Texas A&M football portal profiles: Path is clear for Trey Jones to start at safety

Texas A&M football portal profiles: Trey Jones could be shoo-in safety starter

I was already planning on writing my next portal profile on Trey Jones, even before Jacoby Mathews announced he was entering the portal. Now, it seems even more appropriate.

What I would have said then was that Jones would battle Mathews hard for a starting safety spot. Now, the path is all but clear for the former Central Michigan Chippewa to trot out with the first team defense against Notre Dame on August 31.

But let's talk more about the player himself. Why was he such a big get for Texas A&M football? Well, for one thing, he is one of the most experienced players in the sport, being part of the same recruiting class as Demani Richardson, Kenyon Green, and DeMarvin Leal.

The Wetumpka, Alabama native spent two years in Mount Pleasant as a backup before seeing an increased role in 2021. He became a full-time starter in 2022, and has notched a total of 151 tackles over the past two years. He's also an ideas man:

Jones is both a hard hitter and a sure tackler. If you listen to those close to the program, he has already embraced a leadership role even in offseason workouts, and the expectations for him are high headed into the year.

Of course, it will be a crowded defensive backs room after the work that Elko has done in the portal as well as the talent coming in. The proven production that Jones has on his ledger, as well as the leadership he is reportedly already showing will be tough to overlook.

For these reasons, I think we see Jones as a starter this fall. He brings so much to the table, including the extra motivation of this being his final year of eligibility—he's not going to let himself get beaten out by another player. The spot will have to be taken from him. I think he has what it takes to hold on.