Marty Jones

Bio

Marty has patiently waited nearly two full seasons to get back to action for the Golden Eagles, and appears healthy and ready for the 2013 campaign...will be a team leader as he starts at the free safety spot...a seasoned veteran was a regular contributor in 2009 and 2010 but has seen less than two games of action in the past two years...has amassed 145 career tackles and six interceptions over his first three seasons...enjoyed a solid freshman season in a backup role at free safety and became the starter as a sophomore...a smart player with exceptional instincts...an extremely competitive player...working hard in the weight room to increase his strength levels...playmaker who will make a difference in every game...has four career double-figure tackle efforts...shines when the lights are the brighest, averaging nine tackles per game on the road against FBS opponents...listed on Athletic Director's Honor Roll eight consecutive semesters.

AT TECH (IN 2012): Started in the first two games of the season, and looked to be healthy and ready for a standout season...had 13 tackles in the season opening victory over Hampton...had two tackles early against North Greeneville, before an injury put an end to his season for the second consecutive year.

(In 2011): Took a medical redshirt after suffering a preseason knee injury...hoped to be able to play, and was on the field for the first snap of the game at Iowa but quickly determined he was unable to perform and took himself out of action.

(In 2010): One of just eight players to start all 11 games in 2010...Marty was the starter at free safety and ranked second on the team in tackles with 87...had team-leading 37 solo tackles...also led the team with four interceptions, returning them for combined 29 yards...caused one fumble and recovered two fumbles...made 3.5 tackles-for-loss...ranked second in the OVC in tackles per game with 8.7...tied for fifth in the OVC in fumbles recovered...opened the year with career-high 10 tackles at Arkansas, and also caused a Razorback fumble...after getting eight tackles at TCU, he raised his career-high to 14 with a standout game at Southeast Missouri...finished with four double-figure tackle games, getting 12 at Murray State and 13 against Eastern Kentucky...had nine stops against both UT Martin and Jacksonville...picked off a pass against Lane College and returned it 32 yards for his first career touchdown.

(In 2009): Marty saw action in all 11 games as a true freshman and ranked ninth on the team in tackles, making 43 stops...also picked off two passes...first theft came against Southeast Missouri and second interception was in the end zone at Georgia...had five tackles against Kansas State and Eastern Illinois in first half of season...lifted his career-high to nine tackles, coming at Georgia, including six solo stops...that was a breakout game for him with nine tackles and an interception...had six tackles at Jacksonville State and five in the season finale against Murray State...averaged nearly seven tackles per game over the final three contests.

HIGH SCHOOL: A two-way starter at Sycamore High School, Marty was also a two-time conference All-Academic Award recipient...named first-team All-Greater Miami Conference, he was selected to play in the Southwest Ohio FCA All-Star game, and was voted honorable mention All-Southwest Ohio...a nominee for the Old Spice Player of the Year Award in Ohio, he was a two-year letterman in both football and baseball...as a senior, he caught 28 passes for 298 yards, and had four interceptions (one for a touchdown) and two fumble recoveries...for his career, he led the defense with eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries, and two returns for touchdowns...as a wide receiver, he had 51 catches for 570 yards. On special teams, he averaged 11.4 yards on punt returns.

PERSONAL: The son of Matt and Laura Jones...full name is Martin Matthew Jones...birthdate is September 4, 1990...received his degree in marketing and has started work toward his master's degree.