24 DAYS TO 2016 KICKOFF: Charles Jones

Charles Jones (b. Jan. 20, 1994) is a versatile athlete who has been K-State's primary running back in each of the last two seasons. He eclipsed the career 1,000-yard mark in 2015 and he currently ranks 21st in school history.

Jones, who graduated in May with a degree in sociology and criminology), has been named to the 2016 Doak Walker Award watch list and will continue to develop even more as a senior. Not bad for a guy many have panned.

After redshirting in 2012 and seeing no game action in 2013, Jones played in all 13 games in 2014, 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 scored by 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 then-career-high 76 yards against UTEP, 1 more than his previous mark set 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.

Last season, Jones again played in all 13 games, leading the team with 696 rushing yards on 142 carries and five touchdowns. He averaged 73.7 yards during the final seven games of the year, after posting just 30 yards per game during the first six contests, and rushed for 75 or more yards four times, including a career-high 122 yards at Texas.

Jones became the school’s 27th career 1,000-yard rusher during the Texas Tech game, and scored a season-high two touchdowns against both TCU and Iowa State.

He also caught 12 passes for 139 yards, including a career-long 72-yard reception at Oklahoma State. Amazingly, his reception against the Cowboys was the longest by a K-State running back since 2000.

Jones 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.

He was named 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.

Jones 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.