11-Year NFL Veteran Ben Jones Offers Advice to Fellow Georgia Draft Pick Jared Wilson Ahead of Patriots Camp originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Center Ben Jones spent 11 years in the NFL before being released by the Tennessee Titans in 2022. The center was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans out of Georgia, and spent the first four years of his career with the Texans before finishing the last seven years with the Titans.
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Although he hasn’t played in a couple of years, Jones still returns to his alma mater each year to offer himself as a resource to the current Georgia Bulldogs players. This year, Patriots’ draft pick Jared Wilson took full advantage of the opportunity to learn from the 11-year veteran.
The Patriots drafted Wilson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and the center has soaked up everything he can from the fellow Bulldog ahead of his rookie season.
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“Through the draft process and OTAs, I probably talked to Jared a couple times a week,” Jones said (ESPN.com). “I sat in a lot of meetings with him [virtually], so if he had questions through the OTAs about getting him ready for training camp, I was there.”
The transition from college to the NFL is different for every player, but any advice and guidance a rookie can get from a veteran is a major plus. Jones gave Wilson advice on how to approach his first training camp ahead of his rookie season.
Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Jared Wilson (55) prepares to snap the ball during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
“It was more of a mentor role and just letting him know, ‘This is what camp looks like, how many reps you’re going to take, what a normal day is as a center-guard in this offense,'” Jones said. “You have to be ready to play anything with the 1s, 2s, 3s — every day can change, so you have to be ready for your opportunity.”
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With both players spending their college career at Georgia, Jones just wants to see the next generation of Bulldogs succeed. The Patriots added Garrett Bradbury this offseason to be their center in 2025, but Wilson figures to slot into the backup role.
With Bradbury under contract for two years, a couple of years of development for the rookie center could be pivotal as he’ll have time to refine his skills and learn the NFL game.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 21, 2025, where it first appeared.