'16 FL RB Tony Jones Jr. (Notre Dame Signed NLI)

[ResLife Hero]

https://247sports.com/college/notre...nes-Jr-One-Of-Several-RB-Wildcards-120694577/

In the bowels of Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass., they carted Tony Jones Jr. to a place where he could receive medical attention for an ankle that prompted a scream that could be heard on the television broadcast.

When Jones, a 5-foot-11, 230-pound freshman running back went down with the injury in the third game of the 2017 season against Boston College, the promising pass-receiving threat out of the backfield – the main reason Notre Dame was optimistic it could run its offense effectively with two running back – was never the same the rest of the season.

He scored his first career touchdown in the opener against Temple and fought his way through the pain to rush for 48 yards against Miami (Ohio), 31 versus North Carolina, 37 at home against USC, and a career-high 59 and his third touchdown of the season against Wake Forest.

But over the final four games, he carried the football just seven times for 32 yards, including two carries for two yards against Stanford and LSU in the Citrus Bowl.

There was talk of not understanding how to and not properly tending to his rehab. At 230 pounds, he was too large, clocking a 4.66 time in the 40. It was all a bit too much too soon for the IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) product.

“I’ve cut out all the snacks and fatty foods,” said the painfully soft-spoken Jones. “I’m just eating healthier. I’ve had a cleaner diet. Now I’m like 217. I’m lighter and I feel like I’ve gotten my step back. I feel like I’m more explosive.”

Jones has made some other changes in his life.

“I’ve been trying to go to more treatment, more yoga-type things, and I’ve been getting closer to God and stuff like that,” Jones said.

Never known as a speed back en route to a roster spot on the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Jones is needed to step into a lead role at running back as a sophomore.

Dexter Williams is expected to be sidelined the first four games of the season due to suspension. Running backs Avery Davis and Jafar Armstrong were a quarterback and receiver respectively last year as classmates of Jones’, neither of which played in game competition. Jahmir Smith, an early-entry freshman, and classmate C’Bo Flemister have been slowed by injuries the first two weeks of pre-season camp.

In other words, Jones better be ready for a heavier workload.

“My ankle feels great,” Jones said. “My last (40-yard dash) time was something like 4.59. I feel more explosive. I’m a wildcard. You don’t know what’s coming.”

Unlikely anything along the lines of Josh Adams, whose injury-plagued junior season still resulted in a sensational 1,430 yards rushing, 6.9 yards per carry and nine touchdowns, Jones needs to take his game up a couple of notches following Adams’ move to the NFL.

Now that Jones has tended to his physical and spiritual well-being, the next step is to maintain the demeanor necessary to excel in an expanded role.

“I’d just get really excited and burn myself out,” said Jones of his rookie season with the Irish. “Now I’m older and more calm. It’s all right to be excited. Just don’t show it too much.”

Jones expects to team with some of the talent infusion in the offensive backfield to give the Irish a boost in a nondescript backfield corps, at least until Williams becomes eligible to play.

“They bring a different tempo to the team,” said Jones of Davis and Armstrong. “They both can run routes. They’ve both got hands and they’re both fast. It’s going to be hard for teams to stop them.

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“We’ve got a lot of speed, power, hands…We’ve got a lot of different type players than we had last year. All of us are going to have a key role to our little plan.”

Foremost in Notre Dame’s plans as the Irish enter the 2018 is a lighter, leaner, healthier Tony Jones Jr.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

TJ Jr sounds like a really good guy. I hope the best for him this coming season.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

4.66 is pretty brutal for a 40 time. I know he's not a speed back, but damn.

 

[NOLAIrish]

4.66 is pretty brutal for a 40 time. I know he's not a speed back, but damn.

That time actually sounds much faster than I would've expected based on his play last year.

Theo Riddick ran a 4.68 at 30lbs lighter than Jones. Ronald Jones ran a 4.65 at the combine at 205. Kareem Hunt ran a 4.62 last year at 216.

