Measurables
Height: 5'9
Weight: 208
Arm Length: 32 ½
Hands: 9 ½
40-yard dash: 4.56
Bench Press: 16 reps
Vertical: 37.5
20-yard shuttle: 4.20 seconds
Who is Aaron Jones?
A certified El Paso, Texas legend, the face of UTEP's football program over the past four years, and a guy who should have a long and successful career in the NFL.
Jones evolved his game from a speedy freshman back, to a complete and reliable every down running back in four short years becoming the Miners main source of offense during his time at UTEP.
He leaves UTEP after running for a school record 4,114 yards, leaving his mark as the school's all-time leading rusher, and hands down the most prolific running back to every put on the Orange and Blue.
Ranking seventh all-time in Conference USA history in rushing yards, Jones ran past defenders, and pointed to the sky 33 times marking his career rushing touchdown mark. He ran for 100-plus yards 17 times in his career, and has five 200-yard plus rushing games.
His versatility will be coveted by smart NFL teams as Jones also put up 4,760 career all-purpose yards which ranked second in school history. He scored a total of 40-touchdowns (that's 40 times Jones has pointed upwards to the sky in his career) and ran for 100-yards in a single quarter six different times.
One of the more interesting moves a team can do with Jones is put him back there to return kicks. He did play on special teams at UTEP, but never returned kicks, something he could possibly carve out at the next level.
People outside of El Paso will instantly throw up a red-flag due to his DWI arrest, but it was a small mark on the radar for a guy who has given back to the El Paso community since his high school days, and has one of the strongest support systems of any 2017 NFL Draft prospect.
Playmaking, toughness, speed, and a guy who will do whatever it takes to win is what teams will be getting with Aaron Jones.
Strengths
Vision
Breakaway speed
Versatility out of the back field
Cutting
Heart and effort
Downhill toughness
Stiff-arm
What needs work
Route running
Health?
Hands
Projecting his draft positon
With a solid combine workout, and impressive individual workouts interactions with NFL decision makers, Jones has already put some money in his pocket, and has the attention of NFL executives.
#AaronJones @Showtyme_29 is rising in the draft due to great workouts,skill-set,engaging personality.@UTEPFB @UTEPAthletics @elpasotimes
Leigh Steinberg (@leighsteinberg) April 23, 2017
Depending how the chips fall with the so-called "top running backs", Jones could find himself off the board no later than the third round based off the feed-back he is getting from numerous teams.
No matter where Jones goes, whoever snags him is getting a value pick, and a good person from a solid family that will bring "Showtyme" to an NFL stadium in the near future.