TCU's Jones is Trojans' new running backs coach

LOS ANGELES » For the first time in the Lincoln Riley administration at USC, there's a new offensive coach on staff.

USC has hired TCU's Anthony Jones Jr. as its running backs coach, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Monday. Jones fills the vacancy left after two-year RBs coach Kiel McDonald left USC for a position on Jim Harbaugh's staff with the Chargers, and barring any unexpected moves, should finalize the Trojans' staff heading into spring ball.

It's an interesting hire, as Jones comes from a through-and-through Southern background with few ties to USC's current offensive staff, earning his coaching stripes by first coaching at his alma mater of Westwood High in Memphis, Tennessee, and later Tennessee's Cordova High. His star blossomed at Memphis, hired in 2018 as a running backs coach and subsequently coaching four future pros across four seasons — former Rams back Darrell Henderson Jr., Tony Pollard (currently with the Cowboys), Antonio Gibson (Commanders) and Kenneth Gainwell (Eagles). At TCU, Jones coached nowSaints back Kendre Miller to a career-best year in 2022, their ground game a key part of a run to the CFP national championship game.

Jones' schemes have been fairly amorphous, coaching both 1-2 punch alignments and clear leadback rotations. That's a key point for USC, which is importing Mississippi State senior transfer Jo'Quavious “Woody” Marks as the veteran of the room — Marks, though, has never eclipsed 121 carries in a season, and his mother Tameka told the Southern California News Group that Marks was drawn in part to USC by the promise of a balanced usage in both the pass and run game.

As such, sophomores Quinten Joyner and A'Marion Peterson will likely see expanded roles, perhaps in a time-share with Marks.

Jones also has an established recruiting presence in Texas and the South, another mark in his favor as USC has been particularly drawn to recruiting Texas backs under Riley.