C.J. Jones has gone through a spring and a couple preseason camps, but nothing can quite prepare you for actual game action. The redshirt freshman running back saw his first carries in the past two games, totaling 73 yards. His 18-yard gain against Furman was UCF's longest rush of the season.
The Daytona Beach native says it's been an eye-opening experience.
"It kind of started against FIU when I got that first kick return," Jones said. "I was like, man! When you're in the backfield, everything is blocked off. You're focused on the game. You've got to do what you've got to do because the next man is counting on you to do your job. You don't have time to be nervous."
After a redshirt year, Jones said the demands are much more intense when you're now part of the playing rotation.
"I would say probably the speed of the game (is much different)," Jones said. "It's a little bit more commitment like staying in the film room and getting your body right. You're more committed to it than if you were scout team."
UCF's starting running back to begin the season, Dontravious Wilson, has been sidelined most of the first month after suffering an injury in the season opener against FIU. And with Will Stanback on the outs that eventually led to his dismissal, that put all of the work load on a pair of freshmen - Jones and Taj McGowan.
"Taj is like a little brother to me," Jones said. "We do a lot of stuff together. We try to stay on top of things. We watch film together. If he knows something, he helps me. If I know something, I'll help him. All the freshmen are trying to help each other, even the upper classmen. We're one big family really."
The running backs should get a boost this weekend as Wilson is expected to return. Jones said they're itching to get that first win.
"The 0-4 thing, we have to put that behind us," he said. "We can't dwell on it. Plus our goal here is to win the conference championship. To win a conference championship we have to take every game as a new season. It's time to get it going."
