April 24, 2001

COLUMBIA, Mo.- University of Missouri defensive back Julian Jones signed a rookie free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday afternoon. Jones, an All-Big 12 defensive back, becomes the second player off of last year's Missouri football team to be picked up by an NFL team. Justin Smith was drafted with the fourth pick of the NFL Draft on Saturday by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Jones joins former Missouri defensive line coach Dave Toub in Philadelphia. Toub was hired by Head Coach Andy Reid, a former Missouri assistant coach, earlier this month.

Jones had seven interceptions in his career for the Missouri Tigers. As a junior, he picked off six passes and was among the Missouri leaders in tackles with 91. In 1998, he was the MVP of the Insight.com Bowl in a game that marked his first start of his career. Last year, Jones played most of the season with a cast on his hand, due to a broken wrist.