There’s no better word to describe Tebucky Jones than “athlete”. Jones logged 495 yards and eight touchdowns as a running back for SU in his first three seasons on the Hill behind quarterback Donovan McNabb and tailback Malcolm Thomas.
But the New Britain, CT native sets himself apart on the other side of the ball. He doubled as a safety for the Orange. By the time he reached his senior season, Head Coach Paul Pasqualoni realized Jones’ future was in the secondary.
Four interceptions in his senior season as a full-time safety vaulted him to the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. The Patriots selected him 22nd overall. With his impressive showing, Jones also earned the nickname “Lucky Tebucky”.
The only other guy who can compete with Jones as the most versatile two-way player is Diamond Ferri.By the strictest definition, Jones has no business being this low on an SU Top 100 athletes countdown. He also began a long lineage of standout safeties at Syracuse, followed by Tanard Jackson, Shamarko Thomas and now Andre Cisco.
