Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported that Anthony Jones Jr., running backs coach and run game coordinator for TCU, is expected to become USC Football‘s new running backs coach, according to his sources.
Jones replaces Kiel McDonald, who left USC to join Jim Harbaugh‘s staff with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Football Source writes that according to their sources, “Anthony Jones Jr. has steadily carved a name for himself the past seasons in college football as one of the sport’s top-tier running backs coaches.”
USC Football currently has just two red-shirt freshmen on their roster at running back, Quinten Joyner and A’Marion Peterson. Joyner played in 6 games and rushed 18 times for 125 yards. Peterson had two carries for 14 yards.
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Jones has been in his position at TCU since 2022 and according to his TCU website bio, “[he] made an immediate impact as his running backs played a major role in the Horned Frogs reaching the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Under his coaching, Kendre Miller rushed for 1,399 yards, making him the first TCU 1000+ rusher since 2016. That puts him 5th in single-season rushing leaders for the university. His 17 touchdowns make him 4th best in TCU history. Jones worked with Lincoln Riley’s brother, Garrett Riley at TCU.
Jones also coached at Memphis where he worked with Kenneth Gainwell, Antonio Gibson, Darrell Henderson, and Tony Pollard. All were drafted into the NFL
Football Scoop also writes that Jones was in the mix for several NFL positions this offseason and was a finalist to become the Los Angeles Rams running backs coach in 2022 before taking the job in Texas.
