Commentary

NEXT: The countdown begins

Meet the first five athletes in this year's list of the top 20 up-and-comers in sports

Updated: October 26, 2009, 2:32 PM ET
By Morty Ain | ESPN The Magazine

This article appears in the November 2, 2009 issue of ESPN The Magazine. It is the beginning of a countdown to ESPN The Magazine's naming of the 'NEXT' athlete in sports, a concept it has been doing since its very first issue.

No. 20: Arthur, Jon and Chandler Jones

Keeping up with the Joneses ain't easy. These brothers from the Binghamton, N.Y., area put a new spin on sibling rivalry: It's them against everyone else. At 6'4" and 293 pounds, Arthur bullies the line of scrimmage for Syracuse as an Outland Trophy-contending nose tackle. The 23-year-old senior (No. 97) could have gone pro this year but wanted to play with his 6'5", 246-pound little bro, Chandler, a sophomore defensive end who, at age 19, reminds Orange fans of Dwight Freeney. And then there's 22-year-old Jon -- a.k.a. Bones -- who deals with middle-child syndrome by unleashing his fury in the UFC. Undefeated through nine bouts, the 6'4", 205-pound light heavyweight is a legit contender. Luckily for foes, they face only one Jones at a time in the Octagon.

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