Countdown to kickoff is back! USC will kick off its 2026 football season on August 29 when the Trojans host San Jose State at the Coliseum. In this series, we will be counting down the days until the season opener by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number.
With 25 days to go, today we look at former USC running back Ronald Jones II.
Position: Running back
Years played at USC: 2015-2017
Career highlights: Coming to USC as a prized recruit from the state of Texas, it did not take Jones long to make an impact with the Trojans. As a true freshman, he rushed for 987 yards and eight touchdowns. The following year, he increased those numbers to 1,082 and 12, respectively. Perhaps Jones’s signature moment in Cardinal and Gold came that season
with his four-touchdown performance in a 45-20 victory over Oregon.
As a junior in 2017, Jones established himself as one of the top running backs in the country, carrying the ball 261 times for 1,550 yards and 19 touchdowns. For his performance that season, he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors.
Jones left USC fifth all time in Trojans history in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. He ranks ahead of Heisman Trophy winners Mike Garrett, O.J. Simpson, and Reggie Bush in both categories.
After USC: Following the conclusion of his junior season, Jones declared for the 2018 NFL Draft, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the second round. He would play four seasons with the team. His best year came in 2020, when he rushed for 978 yards and seven touchdowns, helping the team win Super Bowl LV.
Jones last played in the NFL in 2022 with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning his second Super Bowl ring. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, but was released prior to appearing in a regular season game with the team.
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This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans RB Ronald Jones II
