Strong was a third-team Associated Press FCS All-American and first-team all-conference pick in 2019, ranking fifth in the FCS with 7.1 yards per carry and topping his squad in rushing (143-1,018-7.1, eight TDs rushing 14-169-12.1, one TD receiving in 11 games, seven starts). After redshirting in 2017, Strong was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Freshman of the Year in 2018, leading SDSU with 1,116 rushing yards and 11 scores on 117 carries (also 6-84-14.0, one TD receiving). The Little Rock product was the Arkansas Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior at McClellan High School. Jones receiving honorable mention all-conference honors once again in 2021, leading for the Sun Devils with three forced fumbles and intercepting three passes while recording 42 tackles, 2.5 for loss, and six pass breakups in 11 games (seven starts). He only played as a reserve (five tackles, one pass breakup) in one of the team's four 2020 contests after being suspended for violating team rules in December. Jones earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors that year (43 tackles, three interceptions, 13 pass breakups, two starts in 12 games). After attending Moorpark College to get his grades in order, he enrolled at Arizona State for the 2019 season.
Jones was ruled academically ineligible for the 2018 season, however, and was eventually dismissed from the school after breaking into a restaurant after hours, later pleading guilty to a second-degree misdemeanor charge of commercial burglary. He led the Trojans with four interceptions as a 14-game starter his sophomore season (40 tackles, eight pass breakups 4-48-12.0 punt returns 3-45-15.0 kick returns).
Jones played in 13 games as a reserve in his true freshman season at USC (13 tackles, one pass breakup, 3-31-10.3 kick returns). He tied for second in the nation with two kick return touchdowns, as well. Jones really starred as a returner, though, receiving first-team Associated Press All-American and American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Year honors by ranking fourth in the FBS with 14.4 yards per punt return (26-374-14.4) including a nation-best two scores. He was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection at cornerback after tying for fourth in the FBS with five interceptions and tying for ninth with 13 pass breakups (to go with 48 tackles in 13 games, 11 starts). Jones performed his various duties so well in 2021 that he won the Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player. He started seven games at corner (24 tackles, two for loss, one interception, four pass breakups), as well. He was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference pick as a returner for the Cougars in 2020, leading the FBS with 19.8 yards per punt return (17-337, one TD 5-102-20.4 kick returns). Jones decided to take his game to Houston in 2019, though he was required by the NCAA to sit out that season as a transfer student. He got some work on offense, as well (2-5-2.5 rushing 5-28-5.6 receiving).
In 2018, Jones was a first-team All-Sun Belt pick at kick returner (23-584-25.4, one TD) and second-team pick at cornerback (34 tackles, two interceptions, team-high nine pass breakups in 11 games with nine starts). He was named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year (49 tackles, two for loss, two interceptions, one returned for a score, six pass breakups) and a Freshman All-American kick returner (ranked seventh in the FBS with 30.3 yards per return and tied for third with three touchdown returns). Jones began his career as a three-star recruit at Troy.
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