Fansided
Fansided

Ronald Jones II, RB, USC: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report

By Shawn Spencer

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 02: Ronald Jones II
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 02: Ronald Jones II /
facebooktwitterreddit

Where will USC running back Ronald Jones II fall in the 2018 NFL Draft

Ronald Jones II, a 2015 four-star recruit, started 19 of 40 career games for Southern California. He missed one game in his career, the 2017 contest against California because of an ankle injury. He primarily lines up at running back in the Trojans offense. He’s played for two head coaches and two offensive coordinators during his college career.

Despite only starting six games combined in his first two seasons, Jones led the Trojans in rushing all three years he was on campus. For his career, he ran the ball 591 times for 3,619 yards and 39 touchdowns. He added 32 receptions for 302 yards and three scores through the air. He was named second-team all-Pac-12 as a sophomore and first team as a junior. As a true junior, he is an early entrant in the 2018 NFL Draft. He possesses adequate size on a thin frame with very good athletic ability. 

Age During Rookie Season: 21 (August 3, 1997) 

Measurables

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 200 lbs.

Games Watched

2017: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Stanford, Texas

2016: Alabama

Strengths

Ronald Jones II displays good agility after taking the handoff as he makes his cut before driving upfield or moving laterally down the line of scrimmage. He accelerates to top speed and possesses very good play speed to explode through the hole before it closes.

That explosiveness can be seen in the play below from his sophomore season against Alabama. Jones takes the handoff from quarterback Max Browne and bursts through the hole in the A gap between the center and right guard. He explodes past nine Crimson Tide defenders and races downfield for a 46-yard gain.

Although Jones was caught on the previous play, he possesses very good speed to separate from defenders in the open field. Jones maintains his balance through contact and demonstrates a solid ability to finish runs. Per Pro Football Focus, he ranked fourth among draft-eligible running backs with 892 yards after contact in 2017.

He showcased his elusiveness and ability to maximize yards after contact on the following play against Stanford. The tight end to the right of the formation misses his block, allowing the left defensive end to fill the intended running lane. Jones sees this and cuts back to the left, finding an opening in the middle of the field. The first contact comes about seven yards downfield when a linebacker makes a diving attempt at his legs. Jones is able to spin free and gain another five yards, resulting in a first down.

That was a first-and-10 run for Jones, however he also saw plenty of carries in short-yardage situations. In those instances, he shows a solid ability to run with a low pad level while remaining elusive. He demonstrates good competitive toughness to fight through traffic and push forward to keep the chains moving.

More from NFL Mocks

As a receiver, Jones displays solid hands and a very good ability to adjust to passes outside his frame. Elite ball security will keep him on the field and out of the doghouse. He fumbled just twice on 623 total touches for a fumble rate of 0.32 percent. Out of the 31 running backs who attended the 2017 Scouting Combine, only two finished their college careers with a lower rate.

Weaknesses

Ronald Jones II displays marginal patience behind the line of scrimmage which hampers his ability to see running lanes open late. The following play highlights his adequate awareness. Pre-snap Jones should see the Trojans have just three blockers against four Stanford defenders to the left, while it’s an even three-on-three to the right. Although USC has the advantage on the right side of the formation, he attempts to burst through a small window to his left, rather than the wide-open running lane to his right. He picks up four yards on the play, however a much bigger gain was available if he was patient and possessed better vision.

Here’s a still frame that shows the options Jones had available before cutting to his left.

Once into the running lane, Jones doesn’t overpower a defender one-on-one in the hole as a result of marginal play strength. Throughout his career, he’s been inconsistent in big games. In bowl games and rivalry matchups against Notre Dame, UCLA and Stanford, Jones averaged 78 rushing yards per game. In starts against all other opponents, he averaged 142 rushing yards per game.

In the passing game, Jones is a marginal route runner as he’s slow throughout the stem of his route and lacks the explosiveness he displays as a rusher once he makes a cut at the top of his route. After the catch, he’s slow to gather himself and turn upfield. As a blocker, a poor anchor causes Jones to be tossed aside with ease by defenders on their way to the quarterback.

Overall

Overall, Ronald Jones II is a change-of-pace running back at the next level who wins with explosiveness and elusiveness. He’s not someone who is polished enough as a receiver or blocker to be a reliable third-down back at this time. This is where coaching comes in. If he is developed properly and learns how to be more active in the passing game, he could become one of the more electrifying running backs in the NFL.

Next: Duke Ejiofor, DE, Wake Forest: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Jones is best suited to play in a zone blocking scheme where he can make one cut behind the line of scrimmage and explode upfield. While he didn’t return a single kick or punt at USC, Jones possesses the traits to be a very good returner at the next level and could make an impact immediately on special teams.

His athletic ability will be on full display at the Scouting Combine as Jones should be one of the event’s big winners. Day two of the 2018 NFL Draft is the most likely landing spot for him, and even in a deep running back class, should be one of the first five rushers off the board.

Home/Scouting Reports