Xavier Jones NFL.com draft profile

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XAVIER JONES SMU RB

Prospect Info
COLLEGE
SMU

CLASS
r-Senior

HOMETOWN
Spring, TX

HEIGHT
5' 11"

WEIGHT
208 lbs

ARMS
- -
HANDS
- -
Prospect Grade
5.41


Player Bio
It did not take Jones long to make an impact after driving the three hours from Spring, Texas, to the SMU campus. He started 6 of 12 games played and set a school record in 2015 by scoring 10 rushing touchdowns as a true freshman (152-634-4.2 rushing; 27-214-7.9 receiving). Injuries to his hamstring and shoulder limited him to two games in 2016 (15-140-9.3, one TD rushing), when he received a medical redshirt. Jones bounced back to lead the Mustangs in rushing in 2017, starting 12 of 13 games, covering 1,075 yards and scoring nine times on 182 carries (5.9 average), and catching 14 passes for 84 yards (6.0 average). He had a lesser role on offense as a junior (69-311-4.2, two TDs rushing; 10-95-9.5 receiving, one start in 10 games) but became "the man" for the Mustangs in 2019. Jones was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection as a senior, leading his team with 1,276 yards (244 carries, 5.2 per) and finishing among the nation's leaders with 23 touchdowns in 13 starts.


Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Priority free agent

Overview
Common runner with decent size and a grinder's mentality/skill set. Jones is just average athletically, lacking the wiggle and creativity to keep runs alive beyond their standard shelf life. He's a determined runner with good lower-body power and forward lean who runs behind his pads and falls forward through contact. He lacks sideline-to-sideline range as a runner but can work outside the tackles in outside zone. There is nothing special that defines his game. He lacks versatility beyond the early downs, but his toughness and willful running style are positive traits.

Strengths
Adequate size and rush with consistent toughness
Ate from the touchdown trough with 23 in 2019 and 45 for his career
Can elude early penetration and re-route his run
Adequate job of setting up and directing blocks
Power in his thighs to drive through arm tackles
Determined to drop pads and attack tacklers
Hands are adequate for swing passes and leak-outs
Willing as a contact-and-catch pass protector

Weaknesses
Segmented with brief indecision as runner
Pedestrian burst through the line
Doesn't see and work two moves ahead
Hip tightness strains elusiveness on second level
Below-average speed and feet to win on the flanks
Not much of a third-down factor
Delayed recognition in blitz-pickup assignments