Shermari Jones

Signed with the Bengals in May as a college free agent ... Played his junior and senior seasons (2020-21) at Coastal Carolina University ... Transferred to CCU after two years (2018-19) at Independence Community College (Kan.) ... Played in a backup role during junior campaign, before breaking out for 1040 rushing yards and 13 TDs as a senior ... Also served as primary KR in 2020, netting 159 yards on eight attempts ... Teammates at Coastal Carolina with DE Jeff Gunter, the Bengals' 2022 seventh-round draft pick, as well as WR Jaivon Heiligh, one of the team's other college free agent signees.

Signed with the Bengals in May as a college free agent ... Played his junior and senior seasons (2020-21) at Coastal Carolina University ... Transferred to CCU after two years (2018-19) at Independence Community College (Kan.) ... Played in a backup role during junior campaign, before breaking out for 1040 rushing yards and 13 TDs as a senior ... Also served as primary KR in 2020, netting 159 yards on eight attempts ... Teammates at Coastal Carolina with DE Jeff Gunter, the Bengals' 2022 seventh-round draft pick, as well as WR Jaivon Heiligh, one of the team's other college free agent signees.

Career transactions: Signed with Cincinnati as college free agent on 5-13-22.

College highlights: Played two seasons (2020-21) at Coastal Carolina ... Rushed for 1438 yards on 243 carries (5.9), with 16 TDs ... Caught four passes for 37 yards ... Spent previous two seasons (2018-19) at Independence Community College in Independence, Kan. 2021—Played in 11 games, making eight starts at RB ... Missed three games due to injury ... Rushed for 1040 yards on 159 attempts (6.5), with 13 TDs ... His 6.5 yards per carry led the Sun Belt Conference and ranked eighth in the country ... Ranked in top 10 in program history for single-season rushing yards (seventh) and rushing TDs (sixth) ... Named first-team All-Sun Belt ... Recorded four 100-yard rushing games ... Had career highs in carries (23) and rushing yards (211) on Nov. 26 at South Alabama. 2020—Played in all 12 games, recording 398 yards on 84 carries (4.7) ... Returned eight kickoffs for 159 yards (19.9). 2018-19—Played in 16 games over two seasons at Independence ... Rushed for 873 yards and nine TDs ... Caught six passes for 18 yards ... Appeared on fourth season of Netflix original series "Last Chance U."

High school: Attended Tate High School in Cantonment, Fla. ... Recorded 1076 rushing yards and 15 TDs, with nine catches for 145 yards as a senior ... Had eight 100-yard rushing games over his final two seasons.

Personal: Hometown is Pensacola, Fla. ... Graduated from Coastal Carolina with a degree in recreation and sport management in Fall of 2021 ... First name is pronounced "sher-MAR-ee."