Generally, I'd expect a draftable back weighing 230 to run in the 4.6-4.7 range. Sub-4.6 would be pretty darn quick at that size. And these are guys who are training specifically for their workout for several months. If Jones is running that while coming up in weight and recovering from injury, that's pretty impressive. Granted, it's not what I thought the tape showed. I would've guessed somewhere closer to mid 4.7s-4.8.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

4.66 is pretty brutal for a 40 time. I know he's not a speed back, but damn.

If he can run like Maurice Clarett, his 40 time means nothing to me. Just waiting to see what he can do with his opportunities. He won't be Josh Adams but if he can consistently find the hole and get low, he can be a very good back for us.

 

[Old Man Mike]

4.6 is PLENTY good for a power back. So he gets caught by a CB 30 yards downfield ... if these are our problems this year I'm in for the Koolaid.

 

[arrowryan]

The 40 yard dash is pretty overrated. Rarely does a RB ever run 40 yards in a straight line. Tony Jones is just fine where he's at.

 

[BabyIrish]

4.6 is PLENTY good for a power back. So he gets caught by a CB 30 yards downfield ... if these are our problems this year I'm in for the Koolaid.

Darius Walker and Lee Becton are the slowest backs I’ve ever seen for ND but they were plenty effective. Tony Jones can be effective for us regardless of his 40 time.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Darius Walker and Lee Becton are the slowest backs I’ve ever seen for ND but they were plenty effective. Tony Jones can be effective for us regardless of his 40 time.

Yup. Anyway, we aren't talking about making the jump to the NFL. we are talking about grinding out tough yards behind Alex Bars and company.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Darius Walker and Lee Becton are the slowest backs I’ve ever seen for ND but they were plenty effective. Tony Jones can be effective for us regardless of his 40 time.

And hopefully Jones Jr has at least a slight interest in staying in bounds through contact.

 

[Rocket89]

Darius Walker and Lee Becton are the slowest backs I’ve ever seen for ND but they were plenty effective. Tony Jones can be effective for us regardless of his 40 time.

Robert Hughes' 4.89 Pro Day 40 got that award on lock.

 

[greyhammer90]

Robert Hughes' 4.89 Pro Day 40 got that award on lock.

Anything Robert Hughes did after that USC game was golden. He had the "doesn't matter had sex" of Notre Dame football careers.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Jerome Bettis --- a real blazer.

 

[Rocket89]

Jerome Bettis --- a real blazer.

4.68 at nearly 260 pounds, he's an athletic freak we'll never see again.

 

[ResLife Hero]

4.68 at nearly 260 pounds, he's an athletic freak we'll never see again.

Although, with the benefit of hindsight, AJ Dillon would be nice.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

In the bowels of Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Mass., they carted Tony Jones Jr. to a place where he could receive medical attention for an ankle that prompted a scream that could be heard on the television broadcast.

Wow! Did not know his ankle was that bad...

 

[bkess8]

Any word on how he's doing?

 

[NDMIA]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tony Jones Jr. expected to play next week <a href="https://t.co/2Ai5g28hZH">https://t.co/2Ai5g28hZH</a></p>— Rotoworld NFL Draft (@Rotoworld_Draft) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rotoworld_Draft/status/1046466717663277056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This week you go with Dexter Williams, Tony Jones Jr, and Avery Davis then for the next two games you flip the script and go heavy on Jahmir Smith, C’Bo Flemister, and Avery Davis with light work for Dexter Williams and Tony Jones hopefully. Gonna need Dexter Williams, Tony Jones Jr, and Jafar Armstrong for those games in November!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I have been impressed with what we have seen from Smith so far....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tony Jones Jr. expected to play next week <a href="https://t.co/2Ai5g28hZH">https://t.co/2Ai5g28hZH</a></p>— Rotoworld NFL Draft (@Rotoworld_Draft) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rotoworld_Draft/status/1046466717663277056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This week you go with Dexter Williams, Tony Jones Jr, and Avery Davis then for the next two games you flip the script and go heavy on Jahmir Smith, C’Bo Flemister, and Avery Davis with light work for Dexter Williams and Tony Jones hopefully. Gonna need Dexter Williams, Tony Jones Jr, and Jafar Armstrong for those games in November!

