It's a safe bet that when Aaron Jones began his career at UTEP, he didn't himself playing alongside Aaron Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers one day. The team's second 5th round pick could be doing just that this upcoming season, as the team desperately looks to try and identify a starting running back. While Ty Montgomery is expected to be the starter heading into camp, the position is going to have a legitimate battle before all is said and done. Jones could be a darkhorse candidate to win the job.
Jones is the son of military parents who was born in Savannah, Georgia and lived in Germany, Virginia, Tennessee and then El Paso, Texas for his college career.
It's safe to say the winters of Green Bay, Wisconsin might be just a bit of a shock to the system. Perhaps the talented running back can keep warm by running around, over and through opponents the way he did at UTEP.
Jones left the school as the Miners' career rushing leader. That means both when it was known as Texas Western and UTEP. He's the best running back that has ever come through the school. This is likely why the Packers have heard of him, even if you haven't. Jones accomplishments can't be overlooked. While the school has been around for over 100 years, the back was able to obliterate the records in just three years and two games.
The Green Bay Packers draft pick did it thanks to 811 rushing yards in just nine games as a freshman.
As a sophomore, having officially taken over the starting job, he rushed for an impressive 1,321 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also showed he is more than simply a runner. Jones managed to haul in 30 passes for 293 yards and another three touchdowns. He was truly an offensive weapon for a team in desperate need of them.
In his Junior year, a season-ending injury limited him to just two games and 209 yards.
He was still able to record 6.5 yards a carry, catch nine passes for 106 yards and a touchdown and run for a touchdown as well. 2016 saw the newest Green Bay Packers player have his best season by far. Last year, Jones ran for 1,773 yards (on 7.7 yards a pop) and a whopping 17 touchdowns. He also caught 28 passes for 233 yards and another three TDs.
Strengths
Jones has very good speed, as witnessed by the fact that he had eight runs of 40+ yards. He's also someone who can clearly catch the ball out of the backfield. That's a tool the Packers want in whoever is starting when 2017 opens up.
Weaknesses
There are two big strikes against Jones being the starter in Green Bay. The first is directly related to the second. Jones is just 5-9 and weighs just over 200 pounds. That engenders durability concerns. Those concerns are underlined by his missing most of the 2015 season. Whether he can take the beating of a 17 week season is a big question.
