Top 70 MAC Football Players: #49 Orion Jones (DT- Toledo Rockets)

The Toledo Rockets have some high expectations to live up to in 2015. They haven't been to the MAC Championship since 2004 and last year's defense which gave up 30.5 points per game put a lot of responsibility on their offense to try to get the job done. But defensive tackle Orion Jones, one of eight returning defensive players for UT, was one of Toledo's better players and should be ending his college career on a high note.

Last year, Jones was tied for fifth in the MAC with Miami RedHawks defensive end Bryson Albright for six total sacks and recorded 33 total tackles (10 TFL, 48 yards). On the road against Iowa State, Jones recorded a career-high six tackles (four solo) with one quarterback hurry. For his career, Jones has 58 total tackles (13 TFL).

From Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jones was a consensus three-star prospect and one of Oklahoma's best. Scout actually had Jones as the #2 defensive tackle from the state (12th overall) and the 74th-ranked defensive tackle in the nation. Jones was listed on Phil Steele's preseason Second Team All-MAC predictions as well as Athlon Sports' preseason predictions.

With Jones, Trent Voss and Allen Covington as the three seniors on Toledo's defensive front, the 6-foot-2, 285 pound tackle is going to have to be a playmaker and be even more of a threat in the backfield if the Rockets are going to have a surefire way to get themselves back in MAC Championship game.