jones was selected as a second-team All-Southeastern Conference choice by the league's coaches and the Associated Press.
Read also: More on Chad Jones, APRN, FNP-BC
The dynamic playmaker also provided a spark in the return game. He earned Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance vs. Mississippi State in 2009. In that contest, Jones returned a fourth quarter punt 93 yards for a touchdown, weaving through would-be tacklers before falling into the end zone. The play marked the second-longest punt return in school history.
Shortly after the Capital One Bowl, Jones announced that he would not be returning to the university for his senior season and had applied for entry in the 2010 NFL Draft. "After many discussions with my family and (LSU) Coach (Les) Miles, I feel it's the right time for me to enter the NFL draft." Jones said in his press release.
Key Statistics and Achievements in Football
- Played in all 40 games at Louisiana State, starting 19 contests - thirteen at free safety and six as the nickel back.
- Recorded 157 tackles (84 solos) with 7.5 stops for losses of 45 yards.
- Added two sacks for minus 25 yards and six quarterback pressures, as he deflected 15 passes and intercepted five others for 81 yards in returns (16.20 avg).
- Forced four fumbles and blocked one punt.
- Returned seven kickoffs for 120 yards (17.14 avg) and 31 punts for 336 yards and one touchdown (10.84 avg).
- His 93-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Mississippi State in 2009 was the second-longest punt return in school history behind Eddie Kennison's 100 yard return vs. Mississippi State in 1994.
- Also caught one pass for 21 yards.
The following table summarizes Chad Jones's defensive statistics during his LSU career:
| Year | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Sacks | Pass Deflections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 14 | 34 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2008 | 13 | 50 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 2009 | 13 | 73 | 3 | 0.5 | 5 |
| Total | 40 | 157 | 5 | 2.5 | 15 |
Baseball Career at LSU
On the baseball diamond, Jones featured a 91 mph fastball and batted over .500 during his final season.
Jones also donned a baseball uniform, joining Jared Mitchell as the only two players in NCAA history to capture a BCS football title and a College World Series crown. The two played on LSU's 2007 national championship football team and the Tigers' 2009 NCAA title baseball squad.
Read also: From football to baseball: Chad Jones Jr.'s story
He was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 13th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft, and faced a tough decision over which sport to pursue.
Jones also played in five games for the Tigers' baseball team as a first-year freshman. He made three starts with one apiece at center field, right field and designated hitter. He finished the year batting .154 (2-of-13) with one double and two runs.
As a sophomore, Jones started eight games for the baseball team (three in left field, three in right field and two at designated hitter) before leaving for six weeks to participate in spring football practice. He returned to the team in late April and made significant contributions as a relief pitcher.
Jones had an outstanding outing vs. Texas in the final game of the 2009 College World Series. He pitched 1.2 perfect innings, allowing no hits and no walks while striking out two to preserve an 11-4 win for LSU.
Jones joined teammate Jared Mitchell as the only two players in college history to claim a BCS national title and a baseball national title.
LSU baseball Coach Paul Mainieri said he was informed by text from Miles and said he had mixed emotions. "A part of me is disappointed I won't have him here to coach next season and a part of me is disappointed he won't be back with the football team," Mainieri said. "On the other hand, I'm happy for him. It's the fulfillment of a dream.
Professional Career and Beyond
After declaring for the 2010 NFL Draft following his stellar junior season, Jones will get his opportunity. "Since I was a kid growing up in a family with a strong football tradition, I've always dreamed of playing football in college and hoped one day I'd make it to the NFL," Jones said.
At the end of his junior year, the New York Giants selected him in the third round (76th overall) of the 2010 NFL draft.
Jones was involved in a single-car crash in New Orleans during the early morning hours of June 25, 2010.
Jones suffered a gruesome left leg injury in a major car accident in his Range Rover in June 2010.
Jones pursued a baseball career following football. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft. He played in the Reds' minor league system for three seasons, floating off and on the disabled list.
Cincinnati selected Jones in the ninth round of the June 7th Major League Baseball Draft.
In 2018, Chad left the sports world and transitioned into a new phase of his life. He focused on coming home and back to Louisiana, helping his family establish a company focused on tourism.
Chad’s return to his hometown of New Orleans is not just a personal journey but a professional one. Looking for the next challenge in his career and a company with strong community ties, he found Waste Pro. For Chad, Waste Pro checked all the boxes he was looking for, offering not just a job but a lifelong career opportunity.
Jones lives in his hometown of New Orleans. The LSU alum also stays active in following sports on social media.
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