DJ Jones

Physical Profile

Listed at 6-6, 315 lbs. Taller than 42% and heavier than 79% of 2026 Offensive Tackle prospects in the SEC Scouts database (182 with a listed size).

Play Style

A smooth, patient pass-setter who uses his length to control rushers. He sets with balance, keeps his hips square, and uses his reach to steer and ride defenders past the quarterback rather than lunging. His basketball background shows in his footwork and his ability to mirror inside counters. In the run game he looks better on reach, combination and zone-track blocks, where his feet and length can seal defenders, than on pure drive-block power. That power should come with physical development.

Strengths

• Pass protection is his calling card. Missouri beat coverage (SI) projects him as more of a pass protector than a run blocker right now, which sets him apart in an offensive line room built around run blockers.
• Length: arms near 35 inches let him land his hands first, keep edge rushers off his chest and recover when he gets beaten around the corner.
• Big-game left tackle experience across three schools: he played LT on Berkeley Prep's 2023 state championship team, then was the starting LT for Venice's 2025 team that made a deep Class 7A run, Florida's top classification.
• Consensus recruit: rated a four-star by all the major services (247Sports No. 10 OT / No. 13 in Florida; Rivals300 No. 107). Offers from Georgia, Florida, FSU, Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss and Penn State show power-conference programs wanted him.

Areas to Improve

• Play strength and anchor: he needs to add lower-body power in a college strength program to hold up against SEC bull rushes and generate movement on base and down blocks in the run game.
• Run-game finish and pad level: like many tall high school tackles, he has to win with leverage and sustained leg drive rather than relying on length. That matters more in a Missouri run game that asks its linemen to move defenders off the ball.
• Technical consistency against speed: he needs to tighten his hand timing and set depth against SEC-caliber edge speed and counter moves. He rarely faced that in high school.

College Projection

He is on a development track in 2026. He was not in Missouri's Week 1 two-deep at either tackle spot, so a redshirt year, with up to four game appearances, is the likely plan. Missouri's line has needed rotational depth after 2025 injuries, so he could get spot snaps early if injuries hit. His realistic path is to compete for a starting tackle job, most likely left tackle, in 2027 or 2028 once his strength catches up to his tools.

NFL Outlook

247Sports' NFL projection lists Rounds 4-7, with Max Iheanachor as the player comparison. His length, arm length and pass-pro movement are the traits NFL teams draft at tackle. Whether he moves into Day 2 range depends on adding functional strength and becoming a multi-year SEC starter at left tackle. If he stays mainly a pass-pro specialist without run-game power, he projects as a swing tackle.

Best Fit

A pass-heavy or balanced offense with a lot of gap and outside-zone blocking, one that uses his feet and length at left tackle and gives him a year or two in the weight room before he has to start. That fits his situation at Missouri, where his pass-protection profile fills a need in a run-oriented line room.