#FromStateToSundays: Cox, Jones Highlight All-Pro Teams
January 04, 2019 | Football
STARKVILLE – On Friday, The Associated Press revealed its 2018 NFL All-Pro teams, and Mississippi State was well-represented.
Philadelphia Eagles interior defensive lineman Fletcher Cox was named to the first team and Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones, meanwhile, earned a spot on the second team. The honor is a first for Jones, while it is Cox's fourth straight season on the team but only time on the first team.
The AP NFL All-Pro team is based on voting from a nationwide panel of 50 media members.
Cox eclipsed double-digit sacks for the first time with a career-best 10.5 in 2018 to lead the Eagles. He also had 12 tackles for loss, his most since 2015, and 74 combined quarterback pressures and hits, nearly as many as the past three seasons combined (87). He was named to the NFC's Pro Bowl squad for the fourth time in his seven seasons with the Eagles. After a three-sack effort in Sunday's win over Washington, Cox was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday.
Cox is the third-highest graded defender in the NFL (92.6) according to Pro Football Focus, while Jones' grade of 90.5 is tied for 16th. Cox (29) and Jones (24) finished first and third, respectively, in the league in total pressures over the final four weeks of the season.
Both Cox and Jones were All-Americans at MSU. During Cox's three-year college career, he finished with 114 tackles (53 solo), 24.5 TFL and 8.5 sacks in 36 games (27 starts) and also blocked five field-goal attempts. Jones played in 39 games with 16 starts during his time with the Bulldogs. He totaled 102 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks in his three-year career.
For more information on the Bulldogs, follow the MSU football team on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
The full list of first- and second-team selections is below.
FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Running Back: Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams
Flex: Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
Tight End: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Wide Receivers: Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints; DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans
Left Tackle: David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers
Right Tackle: Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas City Chiefs
Left Guard: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts
Right Guard: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys
Center: Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles
DEFENSE
Edge Rushers: J.J. Watt, Houston Texans; Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears
Interior Linemen: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles
Linebackers: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers; Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks; Darius Leonard, Indianapolis Colts
Cornerbacks: Kyle Fuller, Chicago Bears; Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots
Safeties: Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears; Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
Defensive Back: Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers
SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker: Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
Punter: Michael Dickson, Seattle Seahawks
Kick Returner: Andre Roberts, New York Jets
Punt Returner: Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears
Special Teamer: Adrian Phillips, Los Angeles Chargers
SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Running Back: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
Flex: Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
Tight End: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Wide Receivers: Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons; Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
Left Tackle: Duane Brown, Seattle Seahawks, and Terron Armstead, New Orleans Saints
Right Tackle: Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints
Left Guard: Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns
Right Guard: Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens
Center: Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers
DEFENSE
Edge Rushers: Von Miller, Denver Broncos; Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints; Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns; Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings
Interior Linemen: Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs; J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
Linebackers: Von Miller, Denver Broncos; C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens; Leighton Vander Esch, Dallas Cowboys
Cornerbacks: Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys; Xavien Howard, Miami Dolphins
Safeties: Jamal Adams, New York Jets; Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Defensive Back: Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers
SPECIAL TEAMS
Placekicker: Aldrick Rosas, New York Giants
Punter: Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams
Kick Returner: Cordarrelle Patterson, New England Patriots
Punt Returner: Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers
Special Teamer: Cory Littlejohn, Los Angeles Rams
