Bishop O’Dowd running back humble despite brilliant career
There’s the breakaway speed, the elusive moves, the powerful runs and constant motor.
There’s the durability, with 53 career starts and 918 career carries leading to 6,745 rushing yards and 85 touchdowns.
There’s the 75 career catches, the 7,774 total yards from scrimmage and 92 touchdowns.
There’s the 42 wins, the 2016 state championship, the No. 6 national running back recruiting ranking and the scholarship to Stanford.
Out of all the memories and accomplishments Bishop O’Dowd-Oakland coach Napoleon Kaufman will remember most about running back Austin Jones, it is this:
“It’s going to sound strange, but it’s humility,” Kaufman said. “He treats everyone the same, he’s a normal, hardworking kid who expects no special treatment.”
Clearly, the 5-foot-11, 205pound senior — who will lead Bishop O’Dowd against Marin Catholic-Kentfield in the North Coast Section Division 2 championship game Saturday — was a special talent coming into the program as a freshman.
Kaufman, a running back for the Oakland Raiders from 1995-2000, recognized Jones’ talent and made him the Dragons’ workhorse as a freshman with 254 carries for 1,370 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Over the next two seasons, Jones rushed for more than 3,500 yards and 50 touchdowns, before Kaufman fulfilled Jones’ ultimate wish: to also play defense.
Jones has started every game at cornerback this season and, according to Kaufman, hasn’t allowed a touchdown. Jones has 29 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
“He’s done an excellent job on defense,” Kaufman said. “Whatever he needs to do on the football field, he gets it done.”
On offense, Jones rushed 197 times for 1,848 yards and 23 touchdowns, which makes him the No. 2 career rusher in Bay Area history behind Antioch alum Najee Harris (7,813 yards), who now plays for Alabama.
Jones recently passed the region’s No. 2 career rusher, Salesian-Richmond’s Jahvid Best (6,428).
Kaufman was recently rated the nation’s 29th greatest high school running back of all-time by MaxPreps — only three Californians ranked higher, including Vallejo’s Dick Bass at No. 11 — and Kaufman was selected the 1990 State Player of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports. He won two state track and field sprint championships for Lompoc and had a best time in the 100 meters at 10.39 seconds.
Jones isn’t quite as fast as Kaufman, but the coach said he and his prized pupil share a common trait.
“Toughness,” Kaufman said. “He definitely reminds me of me in that area. He runs tough and nasty.”
None of it shows, off the field, says his coach.
“You show up to a workout or a practice and you didn’t know who he is, you’d probably never guess he was Austin Jones,” Kaufman said. “He’s just a quiet, coachable, good kid. He was definitely raised right.”
In his last game, Jones figures to run with plenty of abandon Saturday. Beyond that, Marin Catholic ended Bishop O’Dowd’s season last season in the NCS semifinals. The year before, O’Dowd ended Marin Catholic’s season en route to a state 5-AA championship.
“(Marin Catholic) is well coached, tough and will be a huge challenge,” Kaufman said. “This is the rubber match. We’ll be ready.” Change of venue: Saturday’s Division 6-A state championship game between LincolnSan Francisco and Orange Glen-Escondido (San Diego County) has been moved to City College of San Francisco. The noon start will remain the same. The game originally was scheduled for Washington High.