Ma'khi Jones

Duke safety Ma'khi Jones, in a blue helmet, blue jersey and white pants, yells in celebration following a tackle against No. 20 Virginia on November 15, 2025, at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke safety Ma'khi Jones, wearing a white helmet, jersey and pants, makes a tackle at Clemson during the Blue Devils' 46-45 victory.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke safety Ma'khi Jones, wearing a black helmet, blue jersey and black pants, makes a tackle against No. 12 Georgia Tech on October 18, 2025.

Photo by: Irv Kagan

Duke safety Ma'khi Jones, wearing a black helmet, blue jersey and black pants, readies to make a tackle against No. 12 Georgia Tech on October 18, 2025.

Photo by: Irv Kagan

Duke safety Ma'khi Jones stretches out and makes a tackle during the Blue Devils' 38-3 victory at Syracuse on September 27, 2025.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Ma'khi Jones breaks up a pass during the 2025 Blue & White Game.

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Position:
Safety
Height:
5-10
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Newark, N.J.

CAREER: One-year letterman (2025) ... compiled 35 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery, one PBU and one QB pressure ... posted six games with 3+ tackles with a career-high six at Clemson … tallied 1.0 TFL against Wake Forest and 0.5 versus Virginia in the regular season meeting ... recorded 1.0 sack and caused a fumble versus Wake Forest ... recovered a fumble versus Arizona State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl ... credited with a PBU against Wake Forest and a QB pressure against Virginia in the ACC Championship Game … assisted in Duke claiming its first outright ACC Championship since 1962 and the 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl crown ... played 357 career snaps.

2025: Appeared in all 14 games ... compiled 35 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, one caused fumble, one fumble recovery, one PBU and one QB pressure ... posted six games with 3+ tackles with a season-high six at Clemson … tallied a year-high 1.0 TFL against Wake Forest and 0.5 versus Virginia in the regular season meeting ... recorded 1.0 sack and caused a fumble versus Wake Forest ... recovered a fumble versus Arizona State in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl ... credited with a PBU against Wake Forest and a QB pressure against Virginia in the ACC Championship Game … on the field for 357 snaps ... enrolled at Duke in January 2025.

PRIOR TO DUKE: Lettered four seasons between St. Joseph’s Regional [N.J.] and Milton [Ga.] ... rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports.com, ESPN.com and Rivals.com ... all-region honoree ... as a junior, helped the Eagles win a Georgia AAAAAAA title while carding 73 tackles, five PBUs and one INT ... as a sophomore at St. Joseph Regional, totaled 70 tackles, four PBUs, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

PERSONAL: Son of Gintel Jones and Lamont Purnell ... cousin of 10-year NFL veteran Tahir Whitehead, who totaled 685 tackles and six INTs while playing for the Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals ... cousin of Dariq Whitehead, who was a member of the Duke men’s basketball team in 2022-23 and was selected 22nd overall by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2023 NBA Draft.