Ohio State OL Matt Jones declares for 2024 NFL Draft
Ohio State offensive lineman Matt Jones officially announced that he’s declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. He made the announcement on Friday evening on his Twitter page. Jones earned second team All-Big Ten honors in 2022 and honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2021.
“A heartfelt thank you goes to my family for their unwavering love, support and sacrifices that have enabled me to embark on this journey,” Jones said. “Words cannot adequately express how much I appreciate them. With that being said, I am excited to announce that I will be declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft,” he said in his statement.
He went on to thank several people in his message, including Ryan Day and the Ohio State coaching staff. “I would like to extend my thanks to Coach Day, Coach (Justin) Frye, Coach Mike (Sollenne), Coach Mick (Marotti), and the entire coaching staff for allowing me to be a part of something special,” Jones said. “I appreciate every aspect of it. Not only did I learn the tools of football, but I also gained insights into what it means to be a man with qualities such as leadership, accountability, and the ability to inspire others.”
He is originally from New York and attended Brooklyn (N.Y.) Erasmus Hall. Jones was the No. 72 overall recruit in the 2018 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.
Jones will join his fellow Ohio State teammates, Miyan Williams and Mike Hall, Jr. at the 2024 NFL Draft on April 25th.
More on the 2024 NFL Draft
The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.
Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.
The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.
To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.
Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.
The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.