50 greatest college football players this century, ranked

• Jack Lambert Trophy (2012)
• 2x Consensus All-American (2011, 2012)
• SEC Defensive Player of the Year (2012)
• 2x First-Team All-SEC (2011, 2012)

After starting his career at Southern Cal and playing in eight games as a freshman in 2009, Jarvis Jones’ career almost ended when he suffered a neck injury and was diagnosed with spinal stenosis. USC’s medical staff would not give him clearance but hoping to continue his career somehow, he contacted several SEC programs, underwent extensive testing and eventually transferred to Georgia once their medical team gave him the green light. After NCAA transfer rules forced him to sit out the 2010 season, he burst onto the scene in 2011.

Jones started every game for the Dawgs in 2011, totaling 70 tackles, 19.5 tackles for losses, and 13.5 sacks (which led the SEC and was second nationwide). He had four games with multiple sacks including a career-high four against Florida and was the difference-maker in a game Georgia won 24-20.

He followed his stellar 2011 season with an even better 2012 that included 85 tackles, 24.5 tackles behind the line and 14.5 sacks. Jones had five games with two or more sacks including three against Florida in another closely contested Georgia win. Even though he missed two games, his 24.5 tackles for a loss and 14.5 sacks both led all of college football.

Jones was a consensus All-American in both 2011 and 2012 and he took home SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors as well as the Jack Lambert Trophy in 2012.

Key Stat: In both of Jones’ seasons at Georgia, he had more sacks than Jadeveon Clowney did in any single-season at South Carolina. Jones’ 28 total sacks in 26 games over two seasons were more than Clowney’s 24 which were compiled in 36 games over three seasons. Clowney was good. Jarvis Jones was better.