He is still waiting on his pay day from the Atlanta Falcons; however, his peers in the National Football League continue to recognize him for his greatness.
Julio Jones is about to enter his ninth year in the league and the six-time Pro Bowl selection at receiver was voted No. 9 on the NFL’s Top 100 Players for 2019. He is coming off his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2018 (1,677) and totaled eight touchdowns on 113 catches.
The best WR in the world… debate your mama. pic.twitter.com/M4cal7AzBN
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 1, 2019
Listed at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, his streak of 1,000-yard performances started in 2014 while Jones’ best year was 2015. He was the NFL’s co-leader in receptions (136) and its leader in receiving yards (1,871). He averaged a whopping 116.9 yards per game and recorded eight scores from Matt Ryan. The former University of Alabama star helped the Falcons to a Super Bowl appearance in 2016, totaling 1,409 yards with six touchdown receptions on 83 catches.
Jones’ size, strength, speed, hands, route-running acumen and instincts make him arguably the league’s best receiver. He has been the face of the Falcons since getting selected in the first round (No. 6 overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. At 30 years old, the veteran made a bold proclamation as he looks to accumulate 3,000 receiving yards in the upcoming season.
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The two-time NFL All-Pro first team honoree (2015, 2016) was a Southeastern Conference Champion and BCS National Champion at Alabama in 2009. He turned in a 1,000-yard campaign in 2010 (1,133) and earned recognition as a first-team All-SEC selection.
Jones turned recruiting into Alabama’s favor in 2008 and now he looks to help the Falcons return to the Super Bowl stage and finish. He joins Derrick Henry (No. 99), Mark Ingram (No. 80), C.J. Mosley (No. 73), Amari Cooper (No. 64) and Eddie Jackson (No. 30) as the sixth Crimson Tide alumnus on this year’s NFL’s Top 100 Players list.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
