Nazair Jones

Position:
Defensive Tackle
Height:
6-5
Weight:
295
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Roanoke Rapids, N.C.
High School:
Roanoke Rapids

Pronounced Nah-ZAYHR • Elected to forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2017 NFL Draft • Named third-team All-ACC by ACSMA in 2015 and 2016 • Started 22 career games • While enrolled at UNC, began his own non-profit organization called Made Men Mentoring, a support system for underprivileged young men in North Carolina that pairs them with college student athletes who will mentor and support them in the areas of academics, competitive athletics, and manhood.

2016 - Junior Season
Started all 12 games he has played in 2016 • Finished the year fourth on the team with 70 tackles, a team-high 9.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and three pass breakups • Named the Jimmy Rogers, Jr. Most Valuable Lineman Trophy after recording eight tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack in the Sun Bowl vs. Stanford • Made five tackles vs. NC State • Recorded six tackles, including three solo stops vs. The Citadel • Had three tackles, including one for a loss, at Duke • Made a career-high eight tackles and a tackle for loss in a 48-20 win over Georgia Tech • Had five tackles, including one for loss, in the win at Virginia • Was second on the team with seven tackles in a 20-13 win at No. 16 Miami • Posted two tackles, broke up one pass and had a quarterback hurry in the win at No. 12 Florida State • Made three tackles in the comeback win over Pitt • Missed the JMU game with an injury • Had seven tackles and two tackles for loss in the win at Illinois • Made seven tackles and assisted on a sack in the season opener vs. No. 18 Georgia.

2015 - Sophomore Season
Named to the All-ACC third team by ACSMA • Finished with 40 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one interception • Missed the bowl game vs. Baylor with an injury • Matched a season high with six tackles in the ACC Championship Game against Clemson • Also made an incredible interception, batting the ball at the line and then diving to make the catch • Had three solo tackles and a pass breakup in the win at NC State • Played one of the best games of his career in the win at Virginia Tech, finishing with six tackles • Also had a tackle for loss and strip to force a fumble, which he then recovered • Had five solo stops, a tackle for loss, a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery in the win over Miami • Returned from missing a month due to injury with three tackles, one TFL and two quarterback hurries in the win over Duke • Finished with four tackles (three solo) and a pass breakup in the win over Delaware • Had five tackles in the Illinois win • Had two stops in the win over NC A&T • Finished with six tackles and combined on a tackle for loss in the season opener against South Carolina.

2014 - Redshirt Freshman Season
Finished the season with 35 tackles, 2.5 sacks, four pass breakups and an interception • Also finished with a team-best 7.5 tackles for loss • Made two tackles in the Quick Lane Bowl vs. Rutgers • Had four tackles (three solo) and a pass breakup against NC State • Matched a season high with five tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and shared a sack in the win at Duke • Forced a fumble on the sack in the first quarter that led to a Tim Scott touchdown against the Blue Devils • Earned ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors for his play at Duke • Had four tackles against both Pitt and Miami • Grabbed his first career interception to fuel Carolina's come-from-behind win at Virginia • Had three tackles and a quarterback hurry in the win over Georgia Tech • Finished with a pair of solo stops and a QB hurry at Notre Dame • Established a career high with five tackles, including two for a loss, and a sack against Virginia Tech • Had two solo tackles, both for a loss, a pass breakup and his first career sack at Clemson • Finished with a pair of tackles, including one for a loss of nine yards, at East Carolina • Redshirted in 2013.

Roanoke Rapids High School
Member of North Carolina's Shrine Bowl team • Prepstar All-Atlantic Region • Competed in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl in Houston • Considered the No. 10 player in North Carolina and the nation's No. 26 strongside defensive end by Rivals.com • Listed as the No. 9 player in North Carolina and the No. 17 strongside defensive end by 247sports.com • Ranked the No. 11 player in North Carolina and the No. 40 defensive end in the country by Scout.com • Also played at defensive tackle and on the offensive line.

Personal
Started his own foundation called MADE Men Mentoring, an non-profit that aims to provide a support system for underprivileged young men in North Carolina by pairing them with college student-athletes who will mentor and support them in the areas of academics, competitive athletics, and manhood • Nickname is “Naz” • If he could choose an NFL team to play for, it would be the Panthers • His dream job is to be a high school football coach • People say he looks like Julius Peppers and Jay Z • His favorite TV show is “Parks and Recreation” • Favorite food is mac and cheese • Wears No. 90 because Julius Peppers wore it • His pregame ritual or superstition is to listen to stand-up comedy and watch 2000s hip-hop music videos • Favorite off-day activity is playing basketball • The person who had the biggest impact on his life is Mac Booker, his former mentor • Birthday is Dec. 13 • Son of Tammy Jones • Graduated with a degree in communication studies in 2020.