Florida State didn’t need a flashy recruiting pitch or an official visit to land Ma’Khi Jones. The former Duke safety knew where he wanted to be - and he didn’t waste any time making it official.
Jones, a rising sophomore and 3-star transfer, committed to the Seminoles without stepping foot on campus as a recruit. His decision came down to trust - trust in the coaching staff, in the culture, and in a familiar face: John Garrett, Florida State’s new general manager and the same man who helped bring Jones to Duke out of high school.
“When I got in the portal and the phone calls I received, after that I just trusted the process,” Jones said. “It kind of made sense and felt like home talking to them.”
That feeling of home has only grown stronger since his arrival in Tallahassee. Garrett’s presence has helped Jones settle in quickly, and now the focus is all about earning a starting role in a defense that’s looking to reestablish itself as one of the ACC’s best.
Jones is in the mix for one of the three starting safety spots in Tony White’s 3-3-5 scheme - a system that demands versatility, communication, and serious football IQ from its safeties. He’s been leaning on veterans like Ashlynd Barker and Ja’Bril Rawls, soaking up every bit of knowledge he can to get up to speed.
He’s also putting in the extra work - film sessions after workouts, position meetings, and daily reps with the secondary - all part of his mission to not just fit in, but to lead.
“I like being around true competitors and guys who want to work,” Jones said. “Because they are going to bring me up and make me better.”
And make no mistake: Ma’Khi Jones is a competitor, through and through. He’s won at every level - from Pop Warner national titles to high school state championships, and most recently, an ACC title with Duke. As a freshman, he played in every game, racking up 35 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup, and three tackles in the conference championship win over Virginia.
Now, he wants to bring that same winning energy to a Florida State program that’s hungry to get back to its championship roots.
“Bringing guys in who are used to winning games can definitely uplift the team,” Jones said. “It can push your teammates harder, and you can establish a new culture that Florida State is used to having.”
That culture - the one that once made Florida State a juggernaut in the ACC - is something Jones talks about with conviction. He knows the history.
He knows the expectations. And he’s not shying away from them.
“Florida State has 16 ACC championships. I have one.
I want to get four more, three more if I can,” he said. “Teams that win have a unique culture.
Guys love playing for guys, and we are going to get Florida State back to that. It’s what we came to do.”
The path won’t be easy. Florida State is coming off two seasons with a combined seven wins. But with Jones and other like-minded transfers in the fold, there’s a renewed sense of urgency - and belief - inside the locker room.
That belief will be tested early and often. The 2026 schedule includes a heavyweight road trip to Alabama in September, plus key ACC matchups against Clemson, Miami, and NC State.
But Jones isn’t backing down from the challenge. He’s been here before - and more often than not, he’s come out on top.
For Florida State, the hope is that his winning ways continue in garnet and gold.