USC running back Ronald Jones’ draft stock has taken ‘bit of a hit’
Ronald Jones II is widely viewed as one of the top running back prospects in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah said Jones’ stock has taken “a little bit of a hit” over the past month.
Jeremiah believes Jones has had a rough offseason and has not helped his draft stock much. Issues related to his hamstring injury and his pro day have apparently knocked his stock down leading into the draft.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said USC running back Ronald Jones’ stock has seen "a little bit of a hit.”
"He’s had a poor offseason. He has not helped himself at all. He’s been a little bit nicked up and was not impressive at his makeup pro day."
— Joey Kaufman (@joeyrkaufman) April 11, 2018
During a workout at Loker Track Stadium at USC last week, Jones was clocked at 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which easily beat the 4.65 40-yard dash he ran at the combine. The slow combine time was caused more by injury than Jones’ speed.
With the draft looming at the end of the month, Jones will continue to work toward getting 100 percent healthy as he works out for individual teams. Jones has proven he is one of the top available running backs in this class. In three years at Southern Cal, Jones was one of the most productive backs in the conference and ran for 1,550 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. He is projected by most as a top-5 running back.
Only four running backs recorded faster times in the 40 at the combine than the 4.48 Jones recorded last week — North Carolina State’s Nyheim Hines (4.38), Penn State’s Saquon Barkley (4.40), Arizona State’s Kalen Ballage (4.46) and San Diego State’s Rashaad Penny (4.48). Of those four, only Barkley is expected to go higher than Jones.
