Pitt’s Patrick Jones II Selected by Minnesota Vikings in NFL Draft
4/30/2021 11:30:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt defensive end Patrick Jones II was selected in the third round (90th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft on Friday evening by the Minnesota Vikings.
Jones joins the Vikings after a stellar senior season in 2020 that saw him earn consensus All-America honors as well as First Team All-ACC recognition. The Pitt pass rusher started all 11 games last fall for the Panthers and collected 44 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Voted a team captain by his teammates, Jones led the ACC in sacks and ranked fifth nationally. He concluded his collegiate career with 33.5 TFL and 22 sacks and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor's degree in administration of justice.
Jones is the first defensive end selected from Pitt in the NFL Draft since Jabaal Sheard went to the Cleveland Browns in the second round in 2011.
Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi on Patrick Jones II to the Minnesota Vikings:
"Coach Zimmer and the Vikings are going to absolutely love Patrick Jones He's a relentless competitor who constantly strives to improve. There's a reason why Patrick was a consensus All-American for us this past year. He absolutely disrupts his opponent. And we're thrilled he will be reunited with a fellow Pitt man in Brian O'Neill in Minnesota."
The 2021 NFL Draft concludes Saturday in Cleveland, with several other Panthers hoping to be selected in rounds four through seven. Coverage begins at 12 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Jones joins the Vikings after a stellar senior season in 2020 that saw him earn consensus All-America honors as well as First Team All-ACC recognition. The Pitt pass rusher started all 11 games last fall for the Panthers and collected 44 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Voted a team captain by his teammates, Jones led the ACC in sacks and ranked fifth nationally. He concluded his collegiate career with 33.5 TFL and 22 sacks and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor's degree in administration of justice.
Jones is the first defensive end selected from Pitt in the NFL Draft since Jabaal Sheard went to the Cleveland Browns in the second round in 2011.
Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi on Patrick Jones II to the Minnesota Vikings:
"Coach Zimmer and the Vikings are going to absolutely love Patrick Jones He's a relentless competitor who constantly strives to improve. There's a reason why Patrick was a consensus All-American for us this past year. He absolutely disrupts his opponent. And we're thrilled he will be reunited with a fellow Pitt man in Brian O'Neill in Minnesota."
The 2021 NFL Draft concludes Saturday in Cleveland, with several other Panthers hoping to be selected in rounds four through seven. Coverage begins at 12 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.
#H2P | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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