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#24 Charles Jones |
Position: Running Back Previous College: None Projection: Starter Status: On Scholarship |
Charles Jones (b. Jan. 20, 1994) is a versatile athlete who who broke through with extensive playing time as a sophomore. He will continue to develop and looks likely to take over starting duties at running back in 2015.
After redshirting in 2012 and seeing no action in 2013, Jones played in all 13 games last season, rushing for 540 yards and 13 touchdowns on 133 attempts. He was third in the Big 12 and 26th nationally in rushing touchdowns.
Jones, who had eight catches for 75 yards with a 13-yard TD against Kansas, had 11 of his 13 rushing scores come out of the Wildcat formation and finished second in school history in points among sophomores with 84.
He opened the season with eight touchdowns in the first four games, scoring a career-high three against UTEP, plus two apiece against Stephen F. Austin and Iowa State. He also had two rushing scores versus Oklahoma State.
Jones had a career-high 76 yards against UTEP, 1 more than his previous career high at Iowa State; registered a career-best 20 receiving yards against UCLA in the Alamo Bowl; and was on the Academic All-Big 12 second team.
He came to K-State as a three-year starter who rushed for 1,767 yards and 22 touchdowns while hauling in 31 passes for 321 yards during his senior season at Mandeville High School under head coach Guy Lecompte.
Jones was an honorable-mention all-state pick by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and also was named the New Orleans Player of the Week following a 213-yard performance against Parkway (La.) High School.
He accounted for nearly 700 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns as a junior. He was the product of a Louisiana recruiting pipeline that was established by Michael Smith and now is being maintained by Blake Seiler.