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Julius Jones |
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A dangerous ground gainer and kick returner for the Irish who missed the 02 season
ranks second on the all-time Notre Dame kick return yardage list with 1,857 yards and is only 233 yards away from breaking Tim Browns all-time record of 2,089 yards
also ranks second all-time in career kickoff returns with 59 (Brown is first at 69) and kickoff return yards at 1,435 (Brown is the leader at 1,613)
has also gained over 1,750 rushing yards in his career
rated second-team preseason All-America as kick returner by Athlon and Street & Smiths in 01
rated 15th nationally among tailbacks in 01 preseason position ratings by The Sporting News
earned first-team All-America honors in 2000 from CNNSI.com as kickoff-return man
boasts outstanding speed and ability to turn the corner
tremendous with the ball in his hands
possesses great vision and speed with ability to adjust on the run
named by Athlon to its National Football League All-Decade team for 2000-2009 joining Indianapolis Peyton Manning at quarterback and Edgerrin James as the other running back.
AS A JUNIOR: Irish starter at tailback in 01
also was Notre Dames top kick returner
led the team in rushing with 718 yards
named to collegefootballnews.com all-independent team
ranked 34th nationally in all-purpose yardage
53-yard punt return set up only Irish touchdown of game vs. Michigan State, a six-yard Matt LoVecchio-to-Tony Fisher pass
53-yard return was the second longest punt return of his career
scored first two touchdowns of the season vs. Pittsburgh
recorded season-high 25 carries vs. Pittsburgh, the third-highest number of carries in his career
recorded season-long kickoff return with 58-yarder vs. West Virginia
rushed for two TDs vs. West Virginia second consecutive week he had two TDs
recorded his third-straight game with a rushing touchdown, a five-yard TD run vs. USC
made first touchdown reception of his career, a 21-yard catch, vs. Boston College
finished the Boston College game with 87 rushing yards
led the Irish in rushing vs. Navy with 24 carries for 117 yards
record career-long rush of 59 yards vs. Stanford
recorded 106 yards in the first half against the Cardinal, but suffered an ankle injury and did not play in the second half
saw limited action vs. Purdue in season finale due to same ankle injury.
AS A SOPHOMORE: Notre Dames leading groundgainer in 2000 campaign
big reason why Irish ranked 12th in the country in punt returns (15.13) and third in kick returns (24.92)
led team in rushing attempts (162), rushing yards (657) and rushing TDs (seven), as well as all-purpose yards (1,169),
all-Independent pick by Collegefootballnews.com
named the best kickoff returner in the country, according to CNNSI.coms Half-America Team a list of the nations top players in the first half of the season
named to the NFL all-decade team for 2000-09 by Athlon
ranked 19th nationally among running backs in preseason listing by The Sporting News
also named to the preseason all-Independent team by The Sporting News
led Irish in rushing with 14 carries for 60 yards and one touchdown vs. Texas A&M
made first career start against Nebraska and responded with 227 all-purpose yards
with 8:30 remaining in the third quarter, he fielded a kickoff in the end zone and returned it 100 yards it for a TD (first of his career by kickoff return) to bring the Irish to within seven at 21-14
became just the fourth player in Notre Dame history to return a kickoff 100 yards and the first since Clint Johnson did it against Stanford in 1993
named NBC Sports/Chevrolet Notre Dame Player of the Game for his efforts against the Huskers
led Irish with 56 yards rushing against Purdue, including two key third-down conversions on final drive that led to game-winning field goal
rushed for team-high 126 yards vs. Michigan State
scored on two-yard plunge on second play of fourth quarter to pull Notre Dame to within 21-14 against the Spartans and then added another two-yard score seven minutes later after Anthony Weavers interception, giving the Irish 21-20 lead
named ABC Sports/Chevrolet Notre Dame Player of the Game for his efforts against Michigan State
had 50-yard kickoff return to open second half vs. Stanford, but saw limited action due to hamstring injury
had 18 carries for 105 yards vs. Navy, including a one-yard scoring run in first period that made it 14-0 for Irish
had fourth career 100-yard rushing game vs. Air Force, compiling 111 yards on career-high 27 carries
scored one-yard touchdown on opening Irish drive vs. Boston College
vs. USC rushed for team-high-tying 71 yards on 20 carries
Notre Dames leading rusher in 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon State with team-high 13 carries for 30 net yards in reserve effort
also caught one pass for 10 yards and returned four kickoffs for 88 yards in Fiesta Bowl
received Art Bodine Sportsmanship Award at conclusion of 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon State.
AS A FRESHMAN: Rookie tailback made major contributions for Irish in 99
served as top Irish kick returner, leading Notre Dame in both kickoff and punt return yardage
set Notre Dame single-season record in 99 with his 26 kickoff returns and his 603 kickoff return yards in 99 ranked behind only Heisman winner Tim Browns 698 from 86 on single-season basis . . . his 798 overall kick return yards (195 punt, 603 kickoff) ranked second all-time in a season behind Browns 857 in 87
rushed for 36 yards overall and a 13-yard, third-quarter touchdown vs. Arizona State
led Notre Dame rushers with 35 yards vs. USC and also had a 49-yard reception
had only 105 rushing yards through seven games before gaining career-high 146 yards on 19 carries vs. Navy, marking most rushing yards by a freshman since Jerome Heavens 148 yards vs. Georgia Tech in 1975
named NBC Sports/Chevrolet Notre Dame MVP vs. the Middies
led Irish in rushing with 46 yards against Tennessee
had seven kick returns (second most in a game by a Notre Dame player George Gipp had eight vs. Army in 1920) for 163 yards (23.3) vs. Pittsburgh
after averaging just nine yards per return heading into the game, took a fourth-quarter punt 67 yards for a touchdown to bring the Irish within two, 31-29, vs. Boston College
that marked Notre Dames first punt return for a touchdown since Autry Densons vs. Pittsburgh in 96
named NBC Sports/Chevrolet Notre Dame MVP vs. the Eagles
had 897 all-purpose yards over his last five games (179.4 per game)
took over top punt returning assignment after Joey Getherall was injured in Michigan game
led Irish freshmen in playing time
made 109 combined special-team appearances.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Honorable mention USA Today prep All-American
listed 88th nationally on Chicago Sun-Times list of top 100 players
rated one of top 40 players in Virginia and one of top six running backs by Richmond Times-Dispatch
named to Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team
rushed for 2,564 yards and 36 touchdowns as senior in 98 at Powell Valley High School in Big Stone Gap, Va.
