TCU football has found its next running backs coach
The TCU football team has found its next running backs coach.
Anthony Jones of Memphis is joining Sonny Dykes’ staff, the school announced Tuesday. Jones replaces Ra’Shaad Samples, who left to become the running backs coach for the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.
“I’m extremely grateful to Coach Dykes for this wonderful opportunity and equally excited to get to work and join Frog Nation!!!” Jones wrote on Twitter.
Jones has an impressive track record, spending the past five seasons at Memphis. Among running backs he’s coached who have gone on to the NFL include the Dallas Cowboys’ Tony Pollard and the Washington Commanders’ Antonio Gibson. Other NFL players coached by Jones include Darrell Henderson of the Rams, Kenneth Gainwell of the Philadelphia Eagles and Patrick Taylor of the Green Bay Packers.
Jones joined Memphis’ staff after spending 11 seasons coaching high school football in the Tennessee area.
In 2017-18, his first two seasons with the Tigers, Memphis’ rushing attack combined for 6,533 yards and scored 78 touchdowns. In 2019, Memphis rushed for more than 2,500 yards and 32 TDs.
The rushing attack has dipped from a statistical standpoint the last two seasons — the Tigers ranked 10th in the AAC in rushing offense with 137.1 yards per game last season — but the total offense ranked third in the league.
For TCU, Jones impressed by the way he has found and developed future NFL running backs such as Pollard and Gibson.
The Frogs don’t want to take a step back in the rushing department. They had the Big 12’s third-best rushing attack last season, averaging 196.3 yards per game. Kendre Miller is the leading returning rusher on the team. Miller rushed for 623 yards and a team-high seven TDs last year.
Also returning is super senior Emari Demercado, who rushed for 421 yards and four TDs, and junior Daimarqua Foster. The Frogs also brought in transfers such as Trelon Smith from Arkansas and Emani Bailey from Louisiana.
TCU is scheduled to start spring practices on March 22 with the spring game set for Friday, April 22 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
This story was originally published March 14, 2022 at 3:55 PM.
