PJ Jules

A college free agent signee of the Bengals in May, Jules was a consensus first-team FCS All-American and first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference pick in 2023 at Southern Illinois University ... He spent five seasons (2019-23) with the Salukis, starting 30 of 56 games played ... Totaled 282 tackles (169 solos), including 22 TFLs and 5.5 sacks, along with 29 PDs, one INT, two FFs and two FRs ... A physical presence at safety, he led SIU with 111 tackles and 13 TFLs last season, while also pacing the defense with 11 pass breakups.

A college free agent signee of the Bengals in May, Jules was a consensus first-team FCS All-American and first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference pick in 2023 at Southern Illinois University ... He spent five seasons (2019-23) with the Salukis, starting 30 of 56 games played ... Totaled 282 tackles (169 solos), including 22 TFLs and 5.5 sacks, along with 29 PDs, one INT, two FFs and two FRs ... A physical presence at safety, he led SIU with 111 tackles and 13 TFLs last season, while also pacing the defense with 11 pass breakups.

Career transactions:

Signed with Cincinnati as college free agent on 5-10-24.

College highlights:

Spent five seasons (2019-23) at Southern Illinois ... Played in 56 games with 30 starts.

2023—Started all 13 games ... Consensus first-team FCS All-American ... Named first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) ... Finished sixth in voting for Buck Buchanan Award, presented to FCS top defensive player ... Led team in total tackles (111; 48 solos), TFLs (13) and PDs (11) ... Had two sacks and a FF ... Logged 12 tackles with 2.5 TFLs and three PDs on Sept. 9 at Northern Illinois ... Followed up with 15 tackles and three more PDs on Sept. 16 at Southeast Missouri State, garnering National FCS Defensive Player of the Week and MVFC Defensive Player of the Week honors ... Had 12 stops and broke up a pass on Nov. 18 vs. Indiana State.

2022—Played in 11 games, making two starts ... Named second-team All-MVFC ... Led team in tackles (66) and PDs (seven) ... Had four TFLs, 2.5 sacks and one FF ... Recorded 11 solo tackles, including a sack for loss of 10 yards, on Sept. 17 at Northwestern ... Tallied 12 tackles and two PDs on Oct. 29 vs. Northern Iowa.

2021—Started all 13 games ... Named honorable mention All-MVFC ... Registered 74 tackles (57 solos), with three TFLs and one sack, along with one INT, seven PDs and one FR ... Returned first career INT 41 yards for a pick-six TD on Sept. 11 at Kansas State ... Capped season with nine-tackle performance in second round of FCS Playoffs at North Dakota State on Dec. 4.

2020—Played in nine games with one start during season that was limited due to COVID-19 pandemic ... Totaled 17 tackles (14 solos), one TFL and three PDs ... Opened season with three solo stops and two PDs on Oct. 30 vs. Southeast Missouri State ... Logged three solo tackles with a TFL on March 20 vs. South Dakota State. 2019—Played in 10 games with one start as a true freshman ... Recorded 14 defensive tackles, and led team with nine special teams tackles ... Recovered a fumble and logged three solo tackles in first career start on Nov. 16 at Western Illinois.

High school:

Attended Jones High School in Orlando, Fla. ... Totaled 132 tackles as a senior in 2018, and helped lead team to 10-2 record and an appearance in the Class 5A Region semifinal ... Also participated in track and field.

Personal:

Hometown is Orlando, Fla. ... Majored in criminology and criminal justice at Southern Illinois ... Last name is pronounced as "jewels."

Last Updated July 2024