Ronald Jones II among USC freshmen who attract notice in USC opener
USC freshman running back Ronald Jones II runs for a 44-yard touchdown with Arkansas State linebacker Austin Copeland chasing him.
Ronald Jones II looked right at home.
As the USC freshman tailback turned the corner around the right end in the second half against Arkansas State, he glanced ahead and saw nothing but open field.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, oh my God, is this really happening?’” he said after the game. “Sure enough, there it was.”
Jones’ 44-yard touchdown was one of eight scored by seven different Trojans players in a 55-6 season-opening victory.
It was also a coming-out of sorts for the speedy Jones, who struggled with being away from his Texas home during training camp.
It’s not uncommon for USC’s out-of-state players to overcome that challenge. Former stars Mike Williams, LenDale White and Dwayne Jarrett each overcame homesickness.
Jones said that he loves the USC campus and that everyone has embraced him “like family.”
He just missed food from home, such as burgers from the Whataburger franchise.
“I’ve just got some Whataburger and some Texas barbecue,” he said.
Jones and fellow freshmen tailbacks Aca’Cedric Ware and Dominic Davis all impressed in their first games for the Trojans.
Jones rushed for 86 yards in six carries. Ware, also a Texas native, rushed for 28 yards and a touchdown in six carries. Davis, who played at Mission Hills Alemany High, caught a 35-yard pass from quarterback turned receiver Jalen Greene that helped set up a touchdown.
“All three of us are very close,” Jones said. “We all have different styles.”
The freshman trio is expected to get more opportunities Saturday when the Trojans host Idaho.
Senior Tre Madden, who rushed for 106 yards and scored two touchdowns in the opener, will start.
Junior Justin Davis also could return from the rib injury that sidelined him for the opener.
New view
Coach Steve Sarkisian‘s first game without play-calling duties required an adjustment.
Sarkisian relinquished play-calling this season to offensive coordinator Clay Helton, so Sarkisian had more time to focus on other parts of the game against Arkansas State.
Sarkisian said he gave some suggestions to Helton but turned his attention elsewhere.
“I was able to focus on some things that I felt like I wanted to see,” he said, adding, “I was much more involved in special teams. I was much more involved defensively than I’ve been.
“So I felt more, quite honestly, engaged with our entire team than I have in the past, which I think is going to help us down the road.”
Work in progress
Quarterback Cody Kessler expects timing and communication with receivers to improve against Idaho.
Kessler completed 19 of 26 passes against Arkansas State, including four to sophomore JuJu Smith-Schuster, who turned one into a 61-yard scoring play.
Kessler passed for four touchdowns, but overthrew receivers on several throws.
“We left some stuff out there,” Kessler said. “Me and JuJu need to get on the same page and some of the other receivers, we missed a little bit here and there.
“You expect that Week 1. We want to be perfect, obviously, so we’re going to take it personal and fix things this week.”
Twitter: @latimesklein
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