FEATURE: A Yellow Sign, 1,000 Times and One Bulldog: The Story of Kelley Jones’s biggest fan

How "KelleyJonesLover" has impacted Mississippi State's lockdown cornerback

At Mississippi State, fans have their own ways of showing their Bulldog pride. Some wear maroon and white, others pack the stands and cheer on their team every Saturday. But for sophomore Parker Freeland, supporting the Bulldogs means going above and beyond for one player in particular: Kelley Jones.

“I was sitting at the house with some of my friends, and we watched the whole video and see that he really said it 1,000 times,” Jones said, reflecting on one of Freeland’s viral moments. “He really said it 1,000 times.”

Freeland has turned his admiration for Jones into a growing display of support, complete with social media posts, jokes, and a signature yellow sign. What started as a fan discovering his favorite player has grown into a connection built on encouragement, positivity, and genuine love for the game.

“It all started [at the] Arizona State game,” Freeland said. “I’m not from Mississippi. I didn’t grow up a Mississippi State fan, so I really didn’t know what to expect.”

As he watched the game unfold, Freeland became impressed with Jones’ play and his ability to connect with the crowd.

“Who’s number one? Number one is locking up Jordan Tyson the entire game,” Freeland recalled. “He’s doing these tough celebrations through the crowd. He’s really getting involved with the crowd. I’m like, ‘Oh, my gosh, this guy, this is my guy.’”

From that moment on, Freeland found a new reason to show up and show out on Saturdays. He has made it his mission to make sure Jones knows he has someone in his corner, regardless of the outcome on the field. Jones says the support makes a difference.

“When I see that yellow sign, it just turns me up,” Jones said. “I don’t know, it just gives me another edge. It gets me going. I could be in, like, a bad mood, but when I see it, it gives me a glow. It gives me the urge to, like, let me turn up, let me wake up and do it for the people.”

For Freeland, that reaction is exactly what makes the effort worthwhile. Behind the humor, the videos and the yellow sign is a simple goal: to spread positivity and remind a player that people are rooting for him.

“We’re always building him up. We’re never going to tear him down or boo, which we shouldn’t anyways,” Freeland said. “We shouldn’t boo at our players, but I’m not going to boo him for whatever he does, good or bad. I’m going to say it’s great, say it’s the best thing.”

Freeland said he wants his support to be a positive influence, not only for Jones but also for the people around him and the Mississippi State community. That message has resonated with Jones, who appreciates the time and effort Freeland puts into showing his support.

“I kind of embrace it because it’s in a positive way,” Jones said. “I feel like people don’t really got to do that, and I feel like it’s out of good spirit.”

Jones said he recognizes the genuine effort behind Freeland’s displays of support and makes a point to acknowledge him whenever he sees him at a game.

“When I see him every time, every game, I make sure to acknowledge him and show him love,” Jones said.

That connection has even carried over to moments on the field. Jones recalled trying to grab one of Freeland’s signs after recording an interception against Texas the previous season. For both of them, these small interactions have helped turn a one-sided display of fandom into a relationship built on mutual appreciation.

Freeland’s message to Jones remains consistent: keep playing hard, keep being himself and continue to represent the Bulldogs.

“Kelley Jones, you know I love you. The whole fan base loves you. Mississippi loves you,” Freeland said. “You know, if you want to stay an extra year, we’d love to have you. But, you know, keep balling, keep doing what you do and love Jesus.”

And while Freeland has made a name for himself through his unwavering support, Jones has a message of his own for the fan who never fails to show up.

“If I had to give him one message, keep being you,” Jones said. “We see you. Keep being you. We see you.”

At Mississippi State, that kind of loyalty has become its own form of Bulldog pride — one yellow sign, one Saturday and one show of genuine love at a time.