Duke’s Daniel Jones Unveiled as No. 6 Player on 50th Anniversary All-Time Team

SHREVEPORT, La. (Nov. 2, 2026) – Duke quarterback Daniel Jones rewrote the Independence Bowl record books on his way to leading his head coach David Cutcliffe to his Independence Bowl-high fourth victory in Shreveport, and the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback is now the No. 6 player on the bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

In route to winning the 2018 Offensive Player of the Game award, Jones shattered many of the Independence Bowl passing records, completing 30-of-41 passes for 423 yards and five touchdowns. He also added a touchdown on the ground. His 423 passing yards broke Josh Heupel’s nearly 20-year passing yards record, and Jones also set the record for most passing touchdowns and most touchdowns responsible for. His record-breaking performance led Duke to scoring the most points in an Independence Bowl (56), the most points in the second half of an Independence Bowl (35) and the second-largest margin of victory in Independence Bowl history (29).

Jones was a three-year starter under Cutcliffe at Duke, compiling 8,201 passing yards, 52 passing touchdowns, 1,323 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns over three seasons. Jones racked up his most passing yards in a season as a redshirt freshman in 2016, when he passed for 2,836 yards and 16 touchdowns. His top touchdown season came in 2018, when he passed for 2,674 yards and 22 touchdowns. After his Independence Bowl Offensive Player of the Game award, Jones played in the 2019 Senior Bowl and was named MVP after going 8-for-11 for 115 yards and one touchdown.

The New York Giants were impressed enough to select Jones with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Beginning the 2019 season as the backup to another Independence Bowl legend, Eli Manning, Jones eventually played in 13 games, starting 12, in his rookie season. Despite a 3-9 record as a starter, Jones impressed by passing for 3,027 yards and a career-high 24 touchdowns.

Jones started 69 games over six seasons with the Giants, battling injuries along the way. In New York, he passed for 14,582 yards, 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions. He also rushed for 2,179 yards and 21 touchdowns. His best season as a Giant was 2022, when he led the G-Men to a 9-6-1 record and to the NFC Divisional Round. In the regular season, he passed for a career-high 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also had a career year on the ground, rushing for 708 yards and seven touchdowns.

After the 2024 season, Jones signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts, and after winning the quarterback battle, he regained the form that made him the sixth-overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Jones played 13 games in the 2025 season before tearing his Achilles tendon, and in those 13 games, he completed a career-high 68 percent of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while leading the Colts to an 8-5 record.

Despite the injury, the Colts thought they had found their man at quarterback and signed Jones to a two-year, $88 million contract extension.

The next player on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, No. 5, will be released on Monday, November 9. Players will be unveiled individually every week, with No. 1 being announced on Monday, December 7.

Previously Announced Members of the All-Time Team

The first 44 players on the Independence Bowl’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team, as previously announced, include:

• No. 7 – Willie Roaf (OT – Louisiana Tech, 1990)
• No. 8 – Eddie Kennison (WR – LSU, 1995)
• No. 9 – Fernando Mendoza (QB – California, 2023)
• No. 10 – Takeo Spikes (LB – Auburn, 1996)
• No. 11 – Brett Favre (QB – Southern Miss, 1988)
• No. 12 – Roy Williams (S – Oklahoma, 1999)
• No. 13 – Josh Heupel (QB – Oklahoma, 1999)
• No. 14 – Art Monk (WR – Syracuse, 1979)
• No. 15 – Von Miller (OLB – Texas A&M, 2009)
• No. 16 – Wesley Walls (DE/TE – Ole Miss, 1986)
• No. 17 – Joe Morris (RB – Syracuse, 1979)
• No. 18 – Ray Childress (DT – Texas A&M, 1981)
• No. 19 – Sidney Rice (WR – South Carolina, 2005)
• No. 20 – Brad Smith (QB – Missouri, 2003 & 2005)
• No. 21 – Derrick Mason (WR – Michigan State, 1995)
• No. 22 – Garrison Hearst (RB – Georgia, 1991)
• No. 23 – Jacob Rodriguez (LB – Texas Tech, 2023)
• No. 24 – Tim Krumrie (NG – Wisconsin, 1982)
• No. 25 – Muhsin Muhammad (WR – Michigan State, 1995)
• No. 26 – Ja’Mar Toombs (RB – Texas A&M, 2000)
• No. 27 – Otis Wilson (LB – Louisville, 1977)
• No. 28 – A.J. Green (WR – Georgia, 2009)
• No. 29 – Rocky Calmus (LB – Oklahoma, 1999)
• No. 30 – Flozell Adams (OT – Michigan State, 1995)
• No. 31 – Willie Blade (DT – Mississippi State, 2000)
• No. 32 – Scott Thomas (S – Air Force, 1983 & 1984)
• No. 33 – Chad Hennings (DT – Air Force, 1984)
• No. 34 – Dameyune Craig (QB – Auburn, 1996)
• No. 35 – Geno Atkins (DT – Georgia, 2009)
• No. 36 – Rondell Mealey (RB – LSU, 1997)
• No. 37 – Rolando McClain (LB – Alabama, 2007)
• No. 38 – Weldon Brown (CB – Louisiana Tech, 2008)
• No. 39 – Andre Smith (OT – Alabama, 2006 & 2007)
• No. 40 – Tiki Barber (RB – Virginia, 1994)
• No. 41 – Puka Nacua (WR – BYU, 2021)
• No. 42 – Gary Kubiak (QB – Texas A&M, 1981)
• No. 43 – Seneca Wallace (QB – Iowa State, 2001)
• No. 44 – Todd McClure (C – LSU, 1995 & 1997)
• No. 45 – Gary Anderson (K – Syracuse, 1979)
• No. 46 – Booger McFarland (LB – LSU, 1995 & 1997)
• No. 47 – Tremaine Edmunds (LB – Virginia Tech, 2015)
• No. 48 – Bill Musgrave (QB – Oregon, 1989)
• No. 49 – Larry Anderson (DB – Louisiana Tech, 1977)
• No. 50 – Lorenza Baker (LB – Louisiana Tech, 1990)

Selection & Ranking Criteria and Committee

An experienced, diverse committee compiled the list of the top 50 all-time players, including local media members and Independence Bowl representatives. Players were nominated and evaluated based on the following criteria:

• 40 percent weight based on their Independence Bowl performance(s)
• 30 percent based on their college career and accolades
• 30 percent based on their pro career and accomplishments

To read more about the nomination and selection process, release schedule and selection and ranking committee, visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/news.

ABOUT THE RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES INDEPENDENCE BOWL™

Established in 1976, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl™ is college football’s 11th most historic bowl game, with the 50th anniversary game set for Tuesday, December 22, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. CST on ESPN between the Big 12 Conference and a Pac-12 Legacy team. Radiance Technologies is the bowl’s title sponsor through at least the 2027 Bowl Season. 

The Independence Bowl Foundation is a prominent presence in the Shreveport-Bossier City area throughout the year, hosting events to enhance the economic impact and growth of our community. The Mission of the Independence Bowl is to attract and provide quality, nationally recognized football competition oriented to the Ark-La-Tex region. For more information, visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com or follow the bowl on Facebook, X and Instagram at @IndyBowl.