After a 1-3 start to the 2016 season, many people thought that the USC Trojans were on their way to one of their worst seasons in recent memory. Eight games later, the Trojans turned it around, winning those final eight games in a row and earning a berth in the Rose Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions. One important piece of that turnaround has been former McKinney North standout Ronald Jones II.
After rushing for nearly 1,000 yards as a true freshman, Jones broke that barrier as a sophomore thanks in part to a monster second half of the season. Jones rushed for over 120 yards in four of the final games of the regular season, including a 223-yard performance against California.
Jones split time with senior Justin Davis at the beginning of the year, but when Davis got hurt, Jones saw the opportunity. “Rojo”, as his teammates call him, has powered his way through a slow start to his sophomore season and now has established himself as the lead back for the Trojans.
He goes up against a Penn State defense giving up around 153 yards on the ground per game. However, that same defense shut down a Wisconsin offense in the second half on their way to a Big Ten Championship comeback win. Like the Trojans, the Nittany Lions are entering on their own wave of confidence.
Jones, Davis, and former Cedar Hill running back Aca’Cedric Ware will all try to power through the Lion defense in Pasadena and give the Trojans their first 10-win season since 2013.
Monday’s Rose Bowl also presents an opportunity for Jones to “put McKinney on the map” so to speak. McKinney and Southern California may know how talented the powerful sophomore is, but Jones hopes that the rest of the country will see that as well in a national spotlight game.
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