NFL
Daronte Jones and the Washington Commanders were finalizing a deal Monday to make him their defensive coordinator, a person with knowledge of the move told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract was not completed and nothing had been announced by the team. ESPN was first to report that Jones and the Commanders were close to an agreement.
Jones has spent the past three seasons as the defensive passing game coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings and also has served as that club’s defensive backs coach. He’s been working under defensive coordinator Brian Flores with Minnesota, which ranked No. 3 in total defense in 2025 and was among the top 10 teams in takeaways three times while Jones was there.
In joining coach Dan Quinn with Washington, Jones replaces coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., who was stripped of play-calling duties during the 2025 regular season and fired at the end of the season.
Quinn temporarily took over as the defensive play-caller but now brings in Jones to try to rebuild a unit that was among the worst in the NFL while the Commanders went 5-12 a year after going 12-5 and making it to the NFC championship game. No team in the NFL allowed opponents to gain more yards than the Commanders did.
Jones, 47, was born and went to high school in Maryland. He has plenty of college coaching experience, including working as LSU’s defensive coordinator in 2021 — when he called plays — and has spent about a decade working on NFL staffs, including with the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and Vikings.
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
NSU’s McComb, Newton gain MEAC awards
Before Monday night’s game against Morgan State, Norfolk State’s Anthony McComb III was named MEAC Player of the Week for the second time this month, while fellow Spartans guard Adrean Newton was selected Rookie of the Week for the third time this season.
McComb had 25 points against Elizabeth City State and a career-high 29 against Coppin State. Combined, he had 10 rebounds, nine assists and four steals. Newton was 3 for 3 from the field against Coppin State after going scoreless in seven minutes versus ECSU.
Norfolk State Spartans guard Anthony McComb III (7), the MEAC Player of the Week, drives to the basket against Coppin State Eagles forward Khali Horton (7) during the first half at Echols Hall on Jan. 24, 2026. (Peter Casey / The Virginian-Pilot)
Longwood, Radford players take Big South honors
Longwood forward Elijah Tucker was named the Big South Player of the Week, while Radford forward Frederik Erichsen was the Freshman of the Week.
Tucker, from Canton, Georgia, led the Lancers to conference victories against Gardner-Webb and Charleston Southern. He shot 78.3% (18 of 23) from the field and totaled 42 points, 19 rebounds, four steals, three blocks and three assists. Against CSU, he made a victory-sealing takeaway.
Erichsen, from Copenhagen, Denmark, had 16 points and five rebounds in 31 minutes off the bench in games against Winthrop and High Point. He was 5 of 8 from the field and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line.
Spiders’ Argabright named A-10’s top rookie
Richmond freshman Aiden Argabright was the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for the third time. Despite losses to Rhode Island and George Washington, he totaled 34 points and five assists.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
NSU’s Clark, Kweti capture MEAC honors
Norfolk State guard Da’Brya Clark was named MEAC Player of the Week for the second straight week and the fourth time this season. In victories over Coppin State and Morgan State, she totaled 43 points, 11 rebounds and three steals.
NSU forward Carmen Kweti earned Defensive Player of the Week honors. The senior grabbed 10 rebounds against Coppin State, while adding nine points, four blocks and two steals. Against Morgan State, Kweti finished with six rebounds, four points, two steals and one assist.
Radford, Longwood players take conference honors
Radford guard Joi Williams was named the Big South Player of the Week, while Radford forward Georgia Simonsen and Longwood guard Jesstynie Scott and were the Co-Freshmen of the Week.
Williams, from Leesburg, had 44 points, eight rebounds and three assists while shooting 64% (16 of 25) from the field, including 7 of 15 from 3-point range, and making all five of her free throws. That helped the Highlanders defeat Longwood and UNC Asheville.
Simonsen, from Fairfax, had 28 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and five blocks in those games.
Scott, from Americus, Georgia, totaled 32 points, 10 steals and five rebounds in two games while coming off the bench against Radford and USC Upstate. She was 12 of 23 from the field.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Hokies’ Drones among QBs in Shrine Bowl
Several players with local connections are set to compete in Tuesday’s East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas, which will be shown at 7 p.m. on NFL Network. It is for draft-eligible players.
Based on where they played in 2025, the East team will include Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones, James Madison wide receiver Nick DeGennaro, Navy running back Eli Heidenreich and Navy defensive lineman Landon Robinson. The West team will include Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne, a King William High graduate.
Besides Drones, the quarterbacks on the East roster include Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, Kansas’ Jalon Daniels and Texas Tech’s Behren Morton. The West QBs are Connecticut’s Joe Fagnano, Iowa’s Mark Gronowski and Louisville’s Miller Moss.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S LACROSSE
UVA 8th, JMU 10th in media poll
Virginia was ranked eighth and James Madison 20th in the Inside Lacrosse preseason media poll.
JMU will open its season at noon Feb. 7 against unanimous preseason No. 1 North Carolina, the defending NCAA champion.
COLLEGE TRACK AND FIELD
C2C honors 3 Captains after indoor meet
Christopher Newport’s Kayla Asprey, Sarah Dake and Ben Varner gained Coast-To-Coast Athletic Conference awards after their performances at last week’s indoor Shane Stevens Invitational in Fredericksburg.
Dake, the Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, won the mile in a personal-record 5:16.45, the eighth-fastest time in CNU history, and the 800 meters in a PR of 2:26.60, the C2C’s top time this season.
Asprey, the Women’s Field Athlete of the Week, was second in the shot put at 11.80 meters, the C2C’s best throw this season and the ninth-farthest in CNU history.
Varner, the Men’s Field Athlete of the Week, won the weight throw at 15.05 meters and set a PR in the shot put at 13.70 meters.
