imported>Cumberland Mills: Career highlights

2025-04-27T03:16:22Z

Career highlights

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{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1981)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
| name = Kitwana Jones
| image = KitwanaJonesRiders.JPG
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|7|7}}
| birth_place = [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]], [[North Carolina]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| number =
| import = yes
| position1 = [[Defensive end]]
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lb = 240
| college = [[Hampton Pirates football|Hampton]]
| high_school = [[Emsley A. Laney High School|Emsley A. Laney (NC)]]
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|2005}}–{{CFL Year|2008}}
| playing_team1 = [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]]
| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|2009}}
| playing_team2 = [[Edmonton Eskimos]]
| playing_years3 = {{CFL Year|2009}}–{{CFL Year|2010}}
| playing_team3 = [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]]
| playing_years4 = {{CFL Year|2011}}
| playing_team4 = [[Montreal Alouettes]]
| CFL-archive = https://web.archive.org/web/20120211231136/http://www.cfl.ca/roster/show/id/364
|career_highlights =
* [[Grey Cup]] champion ([[95th Grey Cup|2007]])
}}

'''Kitwana Shaloyd Jones''' (born July 7, 1981) is a former [[Canadian football]] [[defensive end]]. He was signed by the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]] as an [[undrafted free agent]] in 2005. Jones has also played professionally for the [[Edmonton Eskimos]] and [[Montreal Alouettes]]. He played [[college football]] at the [[North Carolina Tar Heels football|University of North Carolina]] and [[Hampton Pirates football|Hampton University]].

==Playing career==

===College football===
Jones started his [[college football]] career at the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|University of North Carolina]] (UNC), where he saw playing time as a true freshman in 2000.<ref name=uncprofile>{{cite web|title=Kitwana Jones|url=http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/jones_kitwana00.html|publisher=[[North Carolina Tar Heels|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]]|access-date=2010-08-05}}</ref> He played mainly on special teams at North Carolina. He also spent time practicing as a [[Fullback (American football)|fullback]].<ref name=uncprofile /> Jones left the UNC football program for disciplinary reasons<ref name=uncleave>{{cite web|title=Lee Pace's Extra Points: Trenches on Offense, Defense Key for '02 Heels|url=http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081902aaa.html|publisher=[[North Carolina Tar Heels|University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]]|date=2002-08-19|access-date=2010-09-05}}</ref> and then joined [[Hampton University]] for his final two seasons of college football. While at Hampton, Jones started 19 games, including 11 in his senior season.<ref name=riderprofile>{{cite web|title=Kitwana Jones|url=http://www.riderville.com/roster/show/id/364|publisher=[[Saskatchewan Roughriders]]|access-date=2010-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818184930/http://www.riderville.com/roster/show/id/364|archive-date=2010-08-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> After his 2003 season, Jones was named All-Conference ([[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference]])<ref name=almeac>{{cite web|title=All-Time All-MEAC Football First Team|url=http://www.meacsports.com/fls/20800/pdfs/All-Time%20All-MEAC%201st%20Team.pdf|publisher=[[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference]]|access-date=2010-09-05}}</ref> and Division I-AA All-America.<ref name=allamerica>{{cite web|title=All-Time Team LBs: Position stacked with stars|url=http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090816/articles/908179935|publisher=StarNewsOnline.com|date=2009-08-16|access-date=2010-09-05}}</ref>

===Professional football===
Jones started his professional career in the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) when he was signed by the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]] in March, 2005.<ref name=riderprofile /> He made his debut with the club in Week 10 of the [[2005 CFL season]]. He finished his rookie CFL season with 15 tackles (11 on [[special teams]]) and one quarterback sack.<ref name=riderprofile /> Jones played on defense and special teams for the Roughriders in [[2006 CFL season|2006]], finishing the season with 31 tackles and eight quarterback sacks.<ref name=riderprofile /> During the 2006 season, Jones twice recorded two sacks in a game.<ref name=riderprofile /> The Roughriders captured the [[2007 Grey Cup]], with Jones playing [[defensive end]] and linebacker as well playing on special teams. During the Western Final, Jones had two fumble recoveries.<ref name=riderprofile /> Jones played defensive end full-time for the Roughriders in the [[2008 CFL season|2008 season]] and led the team in sacks with five.<ref name=riderprofile />

