Kelley Jones, a standout cornerback from Mississippi State, has been placed on the watchlist for the 2026 Lott IMPACT Trophy, an award that celebrates the most influential defensive player in college football.
A Rising Star in the SEC
Hailing from Clarksdale, Mississippi, Jones enters his redshirt junior year after a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him earn third‑team All‑SEC honors from the league’s head coaches and a No. 147 spot on CBS’s Top 150 players list.
During the 2025 season he started every game, recording 34 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions, while Pro Football Focus graded him as the most efficient cornerback in the SEC, allowing just 11 receptions on 38 targets.
Analysts have already started projecting him as a first‑round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, and he currently sits at No. 25 on the On3 Top 100 Players list for the upcoming class.
The Trophy and Its Selection Process
The Lott IMPACT Trophy is selected by a national panel that includes former winners, media members, coaches and representatives of The IMPACT Foundation, with the champion to be revealed at a black‑tie gala at The Pacific Club on December 9, 2026.