Florida Football: After long journey, Jalon Jones returns to The Swamp

For most Florida football fans who pay attention to things that go on behind the scenes, the name Chris Steele is a bit of a sore spot. The highly touted defensive back out of California was a headliner in Dan Mullen’s 2019 recruiting class.

Steele never suited up as a Florida Gator and transferred back home after a string of incidents concerning the roommate he was paired up with when he moved on campus made Steele uncomfortable.

That roommate also never suited up as a Florida Gator for a regular season game, but after a long and winding road will be in The Swamp this Saturday as a member of UNC Charlotte.

Florida Football: Taking the long way around

Jalon Jones was himself a four-star QB out of Richmond, VA. He committed to UF under Dan Mullen and enrolled in the school in January of 2019.

According to reporting at the time, Jones and Steele were roommates. Steele claimed that within a month of rooming with Jones, he requested a change in roommate.

That change was never made, and then, in April 2019, two female students accused Jones of sexual assault.

No charges were filed, but Steele and Jones transferred from the program.

Steele went on the a decent career with USC and has spent time on NFL practice squads.

Jones meanwhile embarked on a long odyssey that first took him to Jackson State for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. During the 2020 season, Jones threw for 1,040 yards with a 55% completion rate and 12 touchdowns against just three interceptions.

But in 2021, Jackson State had some guy named Sanders playing QB.

Jones eventually popped up at Bethune Cookman and threw for 2,231 yards and 13 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 2022.

Now a member of UNC Charlotte, Jones is finally in a position to take the field in The Swamp in an official game.

Jones has split time this season with Trexler Ivey as 49ers QB. Ivery is the far more accurate QB, but Jones is still completing passes at a 58% rate this season. He is also a threat to run and is currently the rushing leader for the 49ers with 196 yards off 32 carries.

Given Florida’s defense, it is doubtful Jones will have much of an impact. Plus, outside of Jaydon Hill, only a handful of current Gators were in Gainesville in 2019 to even remember this saga at all.

But for Gator fans with a longer memory, this weekend will put a bow on one of the stranger sagas from the Dan Mullen era.