According to a report from GatorCountry.com, Florida junior running back Matt Jones will declare for the NFL Draft. Jones is the third Gator reportedly making the jump since the announcement that head coach Will Muschamp would not be returning, along with pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. and offensive lineman Tyler Moore. During his three seasons in Gainesville, Jones has rushed for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns on 297 carries.
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The 6’2″ 235lb (listed) junior was the team’s leading rusher this past season with 817 yards and 6 touchdowns. Jones is the first of what should be a talented, deep field of underclassmen running backs in this year’s draft; a field which could include Georgia’s Todd Gurley, Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon, South Carolina’s Mike Davis among others.
The difference is with running backs, while a player like Jones may not go as high as they might like, the position allows for early success while getting paid and potentially getting to a second contract faster. It is still a risky proposition, but given the lifespan of running backs in football, it may be the best player for Jones, especially with the state of Gators football and their search for a new head coach that may or may not want to use a player like Jones in their system. Jones has also had two knee surgeries in his career, which would make him more inclined to try to maximize his value now.