The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Christian Jones drafted by Arizona Cardinals
04.27.2024 | Football
Texas OL Christian Jones was selected in the fifth round with the 162nd overall pick.
DETROIT – Texas offensive lineman Christian Jones was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the 162nd overall pick in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Jones is the first Texas offensive lineman to be taken in the NFL Draft since Sam Cosmi was selected in the second round by Washington in 2021. In addition, Jones is the 25th player selected by the Cardinals in NFL Draft history, and the first since defensive end Alex Okafor was picked in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
Jones is the seventh Longhorn selected in this year's NFL Draft, matching the most for Texas in a year since 2007. He is also UT's fifth offensive player drafted this year, matching the most-ever for the Longhorns through seven rounds. Texas also had five players selected in seven rounds in 1982.
"Arizona got a great player and person, and a guy with a very bright future in the NFL," said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. "Christian is a guy who I watched develop as much as anybody in his three years with us. He's a three-year starter who began playing left tackle before moving to the right side where he really blossomed in year two and three. He's a guy Coach Flood poured a lot into, and we really saw his development grow exponentially in his time here. He and the team reaped the benefits of that. Christian was a guy we could really trust, he was great in the locker room, did things the right way and because of that, we saw his game evolve. His fundamentals improved, his understanding of the scheme really grew, he became a very good pass protector for us, but also showed versatility in the run game. I do think he has position flexibility at the next level as a guy who can definitely play either tackle spot, and I would say could even play guard if needed because he's got the measurables that are unique to that position.
"Because of the fact that he hasn't play a ton of football relative to most guys, I think his best days are ahead of him. His development is not complete, he can continue to grow as a player and inevitably be a really productive player at the professional level. The Cardinals are lucky to have him, as a player, teammate and awesome representative of their franchise in every way."
Jones appeared in 61 games with 48 starts during his six years on the Forty Acres. A Joe Moore Award semifinalist in 2023, he was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2022 and 2023 by the league's coaches. With Jones anchoring the right side of the line, Texas had back-to-back seasons that featured a 1,000- and 500-yard rusher (2022, Bijan Robinson-1,580/Roschon Johnson-554; 2023, Jonathon Brooks-1,158/CJ Baxter-659).
Last season, he helped open holes for Doak Walker Award semifinalist Jonathon Brooks, who ranked sixth in the nation in rushing yards (1,139), seventh in rushing yards per game (113.9 ypg) and sixth in all-purpose yards (142.5 ypg) through 10 games before an injury cut his season short. Jones also blocked for Quinn Ewers, whose 3,479 passing yards were the fifth-most in a season in UT history.
In 2022, Jones earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors as part of an offensive line that opened holes for unanimous All-American and Doak Walker Award-winning running back Bijan Robinson, who rushed for 1,580 yards on 258 carries (6.1ypc) and 18 touchdowns. Additionally, Ewers passed for 2,177 passing yards, the fifth-most for a Texas freshman, and 15 touchdowns, the fourth-most in a season for a Longhorn freshman.
Off the field, Jones was extremely active in the community. Among his many efforts, he was spoken at Kid's Day at the George Washington Carver Museum, participated in Habitat for Humanity building projects, and assisted with cleanup efforts following Hurricane Harvey. He also made visits to Dell Children's Medical Center, took part in the Children's, Inc. Parade and the Austin ISD KidsFest Festival.
A two-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection (2021, '23), Jones graduated with a degree in sports management. He earned second-team Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2020 and 2022 and was a seven-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
On being drafted by Arizona:
I'm so happy I get to be in Arizona. It's a great environment, the coaching staff is very young and has new, fresh energy, and I'm just excited to be able to get to go out there and showcase my talent. All I needed was an opportunity every single step of the way, and now I've got it. It's always good to go someplace that you're wanted, and they see talent in me, and I'm so ready to work.
On the call:
I got the call with the AZ area code, and I was like, 'Okay, bet.' I answered it and I just started smiling immediately. It was quick and brief with them telling me they were excited to have me. I talked to the GM and I talked to the coach and was just thinking, 'Let's get it.'
On his family's reaction:
My dad was so hyped, so hyped, so hyped. My family is super proud just understanding all the work it took to get the call – the early mornings, the late nights, staying extra, the discipline to get my body right and my mind right to perform to the level to have this opportunity. All of that combined together is just an amazing feeling. My dad is my best friend and seeing him proud of me, and everyone's just smiling and happy, mom shed a tear or two. I'm moving along in the right direction, and I'm so happy for that.
On how prepared he feels coming out of Texas:
I feel extremely prepared. I don't think any program in the country works as hard as we do – winter, spring, summer – just to get ready for the season. The way Coach Sark has everything set up is very pro style. We're running plays you're going to run at the next level, seeing blitzes you're going to see at the next level, and blocking NFL caliber people in our own locker room. Iron sharpens iron, and I was able to get better going against the likes of Murph (Byron Murphy), (T'Vondre) Sweat, all the edge guys – Barryn (Sorrell), (Ethan) Burke, all those guys. It was definitely a whole group effort, and the support and love is there, and I'm so grateful for that.
On the draft production by the program:
It feels like we're going in the right direction. The culture is set, the philosophy is set, and now there are examples for the young guys to look up to and follow. All those guys who are getting this opportunity now put themselves in the right situation to get this call. So all the young guys should definitely lock in and remember what we all did to get there. It wasn't just doing the bare minimum and showing up and going to practice and going home. You've got to do extra, and you've got to do different to be different. We're definitely trending in the right direction.
On thanks to his teammates and coaches:
I want to give a shoutout to everyone who was on the journey with me – everyone who believed in me and challenged me to get to where I'm at today. A special shoutout to all my coaches – Coach Hand, Coach Flood, Coach Herman, Coach Sark. I pulled things from everyone. A special shoutout to Coach Becton who got me right, and Kevin Washington who helped me spiritually and mentally, all of that together, and I just want to shoutout everyone on the staff, and academic advisors and professors, it was all of that. I'm just so happy to have been a part of this great brotherhood of Texas Longhorn Football, and I can't wait to see what they've got going on next.
On his message to Longhorn Nation:
Longhorn Nation, thank you so much for rockin' with me and letting me grow and supporting me. I'll be the first to say it hasn't all been rainbows and sunshine, but understanding that I was getting better every single day and really backing that and supporting it. I love y'all to death, hook 'em Horns, and I'm a Longhorn for life. It's my dream school, I lived my dream, and now I'm living the other side of my dream. I just want to say thank you to everyone.
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Christian Jones is headed to Arizona!@Christo24AHFC x @AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/2hZuWaOgLN
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 27, 2024
En route to the desert 🏜️ pic.twitter.com/lOWsMN1v1O
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 27, 2024
Well Earned My Man!!! https://t.co/RkDCk2RM25 pic.twitter.com/T7euEzB79z
— Kyle Flood (@KJJFlood) April 27, 2024
He's got a high ceiling pic.twitter.com/hCxPXxlY6F
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 27, 2024
