Second year running back Ronald Jones is making waves this offseason, adding 13 pounds of muscle as training camp approaches for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Every offseason fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers get excited about one player who did not perform as well as he should have, but is in great shape heading into the next. For the past three seasons it has been pass rusher Noah Spence, who always looked ready to go, but has yet to live up to his hype as a second round pick.
This year, it is 2018 second round running back Ronald Jones who is getting hype after he has put on 13 pounds of muscle during the offseason. Coming in with the tag of an undersized back out of college around 190 pounds, Jones bulked up to 208 last season, and now is up to 221 for his sophomore season.
Jones is looking to put his dismal rookie season behind him where he rushed for less than fifty yards, averaging less than two yards per carry, and scored just one touchdown. He has big aspirations in year two, and knew he needed to bulk up to make those dreams become a reality.
"“Personally for me, I just want to lead the team in rushing and be that player who can ignite the offense and things like that, because that’s who I am. I’m a playmaker… I just want that opportunity” (Jones via PFT)."
Heading into training camp, the coaching staff decided to run it back with Jones and Peyton Barber after they averaged less than four yards per carry. While Barber is still the starting running back and will be given the opportunity to once again be the bellcow back, Jones has put himself in a great position to compete for reps and earn more carries.
Buccaneers’ fans have been here before where players have been talked up for their offseason gains, but then have been let down when they actually take the field. It is up to Jones to make sure that he can live up to the potential the Bucs saw in him when he was selected with the 38th pick in the draft a year ago.