Kody Jones sat down inside Kennesaw State’s meal room a year after the decision that changed his life. His path took him from Memphis to Michigan, back to Memphis, and now to Kennesaw. He owns a national championship ring and a few setbacks to go with it. None of that mattered as much as one thing: trust.

"It doesn't matter about the logo. It doesn't matter what conference," Jones says. "At that time, it was just going to where I trust people."

That's what brought him to KSU and back to two coaches from his past. Head coach Jerry Mack knew him from his youth and cornerbacks coach James Williams dates back to coaching his seven-on-seven team. Both are from the Home of the Blues, like Jones.

"Being from Memphis, we kind of experienced the same things, and he knows my people," Jones said of Mack. "He actually went to my church. Just things like that, it's a connection. Knowing the same people, growing up seeing the same thing."

His church is New Mount Sinai Baptist, where his uncle Gerald Rayburn is pastor. "When I was younger, I used to sing a little and did Easter speeches," he said smiling. 

Not following his family’s passion for music may have been the first cue for Jones to discern his own path. 

"My family is big on instruments, making music, and singing. I've never been the singing type, so I just let them have it." 

While Jones revealed that he played drums briefly in middle school and wants to pick up guitar or piano next, there was no questioning his first choice.

Jones started playing football at 4 years old for the Whitehaven Saints, a year behind his brother Kevon. "I don't know if I was supposed to be playing that early, but I was," he laughed. "He was 5 and I was 4. I did play up. My mom didn't like it, but I was out there.”

By his sophomore year of high school, his persistent pursuit of the game paid off with his first scholarship offer. The rest followed fast for the eventual four-star recruit, and he credits the work of Williams’ seven-on-seven team with a persona that he sees everyday.

"Coach always has a lot of energy. He's going bring it every day and make sure we work. He's also going to make sure it's fun and that you know he loves you," Jones said.

Recruiting became loud fast. 

"My recruiting process was crazy and towards signing day, it was even crazier for not only me, but my parents and my brother, too," he said. "It got to a point where it was just so overwhelming. I think I had my decision made, but coaches were still calling me trying to change my mind."

Following a home visit from then-Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, Jones selected the Block M hat as a Wolverine. Three years in Ann Arbor followed, including the 2023 Big Ten and College Football Playoff national championship. 

"Everybody doesn't get to experience this," Jones said. "Just being there in the moment with my brothers, people that we worked from day one to get to that point. That was a dream come true."

Michigan taught him something else, too, about valuing the process that leads to success.

"I was around a lot of future pros, and they handled their business like pros," he said. "Just being around that all the time and just seeing how people go about their business… how they might treat themselves after a game, prep before a game, or when it's a hard day and they don't feel like doing it.

The young guys always pay attention to everything the older guys are doing. Just being able to be a sponge and just soak all of it in."

Even so, he knew he needed a change and entered the transfer portal.

"I love Michigan. I didn't want to leave there, but at the same time, I had to do what was best for me," Jones said. "I spent three years up there, so that was home for me. That was my family away from home. So, leaving there, it was a hard decision, but at the end of the day, I knew I had to do what's best for me."

He went home first, transferring to Memphis. It didn't take long to see it was the wrong call.

"When I got home, I realized that wasn't the best decision for me," he admitted. "To do what I need to do and stay focused, that wasn't the best decision. Just being at home, there were too many things I already knew, too many people I already knew. I didn't want that comfortable mindset or to lose track of the plan."

He entered the portal a second time following the spring 2025 semester. 

"My first mindset was to go where I trust people," he said. 

Kennesaw State, with the Mack and Williams connection from the Home of the Blues, was the ideal spot to achieve his simple goal: "I want to play ball."

Injuries had other plans. One slowed his start in fall camp. Another, three games into the season against Merrimack, ended the defensive back’s night early.

"Injuries are part of playing football," he said. "In life, you're not going to always get your way. You can't just fold under pressure or just if something's not going your way, you just hold your head down. That's not going to do anything for you."

He gave himself a day or two to be frustrated, then got to work. 

"I knew I had to do to get back on the field - start attacking treatment and rehab every day."

It paid off. The defense clicked in a dominant win over Louisiana Tech in what he called a "big litmus test" for the team thanks to Jones’ play. He jumped a pass in front of the Bulldog sideline and returned it 29 yards to setup an Owl touchdown. 

In November, Jones turned in a standout game against New Mexico State with a career-high eight tackles and four tackles-for-loss. His presence in the backfield helped contribute to a record-setting day for the Kennesaw State defense as the Owls broke the single-game program record for team sacks (6.0) and tied the school record for team tackles-for-loss (14.0). After the Owls road win, Jones was named the Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week.

The season ended with a Conference USA championship rematch against Jacksonville State, which coincided with Jones' 22nd birthday.

Did that provide extra motivation to pull off the historic victory?

"I was ready," he said. "I knew we couldn't lose. That's all I wanted for my birthday, and I got it. Holding the trophy in my hand had the biggest smile on my face. That was a good feeling."

Despite three championships in two years at two different schools, Jones still says he's searching.

"Honestly, I still feel like I haven't had that moment. Winning the championship was good. But personally for myself, I feel like I still haven't had that moment."

What would that moment look like?

"That dream of doing it again," he said. "Winning it again for the second year. That'll be my last year of college football, too, so I won't want to go out any other way than that."

To reach the moment he’s pursued since his clandestine registration onto a youth league team at the age of four, Jones will rely on his faith.

"For me, God is the head of my life; He's the main priority in my life. And without Him, I can't do anything. So, with Him, I feel like I can do everything," Jones said. "That verse, Philippians 4:13 ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,’ it always does something to me; it resonates with me a lot."

After already transferring twice, Jones could have looked at that option again. Instead, it was the trust he was chasing a year ago that kept him in Black and Gold.

"There's no reason to leave this place," Jones said. "I love it. I love the atmosphere, I love the city of Kennesaw, I love the coaches, and I love my teammates. I'm already in a good situation around good people.”

Jones found his trust, and with his faith, he’ll look to find his moment this season.