Story Poster
Photo by Rick Kimball/ISD
Notre Dame Football

New Look, Same Mentality For Jones

August 10, 2018
3,989

Notre Dame running back Tony Jones Jr. has patiently waited for two years for his time to come. 

When the Irish take the field on September 1st, Jones will be the featured back, and he started preparing this winter as he changed up his diet. 

“Last year I was 230, and now I’m 217,” stated Jones. “I’ve been cutting out all the snacks, fatty foods and eating healthier.” 

Cutting out fast food was a challenge given to him by his father, Tony Sr., who has made a few trips to South Bend to stock his son’s freezer full of clean food this offseason. 

The commitment to eating cleaner has given Jones a little bit of speed as well. 

“I’m definitely faster,” said Jones. “Last year when I was 230, I was running a 4.66. My last time was 4.59.” 

Jones doesn’t consider himself a speed back, but he also isn’t committing the title of strictly a power back.

“I would say I’m a wildcard,” Jones stated. “You don’t know what’s coming.” 

Last fall, Jones got a taste of college football as he rushed 44 times for 232 yards and three scores. However, Jones battled an ankle injury for most of the season, which was the first injury he suffered in his football career before having a hip pointer slowed him down at the end of 2017.

“My ankle feels great,” explained Jones. “I feel like I’m more explosive because I’m lighter. I have my step back a little bit.”

Jones may have three years of eligibility left, but the running back room is looking at him for leadership. He’ll be the first to admit he’s not big on vocal leadership,

“I’m not a big talker, so I have to lead by example,” Jones said. 

The running back room is young and inexperienced, but Jones and Dexter Williams have taken Avery Davis, Jafar Armstrong and the freshmen running backs under their wing. 

“We have a lot of characters,” Jones stated. “We have a lot of speed, power, and hands. We have a lot of different types of players compared to last year.” 


Armstrong and Davis weren’t running backs a year ago for the Irish, but it’s clear the speed and athleticism have made the running back room deeper. 

Jones believes both players will have the chance to make a significant impact on the season. 

“I would say they bring a different tempo to the team. They both can run routes and have hands. They’re fast. It’s going to be hard for teams to stop them.

“All of us are going to help us win the game.”

 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.