Report: USC hires TCU's Anthony Jones as new running backs coach

Lincoln Riley reportedly has his new running backs coach for USC after news broke Monday that the Trojans were hiring Anthony Jones from TCU to take over the RB room.

Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports broke that story, tweeting out:

“USC is set to hire TCU’s Anthony Jones as its new running backs coach, sources tell 247 Sports. At TCU, Jones has coached players such as 2023 third-round pick Kendre Miller and current NFL draft prospect Emani Bailey.”

Of course, Jones was apart of the Horned Frogs’ staff when they made the College Football Playoff national championship game in 2022-23. He has served as TCU’s own running backs coach and run game coordinator over each of the last two seasons after first joining the staff in March of 2022.

Background on Anthony Jones

Via the TCU athletics website:

“Jones joined the Horned Frogs after four seasons (2018-21) as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Memphis. The Tigers made a bowl appearance each season. The 2021 Memphis team totaled at least 400 yards of offense in seven games, including 680 in a win at Arkansas State and 614 at Tulsa.

“Jones made his mark at Memphis with four running backs drafted in a three-year period. He was selected for the AFCA 35 Under 35 Leadership Institute as well as the 2022 NCAA and NFL Coaches Academy.”

“In the 2021 NFL Draft, Kenneth Gainwell was picked in the fifth round by the Philadelphia Eagles. Gainwell was the 2019 American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year and Football Writers Association of America Freshman of the Year. He was second in the AAC and 12th nationally in rushing with 1,459 yards.

“At Memphis, Jones also coached Antonio Gibson into a third-round selection by the Washington Football Team in the 2020 NFL Draft. In 2019, Darrell Henderson and Tony Pollard were both drafted. Henderson was selected in the third round by the Los Angeles Rams, while Pollard was taken in the fourth round by the Dallas Cowboys. 

“Jones was a wide receiver at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he earned first-team All-SoCon honors. After his playing career at Chattanooga, he spent 2007 as a graduate assistant coach with the Mocs. He then returned to his high school alma mater, Westwood in Memphis, as an assistant coach from 2007-10. He became the program’s head coach in 2010.

“As Westwood’s head coach, he guided the Longhorns to their first winning season in 18 years. It marked the first of three straight conference and regional championships (2010, 2011, 2012).”