As the final seconds ticked off the clock at Everbank Field in the Gator Bowl, Mississippi State's players retreated off the field back to the locker room after losing to Northwestern.

But one player remained behind.

Senior defensive tackle Devin Jones was overcome with emotions of having likely played his final down of football and fell into the arms of his mentor and strength coach Matt Balis.

The two embraced as Jones was the final Bulldog off the field.

It was a sight that many observers at MSU's practices have seen on a daily basis. After all, Jones was always the last player off the field each day even sometimes having to be carried off the practice fields because he had left every ounce of energy out there.

That is just who Jones is.

As an undersized defensive tackle at just 6-foot-1, 260-pounds, Jones has had to work hard for everything he has achieved at this level. In 2008 he was rated just a two-star prospect during the recruiting process but has been pound-for-pound the strongest and one of the toughest Bulldogs in the program for five years.

"There have been a couple of guys who have said 'Man, 60 you're tough'," Jones said. "I just have fun every time I put my hand down on the ground. I tried to cherish every snap because as the season wound down you never knew when your last one was going to be."

Jones suited up for 49 games during his MSU career and earned three starts. He finished with 49 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and a pass breakup.

The Olive Branch, Miss., native redshirted his first year on campus under then head coach Sylvester Croom and has been part of the culture change for Dan Mullen the past four seasons.



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