Tide suspend Walton grad Jones

Freshman RB was team’s 4th-leading rusher in 2014.

Alabama running back Tyren Jones, a Walton High School grad, was suspended indefinitely Tuesday.

Jones was fourth on the team in rushing as a redshirt freshman last season with 224 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard performance against Western Carolina.

“Tyren Jones has been suspended indefinitely for conduct not to the standard of the Alabama football program,” coach Nick Saban said in a brief statement.

Jones was also suspended before the LSU game last season.

Fellow reserve running back Altee Tenpenny transferred after the season and T. J. Yeldon is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft. That still leaves leading rusher Derrick Henry, Kenyan Drake and signees Bo Scarbrough and DeSherrius Flowers, who both enrolled early.

Rutgers: Former Georgia Tech assistant Ralph Friedgen stepped down as offensive coordinator for the Scarlet Knights after just one season.

Friedgen, 67, will move into a consulting role as special assistant to the head coach. Wide receivers coach Ben McDaniels, the brother of New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, was promoted to offensive coordinator.

Friedgen returned to coaching last year for the first time since being forced out as Maryland’s head coach after the 2010 season. Rutgers had its most productive offense since 2008, averaging 390 yards per game in 2014.

Tennessee: The rape allegations involving former Tennessee linebacker A. J. Johnson (Gainesville) and defensive back Michael Williams will go before a grand jury.

Knox County Deputy District Attorney General Kyle Hixson said Tuesday that his office had completed its review of the police investigation. Knoxville police identified Johnson and Williams in November as subjects of a rape investigation, though neither has been arrested. Both were suspended from the team. Johnson has since graduated and completed his eligibility.

Oklahoma State: The school notified Texas officials that it wants to take sworn statements from Longhorns coach Charlie Strong and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson about who is calling the plays at Texas.

The move stems from Oklahoma State’s breach of contract lawsuit against former Cowboys assistant Joe Wickline, who is now on Strong’s staff. Oklahoma State is suing Wickline in Oklahoma for nearly $600,000 because it says he made a lateral move to Texas.

Etc.: Frank Verducci, a former longtime NFL assistant, was hired as offensive coordinator at Connecticut. ... Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Jerry Montgomery agreed in principle to accept an undisclosed NFL coaching position. ... Ohio State hired Tony Alford, who has coached college running backs for 18 years, including the past six at Notre Dame.