In an ideal world, I agree with you but all of this is contingent on the players being healthy and ready to play.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">LEG DAY<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> ☘️ <a href="https://twitter.com/TonnJoness?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TonnJoness</a> <a href="https://t.co/hEcZaeoK1q">pic.twitter.com/hEcZaeoK1q</a></p>— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/status/1141097252514963458?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

TJJr repping 425 for 5. That ain't light

 

[arrowryan]

I think TJ is primed for a big year. Assuming he can stay healthy *knock on wood*. He won't be the #1 back but should be the perfect #2 for this offense. Both Jafar and TJ should have productive seasons behind that line.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I think TJ is primed for a big year. Assuming he can stay healthy *knock on wood*. He won't be the #1 back but should be the perfect #2 for this offense. Both Jafar and TJ should have productive seasons behind that line.

Staying healthy has been the issue for him. Always lower leg and ankle issues.

 

[koonja]

Staying healthy has been the issue for him. Always lower leg and ankle issues.

That, and he has no wiggle or speed. I like the squat, but I'd rather see him killing some agility drill or acceleration drill.

I think there's a good chance he's the 3rd RB by game 4.

 

[IrishFaninTX]

That, and he has no wiggle or speed. I like the squat, but I'd rather see him killing some agility drill or acceleration drill.

I think there's a good chance he's the 3rd RB by game 4.

Yeah I think Smith or Williams, or both, might have something to say about it. Jafar will be #1 but the other 2 look more explosive than Tony. I hope Tony can be our short yardage back or off they run a 2 ball play he can come in to block. He does well on screens, too (see game winner at USC in 18)

 

[koonja]

Yeah I think Smith or Williams, or both, might have something to say about it. Jafar will be #1 but the other 2 look more explosive than Tony. I hope Tony can be our short yardage back or off they run a 2 ball play he can come in to block. He does well on screens, too (see game winner at USC in 18)

Apparently Jamir Smith has had a solid off season and looks like a player.

I don't see what Tony Jones does better than him if true. Jamir is quicker, runs just as hard (harder), and can find the hole without sacrificing speed IMO.

I also think the freshman (name is escaping me) has the attitude that he expects to play and runs hard as hell with more agility.

 

[NDMIA]

Yeah I think Smith or Williams, or both, might have something to say about it. Jafar will be #1 but the other 2 look more explosive than Tony. I hope Tony can be our short yardage back or off they run a 2 ball play he can come in to block. He does well on screens, too (see game winner at USC in 18)

I thought Kyren Williams was 185 and coming in June. Just checked the roster and he’s 209 and didn’t remember he got to ND early. For those reasons I think he’s got a shot to compete for the #3 gig. The only thing is C’Bo Flemister and Jahmir Smith are both fighting for that #3 spot. There are 5 RB’s and 4 of them have experience which makes it difficult. That speaks to Kyren’s talent if he can get in right away and beat out a bunch of guys. I’m surprised by how big Kyren has gotten and I hope that doesn’t slow him down cause that’s a ton of weight to be carrying at 5’9”.

RS SO Jafar Armstrong 6’1” 220
RS JR Tony Jones Jr. 5’11” 227
RS FR Jahmir Smith 5’11” 207
RS FR C’Bo Flemister 5’11” 195
FR Kyren Williams 5’9” 209

 

[Domina Nostra]

Staying healthy has been the issue for him. Always lower leg and ankle issues.

He needs to stop skipping leg days; squats would help a ton.

 

[arrowryan]

If TJ is healthy, he’ll be the #2 all season long. A senior RB that the staff trusts and is good out of the back field.

If things like agility are everything, Derrick Henry never would’ve won the Heisman.

 

[Luckylucci]

If TJ is healthy, he’ll be the #2 all season long. A senior RB that the staff trusts and is good out of the back field.

If things like agility are everything, Derrick Henry never would’ve won the Heisman.

Not sure that’s a good example. He’s a pretty unique dude. 6’3 247, ran a 4.54 40, 37’’ vert, and broad jumped 10 feet 10 inches. Don’t think TJ is even sniffing those numbers while also being much smaller. So while agility isn’t everything, it helps to have other unique traits which he doesn’t have.