Florida State didn’t just go shopping for another defensive back this offseason. The Seminoles were looking for something harder to find: a safety who brings experience, adaptability and the kind of football sense that can steady a secondary.
That’s why Ma’Khi Jones stands out.
The Duke transfer arrives in Tallahassee after being part of the Blue Devils’ first ACC Championship run last season, and he brings 305 defensive snaps with him. He may not be the loudest name in the portal, but Florida State believes it landed one of the more reliable pieces available for Tony White’s defense.
Jones fits the kind of system White wants to run. His value starts with versatility, and he made that part of his pitch clear.
“I like how versatile the defense is,” Jones said. “I can play all three safety spots.”
That matters in a scheme that asks safeties to do plenty more than line up and react. White’s defense leans on disguises, rotations and constant communication, and Jones said the whole structure works because everyone in the back end is expected to know the full picture.
“We all know every assignment on every snap,” Jones said.
For Jones, the mental side is just as important as the physical tools. He said that ability to process the game quickly is one of his biggest strengths.
“I’m a very intelligent individual,” Jones said. “That helps, not only me, but my teammates out.
Coach Coop is a very smart coach, so that also adds to my skill set, taking gems from Coach Coop. Being at that slot position, there’s a lot of space out there, so you’ve got to be able to take what the offense gives you to see and react to certain plays.”
The production profile backs up the idea that Jones can handle a demanding role. According to Pro Football Focus, he posted a 65.8 overall defensive grade in 2025. He earned matching 72.5 marks in tackling and pass-rushing situations, and his strongest work came against the run, where he finished with a 75.9 run-defense grade across 130 run-defense snaps.
He also finished plays. Jones made 35 tackles, 14 of them solo, and missed only four, which gave him an 11.4% missed tackle rate.
In coverage, quarterbacks completed eight of 14 throws against him for 87 yards. He allowed 10.9 yards per catch and didn’t give up a touchdown or an interception.
Those aren’t numbers that jump off the page in the flashy way ball-hawking stats do, but they do paint the picture Florida State wants: a defender who keeps things clean, limits mistakes and doesn’t let plays spill over the top.
That’s the job here. The Seminoles aren’t expecting Jones to arrive and transform into an All-American overnight. They need someone who can help settle the back end and make life easier for younger defensive backs learning one of the ACC’s more demanding systems.
After two disappointing seasons in Tallahassee, Florida State has made a point of targeting players who know what winning looks like.
Jones already checked that box before he played a snap in garnet and gold.
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