SEATTLE — Tony Jones arrived on Colorado’s campus last fall with three other true freshman tailbacks. The great debate became who would emerge as an eventual starter.
With the three others either leaving school or the position, Jones won by default. He just never thought he would get his first starting assignment next Saturday. Against No. 9 Oregon.
The redshirt freshman from Paterson, N.J., found himself as Colorado’s featured back Saturday when Rodney Stewart sprained a knee. Stewart, the school’s second-leading all-time rusher, will be re-examined today, but coach Jon Embree already ruled him out for this week.
“(Jones) has got to be the guy,” Embree said after Washington pounded his Buffaloes 52-24. “He just has to be the guy. That’s all we have.”
Jones has shown small flashes in giving Stewart a breather. He had 67 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries before Saturday and taking over in the second half, he had 49 yards on 14 carries.
The 3.5-yard average won’t scare Oregon, especially against Washington’s 101st-ranked defense, but he did have two short TD runs.
“I see myself developing,” said Jones, a high school All-American at famed Don Bosco Prep. “Just playing with Rodney, it’s great. He got me better, and I’m getting him better. You never know what’s going to happen.”
Embree said backing up Jones will be sophomore Josh Ford, a Mullen High School grad whose lone carry Saturday went for 13 yards. Embree said he may pull the redshirt off freshman Malcolm Creer.
Fullback Evan Harrington, a senior who has yet to carry the ball in his career, may also get some time.
“We have to be prepared,” Ford said. “Speedy’s a great leader, and he’s taught us a lot. We look forward to him coming back, but we’ve got a great coach in Eric Bieniemy. We all train the same way. We all train to be No. 1.”
What’s good is one could star before he ever hoped.
“I’m really excited,” Jones said. “Oregon’s a great team. . . . We need to have a great week of practice.”
