USC Football: Ronald Jones II named to 2017 Doak Walker Award watch list

USC running back Ronald Jones II was named to the 2017 Doak Walker Award watch list as one of the nation’s top rushers.

Running back Ronald Jones II has finally joined USC’s preseason watch list festivities, landing on the Doak Walker Award watch list for 2017.

The PwC SMU Athletic Forum announced the watch list on Thursday, including the Trojan rusher alongside 60 other top running backs from around the country.

USC will face a number of other Doak Walker watch listers this season including Notre Dame’s Josh Adams, ASU’s Kalen Ballage and Demario Richard, Colorado’s Phillip Lindsay, Stanford’s Bryce Love, Washington State’s Jamal Morrow, Oregon State’s Ryan Nall, Utah’s Armand Shyne and Cal’s Tre Watson. The Trojans could also see Washington’s Myles Gaskin in the Pac-12 title game.

Jones was one of five 1,000-yard rushers in the Pac-12 last year despite a slow start to his sophomore campaign. After managing just 40 yards per game in USC’s first seven outings, Jones exploded for 223 yards against Cal and went on to finish the year with four 100-yard rushing games and a touchdown in each of the Trojans final seven games.

The Texas-product started out his USC career with a bang, breaking Charles White’s freshman rushing record with 987 yards and eight touchdowns in his first year.

With Justin Davis graduated, Jones will have the stage to himself at USC as the Trojans primary running back. Heading into the 2017 season, Jones is considered one of the most exciting rushers in the nation and a top prospect for the 2018 NFL Draft.

SEE ALSO: 5 Trojans Who Could Win Awards in 2017

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Heading into the 2017 season, Jones is considered one of the most exciting rushers in the nation and a top prospect for the 2018 NFL Draft.

USC has produced just one Doak Walker Award winner going back to 1990. Reggie Bush won the trophy in 2005.

Semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award will be announced on November 15, with the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee trimming that group down to three finalists on November 20.

CHECK OUT: Tracking USC’s 2017 Watch List Players

The winner of the 2017 Doak Walker Award will be unveiled on December 7 during The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.