ESPN reported that former South Carolina football linebacker Ernest Jones is seeking a trade from the LA Rams, something the Rams record-holder denies.
South Carolina football fans might not have many fond memories from the 2019 and 2020 seasons, as the Gamecocks had a tough time, winning only 6 games in total. However, they did pull off a notable upset against the Georgia Bulldogs in 2019 and enjoyed a memorable victory over the Auburn Tigers in 2020.
On an individual level, players like Javon Kinlaw, Jaycee Horn, Kevin Harris, Bryan Edwards, and Shi Smith had standout performances. Linebacker Ernest Jones, who earned a spot on the All-SEC team, was particularly notable.
Jones, a low-rated 3-star recruit from high school, chose to skip his redshirt season to contribute on special teams during the 2018 Belk Bowl. Once he became a starter in 2019, he made a significant impact. Jones earned All-SEC honors in both 2019 and 2020, establishing himself as one of the best sideline-to-sideline linebackers in recent South Carolina history.
His strong performance with the Gamecocks led to his selection in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he’s since become one of the top linebackers in the league. Last season, he set a franchise record for the Rams with 145 tackles in just 15 games.
Recently, ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler disclosed that sources informed him the Rams had given Jones permission to seek a trade if he was dissatisfied with his current contract. Jones quickly refuted the trade rumors on Twitter/X but later deleted his post.
Despite being a top-10 linebacker, Jones was surprisingly left out of the Pro Bowl following a stellar 2023 season. He is deserving of a significant contract, but it remains uncertain whether the Rams will be the team to offer it.
