Maurice Jones-Drew

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Jones-Drew's journey to the Jaguars began at De La Salle High School, where he played on teams that never lost a single game during his three-year varsity career. As a junior in 2001, he captured national attention by scoring all four of De La Salle's touchdowns in a historic 29-15 victory over Long Beach Poly. One specific moment saw him receiving a short pass on third-and-eight from the 25-yard line, breaking a tackle, and launching a spectacular forward somersault into the end zone. He followed this with a 29-yard reception, a 17-yard burst through the line, and a final 22-yard run to seal the win. His junior season stats were staggering: nearly 2,000 rushing yards, an average of nearly 12 yards per carry, and 26 touchdowns. Rated as the No. 1 all-purpose back in the nation by Rivals.com in 2003, he was part of the De La Salle team featured on the cover of 'When the Game Stands Tall', which chronicles the school's 151-game winning streak.

In Their Own Story

In his rookie season of 2006, Jones-Drew initially served as a kick-off returner before evolving into the Jaguars' primary third-down running back behind veteran Fred Taylor. A defining moment occurred on December 10 against the Indianapolis Colts, where he set franchise records with 166 rushing yards and 303 all-purpose yards. This performance included a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He finished his rookie year tied for second in balloting for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The following season saw growth as well; after an average debut against the Tennessee Titans where he fumbled at the 8-yard line, he celebrated his first touchdown of the year in a win over the Kansas City Chiefs. By Week 10, he rushed for 101 yards and a score against Tennessee, eventually tallying 768 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 167 carries by season's end.

Reader's Guide

Maurice Jones-Drew played eight seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2006 through 2013. He was selected in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, taken 60th overall to eventually replace Fred Taylor. Despite being listed at 5 ft 6¾ in, he overcame doubts about his size by wearing jersey number 32 and excelling as a versatile weapon. His statistical peak came in 2011 when he led the NFL in rushing yards. Over his time with the team, he was named to the Pro Bowl three times and became one of only two players that year (alongside Reggie Bush) to score touchdowns via rushing, receiving, and kicking returns. He finished his Jaguars career having broken multiple franchise records, including scoring a rushing touchdown in eight consecutive games early in his career and gaining 2,250 all-purpose yards in his rookie season.

Did You Know?

• Jones-Drew is part of the team photo on the cover of the book 'When the Game Stands Tall', which chronicles De La Salle's all-time-record 151-game winning streak.
• In a single game against Washington, he set UCLA's all-time record with 322 rushing yards and scored five touchdowns.
• He averaged 16.2 yards per punt return in 2005, showcasing his explosiveness in the return game.
• Jones-Drew wore jersey number 32 because he had worn it at UCLA, not due to being passed over by all 32 NFL teams.