Fifth Round Reshad Jones Signs

If you are a Miami Dolphins fan, the numbers 3 and 30 hold quite a bit of significance over the course of the next 10 days. The 30, of course, stands for July 30, which is the day Fins fans have looked forward to since the end of the 2009 season (which was 198 days ago… but who’s counting, right?), the start of training camp, while the 3 represents the number of players the Dolphins took in the 2010 NFL Draft that still remain unsigned. That number actually stood at 4 until just a few days ago, when Miami finally came to terms with fifth-round selection Reshad Jones.

Jones, who was drafted 163rd overall and is listed at 6-1 and 214, certainly gives Dolphins fans reason to be optimistic about the depth he adds to the secondary. The three-year player out of the University of Georgia (he left school early after choosing to forego his senior season) played in 39 games for the Bulldogs, starting 27 contests. He registered 206 tackles (129 solos), including 10 stops for losses of 26 yards, while batting away 13 passes and intercepting another 11 for 174 yards in returns. In addition, he became only the eighth player since statistics were kept in 1950 to lead the team in interceptions in consecutive seasons.

While Jones had racked up impressive numbers to warrant his fifth-round selection with Miami, he finds himself in a position to actually make an impact during his rookie year. As we mentioned in our draft night blog, with Gibril Wilson gone and Ryan Clark re-signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Miami Dolphins only had Tyrone Culver, Yeremiah Bell, Chris Clemons and Nate Ness on the roster in the safety position, and the Fins front office brass certainly expect Jones to be able to compete with any of them. Specifically, as training camp nears, look for Jones to battle Clemons for the starting job at free safety.

With Jones now under contract, that leaves only first round pick/defensive end Jared Odrick, linebacker Koa Misi, who was taken in the second round and offensive guard John Jerry, a third round selection, as the three remaining unsigned players of the eight that were drafted by the Dolphins.

If you are looking for yet another number to keep your eye on in addition to 3 and 30, the number 14, which represents the first Dolphins preaseason game against Tampa Bay on August 14, certainly is a number that is circled on many calendars across South Florida. And while Fins fans everywhere are assuredly doing a little dance because that means that NFL preseason football is less than a month away, that also means that the clock is ticking in terms of time that is left to get your Miami Dolphins tickets and ticket packages, including VIP Miami Dolphins tickets. MiamiDolphinsTickets.com is your No. 1 source for premium access to the Dolphins, so keep reading our blog and get your tickets today to see these AFC East contenders in person!