Notre Dame Football: Have we forgotten about Tony Jones?

Notre Dame football lost Dexter Williams to the NFL, but the Irish have the horses to replace him in Jafar Armstrong and Tony Jones.

Notre Dame football ran for over 2300 yards a season ago, totaling an average of about 183 yards per game. About 995 of those yards came from Dexter Williams, who was drafted to the NFL by the Green Bay Packers.

It figures that wide-receiver-turned-running back Jafar Armstrong will carry the biggest load in replacing Williams, but it seems that many who discuss Notre Dame’s running game forget the contributions of rising junior, Tony Jones.

Last season, Jones played in 13 games for the Irish, carrying the ball 83 times for 392 yards and 3 touchdowns. His carries and yards were good for second best on the time, behind only Dexter Williams.

There’s every reason to believe that Jones will have a breakout season this year for the Fighting Irish. First, there’s the fact that most often, players make the biggest jump in development before their junior season. After being an integral part of the Irish offense for the past two seasons, Jones has the opportunity to come into his own this season in South Bend.

Next, the Irish have a more well-rounded offense with much more experience than they did a season ago. It’s reasonable to expect better production from most players in the Irish offense, Jones included.

Finally, Jones has proven the most reliable of Notre Dame’s running backs. Last season, Jones was available in all 13 games for the Irish.

Given his durability while being in an Irish uniform and his ability to be an asset in the passing game, Jones should see a lot of playing time this season as Notre Dame’s clear-cut number two back. It wouldn’t be a shock to see both Jones and Armstrong in the backfield at the same time in certain situations.

While many have been quick to get excited about Jafar Armstrong’s potential out of the Irish backfield, it may be worthwhile to get excited about Tony Jones, too.