When the 2026 college football season kicks off, former Champagnat Catholic defensive back Ty Jones will finally be wearing an FBS uniform.
After years of perseverance, Jones signed with Conference USA’s Louisiana Tech this past offseason, completing a long road that took him to three colleges in as many years.
“Throughout this entire journey, I’ve had to adapt to new environments, learn different systems, and constantly prove myself,” Jones said. “There were times when things did not go according to plan, but those moments taught me the most valuable lessons.”
Jones began his college career at Mt. San Antonio College, a junior college in California. After picking off three passes in 10 games, he earned a scholarship at FCS Northern Arizona.
Then came an opportunity to play for former Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick at Norfolk State, and Jones took full advantage. He recorded at least five tackles in 10 of the Spartans’ 12 games, finishing with 68 tackles, five pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
Jones received a three-star transfer portal ranking on 247 Sports, and he quickly fell in love with La. Tech.
“It’s easy for things to become transactional or business-driven, but the relationships here feel genuine,” Jones said. “The coaches took the time to get to know me beyond football, and I felt valued for who I am, not just because I can play football.”
Jones is expected to play a massive role for the Bulldogs, who went 8-5 and reached the Independence Bowl last year.
Louisiana Tech seeks its second straight winning season, a feat not accomplished since rattling off six such years from 2014-19.
“Nothing is done without intention,” Jones said. “We’re not just working out to say, ‘Yeah, we worked out today.’ It’s an intent behind everything, and there’s actual consequences when we don’t meet the standard.”
Jones and the Bulldogs open against Northwestern State on Sept. 5, then visit LSU and Baylor. The Baylor game airs nationally on ESPNU on Sept. 19.
The 2026 season marks Louisiana Tech’s first in the Sun Belt after more than a decade in Conference USA.
“You can feel that everyone here is invested in something bigger than themselves,” Jones said, “and that’s what makes this culture special.”
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