Jones attended the University of Southern California and became one of the few African American starting quarterbacks of that era in Division I (NCAA), influencing during his college career the breaking of different color barriers.
In 1970, he was part of USC's "all-black" backfield (the first one of its kind in Division I (NCAA) history), that included fullback Sam Cunningham and running back Clarence Davis.
Jones was one of the five USC African American starters (along with Sam Cunningham, Clarence Davis, Charlie Weaver and Tody Smith), that played against an all-white University of Alabama football team, winning 42–21 in Birmingham on September 12, 1970.
This game was historically significant, because it played a key role in convincing the University of Alabama and its fan base to accelerate the integration of its football team.
Unfortunately, on a bitterly cold day Jones mishandled the snap on a last second Don Sweet field goal and the Als lost the game by one point.