Julio Jones

Julio Jones was born as Quintorris Lopez Jones on February 8, 1989 in Foley, Alabama and was raised by his single mother, Queen Marvin, who worked at a fast food restaurant. His father left the family when he was only five.

His mother was strict about keeping him shielded from the violent neighborhood he grew up in. He is very close to his elder brother, Phillip, who lost his arm after sustaining gunshot wounds in 2014.

He attended Foley High School in Alabama, where he played wide receiver and defensive end for the Lions high school football team, recording 16 touchdowns as a junior with 75 passes caught for 1,306 yards. He participated in the High School Under Armour All-America Game, and as a five-star recruit, announced his decision to join the Alabama Crimson Tide live on ESPNU on National Signing Day.

He was a starter on the basketball team and was a standout track athlete who was named the 2006-07 'Gatorade T&F Athlete of the Year' in the state. He was the state champion in the long jump and triple jump in both 2006 and 2007, and in high jump in 2007.

Julio Jones became the first true freshman wide receiver to start in a season opener for the Crimson Tide against the Clemson Tigers in the Chick-fil-A College Kickoff on August 30, 2008. By the end of the year, with his breakout performance, he earned the 'SEC Freshman of the Year' honor and was named to the second team All-SEC and the 'SEC Coaches' All-Freshman Team'.

Before the 2009 season started, he became one of only four players to be voted unanimously to the 'All-SEC Coaches' Football Team' (first team). After experiencing "sophomore slump" in the first half of the season, he led his previously underperforming team to 12-0 wins to the SEC Western Championship, but lost the SEC championship game and the Sugar Bowl.

He started his junior season with back-to-back solid performances, and ended the season with 78 catches and 1,133 yards along with seven touchdowns, becoming the fourth in Alabama history to achieve the record. He was named to the first-team All-SEC in 2010, and finished his three-year college career as the second player in Alabama history in receptions (179) and yards (2,653) and fourth in touchdown catches (15).

In January 2011, Julio Jones decided to forego his senior year at college to declare for the NFL Draft and showcased excellent performance at the 2011 NFL Combine in February despite a broken bone. The Atlanta Falcons traded five draft picks to the Cleveland Browns to move up in the draft in order to select him as the 6th pick in the first round.

He signed a four-year contract with the Falcons on July 28, 2011 and made his professional debut in a losing game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 11. Despite a slow start, he finished the season leading all rookies in touchdown receptions and second among rookies in yards and touchdowns, and made his playoff debut in a loss to the New York Giants.

He began the 2012 season with exceptional performances and helped his team earn the top seed in the NFC for the NFL playoffs with a 13-3 record, but lost the championship to San Francisco 49ers. He finished the season with 79 receptions for 1,198 yards and 10 touchdowns, which earned him nomination for the Pro Bowl for the first time.

He again started the following season with a streak of solid performances against New Orleans, St. Louis, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and New York Jets. In the fifth match, he fractured his foot and was forced out for the entire season, but still managed to finish 76th in receiving yards among 458 qualified players.

On November 30, 2014, he achieved a career high with 189 receiving yards on 10 receptions against Arizona Cardinals, and surpassed it the following week with 259 yards on 11 receptions against Green Bay Packers. His season record of 104 receptions for 1,593 yards was the first in the NFC in both categories and the third in the entire NFL.