He played college football at West Virginia. Jones was selected as the conference Player of the Year following his senior year after totaling tackles, six interceptions and 1, rushing yards. As well, he played in the Georgia - Florida all-star game. Jones also earned All-American honors in basketball and track. His basketball team won two state-championships. Jones' high school totaled the most players in the NFL from one high school in with six players. Jones was raised by his mother, Deborah Jones, and his grandmother, Cristine Jones, for most of his life.
When Jones was a freshman at West Virginia , his grandmother died of cancer. Jones missed a game to attend the funeral, the only game he missed in his three-year collegiate career. As a freshman in , Jones appeared in 11 games for WVU as a reserve cornerback and safety. He totaled one interception and one forced fumble with 36 tackles. During , he appeared in all 13 games, starting 9 at cornerback, and taking over full-time kick return and punt return duties.
Jones' second season resulted in a second team All- Big East Conference selection with his career-high 89 tackles and four interceptions, one being for a touchdown.
He also had six tackles for losses, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He also had a career-high 12 broken up passes that season as well. In one of his best games of the year, against Boston College , Jones scored two touchdowns in a win over the Eagles, one a yard kick return and the other a yard interception return. Jones also had a career-high 12 tackles against Miami. Jones totaled 98 punt return yards on 16 punt returns and kick return yards, including an yard touchdown return.
As a junior in , he was the defensive secondary captain and led the team in tackles and interceptions. Jones also played briefly on offense, as well as returning punts and kick-offs for the second season. He was named first-team all- Big East as a defensive back and honorable mention All-American by several sources.