Prior to the [[2009 CFL season|2009 season]], Jones was traded to the [[Edmonton Eskimos]] in return for quarterback [[Juan Joseph]].<ref name=trade>{{cite web|title=Saskatchewan Rougriders sign Kitwana Jones and admit it was a "mistake" to trade him|url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/Riders+sign+Kitwana+Jones/1977297/story.html|work=Regina Leader Post|date=2009-09-10|access-date=2010-09-05|last=Hamilton|first=Ian}}</ref> Jones played in nine games for the Eskimos before being released. After his release, he had offers to join the Roughriders or the [[Montreal Alouettes]], and Jones elected to sign back with the Roughriders.<ref name=star>{{cite web|title=Some year for Roughrider 'Batman' Jones|url=https://www.thestar.com/article/731560|work=The Toronto Star|date=2009-11-27|access-date=2010-09-05|last=Cox|first=Damien}}</ref> Roughriders director of player personnel Joe Womack admitted that trading Jones had been a mistake: "[[Eric Tillman|Eric (Tillman, Saskatchewan's GM)]] and myself and [[Ken Miller (football coach)|Ken (Miller, the Roughriders' head coach)]] admittedly probably made a mistake -- and that's OK to admit that; teams do it all the time."<ref name=trade /> Joseph, the player the Roughriders received in exchange for Jones was released by the club after training camp.<ref name=trade /> Jones finished the 2009 season with 14 tackles.<ref name=riderprofile />

Heading into the [[2010 CFL season|2010 season]], Jones was not mentioned among the top contenders on the Roughriders to replace departing defensive linemen [[John Chick]] and [[Stevie Baggs]], which suited him fine, "I’m always the undersized guy at my position. There are things that I have to do to remain a Roughrider but I know that I’m in a fight. Then again, I’m always fighting."<ref name=fight>{{cite web|title=I'm always fighting for a spot: Riders' Kitwana Jones|url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/football/riders100/always+fighting+spot+Riders+Kitwana+Jones/3158683/story.html|work=Regina Leader Post|date=2010-06-16|access-date=2010-09-05|last=McCormick|first=Murray}}</ref> Jones also sees significant playing time on special teams, where he is considered by some to be among the CFL's best.<ref name=fight />

On Mar 13, 2011, Jones signed with the [[Montreal Alouettes]].<ref name=Montreal>{{cite web|title=Alouettes sign rush-end Kitwana Jones|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/Alouettes+sign+rush+Kitwana+Jones/4430468/story.html|publisher=Montreal Gazette|access-date=2011-03-15}}</ref>

On May 7, 2012, Jones was released by the Alouettes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://en.montrealalouettes.com/article/the-alouettes-make-roster-moves |title=The Alouettes make roster moves | Montreal Alouettes |access-date=2012-05-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501124135/http://en.montrealalouettes.com/article/the-alouettes-make-roster-moves |archive-date=2013-05-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Personal==
Jones grew up in [[Wilmington, North Carolina|Wilmington]], [[North Carolina]], where he was one of ten children.<ref name=star /> He attended [[Emsley A. Laney High School]],<ref name=uncprofile /> the [[alma mater]] of [[Michael Jordan]].<ref name=laney>{{cite web|title=Alumni-Alumnae|url=http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/laney/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129&Itemid=72|publisher=New Hanover County Schools|access-date=2010-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719093930/http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/laney/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129&Itemid=72|archive-date=2011-07-19|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jones also spent a year at [[Fork Union Military Academy]].<ref name=uncprofile /> He has one son, Tyleke, whom he fathered when he was 14.<ref name=star /> Jones spends time in the off-season mentoring troubled youth in his home town of Wilmington,<ref name=riderprofile /> and spends time during the season with young fans who have special needs.<ref name=bday>{{cite web|title=Riders DL Kitwana Jones' receives birthday gift from his No. 1 fan|url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/Riders+Kitwana+Jones+receives+birthday+gift+from/3249281/story.html|work=Regina Leader Post|date=2010-07-08|access-date=2010-09-05|last=Harder|first=Greg}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

While Jones was with the Eskimos, he acquired the [[nickname]] 'Batman' after an incident in which he chased down and apprehended a mugger who had stolen a woman's purse.<ref name=star /> Jones said of the incident, "God just put me in a good place where I could help someone. He knows what kind of heart I have."<ref name=star />

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090421005923/http://www.saskriders.com/team/roster/detail/?roster_id=103 Saskatchewan Roughriders bio]

{{95th Grey Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Kitwana}}
[[Category:1981 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Wilmington, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Hampton Pirates football players]]
[[Category:North Carolina Tar Heels football players]]
[[Category:Canadian football defensive linemen]]
[[Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players]]
[[Category:Edmonton Elks players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Emsley A. Laney High School alumni]]

Kitwana Jones - Revision history

imported>Cumberland Mills: Career highlights