earned four letters in football, captaining team as a senior
named Virginia Group A offensive player of the year in 97 and 98 by Associated Press and Virginia High School Coaches Association
Virginia Region D and Lonesome Pine District player of the year as junior and senior
career totals included 614 carries for 5,803 yards and 86 TDs
intercepted 10 career passes as a safety
helped Powell Valley to 28 straight victories and Virginia Group A-Division 2 state titles in 1997 and 1998
set Virginia record with 321 rushing yards in one state playoff game, on 19 carries, while also scoring five TDs
selected for Virginia High School Coaches Association all-star game
won four letters in basketball, serving as captain as senior and leading team to league titles as sophomore and junior
won four letters in track and field, captaining team as senior and earning all-state honors his last three seasons while competing in hurdle and jump events
helped team to four straight conference titles in track and field
set state record with 38.7 in the 300 hurdles in 98 and has run a 14.2 in 110 hurdles
brother Thomas earned All-America football honors as senior in 99 while leading Virginia in rushing with 1,798 yards (163.45 per game to rank third nationally) that set an Atlantic Coast Conference record
Thomas ended up as sixth pick in first round of 2000 National Football League draft by Arizona Cardinals
twin sister Knetris attended Virginia as well
full name is Julius Andre Maurice Jones
born Aug. 14, 1981
fourth oldest of seven children
enrolled in College of Arts and Letters, majoring in sociology.
| | G-GS | TC | Yds | Avg. | TD | LG | Rec. | Yds | TD | LG |
| 1999 | 12-0 | 75 | 375 | 5.0 | 3 | 37 | 3 | 90 | 0 | 49 |
| 2000 | 10-4 | 162 | 657 | 4.1 | 7 | 56 | 6 | 50 | 0 | 29 |
| 2000 | 11-6 | 168 | 718 | 4.3 | 6 | 59 | 9 | 57 | 1 | 21 |
| Total | 33-10 | 405 | 1750 | 4.3 | 16 | 59 | 18 | 197 | 1 | 49 |
| | PR | Yds | Avg | LR | TD | KOR | Yds | Avg | TD | LR |
| 1999 | 15 | 195 | 13.0 | 67 | 1 | 26 | 603 | 23.2 | 0 | 36 |
| 2000 | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 16 | 0 | 15 | 427 | 28.5 | 1 | 100 |
| 2001 | 18 | 192 | 10.7 | 53 | 0 | 18 | 405 | 22.5 | 0 | 58 |
| Total | 37 | 422 | 11.4 | 67 | 1 | 59 | 1,435 | 24.3 | 1 | 100 |
Jones Game By Game
1999
| Game | TC | Yds. | TD | Rec | Yds | PR | Yds. | TD | KR | Yds. | Att. | Yds |
| Kansas | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Purdue | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 |
| Michigan State | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 57 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Arizona State | 8 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 36 |
| USC | 10 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 49 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 79 | 17 | 194 |
| Navy | 19 | 146 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 23 | 23 | 183 |
| Tennessee | 12 | 46 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 93 | 18 | 176 |
| Pittsburgh | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 163 | 13 | 174 |
| Boston College | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 71 | 1 | 4 | 97 | 10 | 170 |
| Stanford | 9 | 66 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 148 | 16 | 229 |
2000
| Game | TC | Yds. | TD | Rec. | Yds. | KR | Yds. | TD | PR | Yds. | Att. | Yds. |
| Texas A&M | 14 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 79 |
| *Nebraska | 15 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 145 | 1 | 3 | 30 | 20 | 227 |
| Purdue | 18 | 56 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 102 |
| *Michigan State | 26 | 126 | 2 | 1 | -8 | 3 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 170 |
| Stanford | 13 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 103 |
| Navy | 18 | 105 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 122 |
| West Virginia | 6 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 38 |
| *Air Force | 27 | 111 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 119 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 236 |
| *Boston College | 5 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 19 |
| Rutgers | Injured-DNP |
| USC | 20 | 71 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 73 |
| 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl |
| Oregon State | 13 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 131 |
2001
| Game | TC | Yds. | TD | Rec. | Yds. | KR | Yds. | TD | PR | Yds. | TD |
| Nebraska | 8 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 52 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 |
| *Mich. State | 13 | 56 | 0 | 1 | -4 | 2 | 37 | 0 | 3 | 71 | 0 |
| *Texas A&M | 7 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 47 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh | 25 | 69 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 29 | 0 |
| *West Virginia | 23 | 92 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 79 | 0 | 3 | 43 | 0 |
| USC | 21 | 95 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| *Boston College | 23 | 87 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tennessee | 10 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 63 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| *Navy | 24 | 117 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| *Stanford | 14 | 106 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Purdue | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
*games started
