Mississippi State football is getting its best defender back for 2026. Cornerback Kelley Jones is making his return to the Bulldogs after considering the NFL Draft. Named 3rd Team All-SEC by league coaches, the lockdown defensive back recorded 34 tackles, 11 passes broken up, and two interceptions in 2025. His 13 total passes defended was tied for second in the SEC.
He’s Back. pic.twitter.com/Ha5iTEnmmq
— Mississippi State Football (@HailStateFB) January 4, 2026
Kelley Jones was a breakout star for the Mississippi State defense. At 6-4, 195 with legitimate 4.4 speed, the redshirt sophomore has always been an athletic freak with elite potential. However prior to this season, he hadn't yet shown consistent ability as a cornerback, and many believed he'd be best suited to transition to safety given his size. He put it all together in 2025.
Jones developed into one of the very best corners in the SEC. According to PFSN, he led the SEC with a catch rate allowed of just 28.9% and 11 forced incompletions. His 87.0 overall grade with the fourth-best in the conference. Teams simply did not throw his way throughout the season.
His performance garnered the attention of the NFL, as Jones played at a genuine 1st Round level in 2025. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. rated Kelley Jones as his third-best CB prospect and the No. 25 prospect overall for the 2026 draft.
Jones was not considered a consensus 1st Rounder, however. Most draft grades placed him as a late Day 2 or early Day 3 player. That's not because of a lack of ability but rather because of limited production. Jones is still young and has only had one high-level season. NFL teams would like to see more from him before investing a 1st Round pick in him.
But another season like he had in 2025, and there's no doubt that Kelley Jones would be among the first players taken. A great 2026 campaign effectively assures Jones walks across the stage on night one of the 2027 NFL Draft. And for that reason, he's going to give it one more go in Starkville.
It's great news for Mississippi State, as they begin the offseason knowing they've got a superstar in their secondary capable of locking down his side of the field. Kelley Jones is a piece they can build around, and their quest to rebuild the Bulldog defense to a competitive level just got much easier.