Matt Jones Signs Deal With Miami Dolphins

The NFL is a dream of every player who puts on the helmet and shoulder pads and that dream is now a reality for Ohio State offensive lineman Matthew Jones has his shot at the NFL despite not being drafted.

Jones signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Miami Dolphins according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

It was a long career for Jones with the Buckeyes as he was part of the class of 2018 and after a redshirt season in 2018, saw significant time in the starting lineup over the course of his remaining years with the Buckeyes.

The Brooklyn (N.Y.) native had an opportunity to hit the draft last season but opted to come back for one more year, even with a degree already in hand. Jones graduated from The Ohio State University in December of 2021.

Jones has the versatility to play any of the three interior line positions but was highlighted at offensive guard in 2023, even when the Buckeyes could have really used a center. Jones did slide inside for Ohio State’s Cotton Bowl game, a game that many Ohio State fans would like to forget in the grand scheme of things.

The former Ohio State lineman would go on to start 30 games during his Ohio State career and would be awarded second-team All-Big Ten honors both in 2022 and 2023 for his play with the Buckeyes.

Getting drafted is just one step in the process and now Jones will have to fight to make the roster. By virtue of getting drafted does not mean inclusion on the 53-man roster and lower round draft picks will have an uphill battle.

But nothing was given to Jones at Ohio State, and nothing will be given to Jones at the next level. Jones was not the biggest name line recruit in his class, with that honor going to Nick Petit-Frere. The hard work that Jones showed in Columbus will go a long way in Miami as he will need to make an immediate impression once OTAs get underway in the coming weeks.

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