Curtis Jones Jr. Breaks Down Return to Running Back for WVU Football

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The WVU football running back room has been plagued with injuries this season. As desperate times call for desperate measures, head coach Rich Rodriguez called up sophomore bandit Curtis Jones Jr. from defense to the backfield in WVU’s 29-22 win over Colorado Saturday.

Jones is not new to offense, as he played both linebacker and running back for Cabell Midland High School. In his senior season, Jones ran for 1,762 yards and 27 touchdowns.

“I’ve been playing football since I was five… but I’ve played running back since I was five as well. So just getting back in the game and getting back on the offensive side, I was very anxious. I was very excited as well,” Jones said in the postgame press conference.

The Mountaineers reserved Jones for short-yardage situations on Saturday, but he delivered when his number is called. He ran for two touchdowns on three carries, the first from two yards out and the other from four.

While it was Jones’ first game playing running back in college, Rodriguez noted he was eager to take the field when the WVU offense was near the goal-line.

“I knew him the first time we were down the goal line. I turned around and he’s standing right, breathing down my neck,” Rodriguez said. “And so I [said] ‘Okay, yeah, we’ll get you in there at some point.’ And he can be a weapon.”

One of Jones’ defensive teammates, redshirt senior linebacker Reid Carrico, also offered praise for his fellow linebacker.

“Curt’s a great football player. I think he’s a homegrown guy here in West Virginia and I think that Curt would do anything to win. And he’s one of those solid core guys that everybody wants on their team,” Carrico said.

As WVU has just two regular season games left and are still alive for bowl eligibility, Jones hopes to continue to get opportunities on offense.

“I love football, so you know, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m just trying to help the team any way I can. But I would be more than happy to do so,” Jones added.

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