Turnaround season for RB Xavier Jones key to SMU's impressive run

Xavier Jones' positivity is appreciated around the SMU locker room. When asked about the possibility of breaking the program's career rushing touchdowns record by the end of the season, he answered with a sly look into the future that would affect the team.

"I've been hearing some things about it," the running back said. "Who knows? We'll see what happens. We've got five more games left."

Five games? Even when SMU's remaining schedule includes four games against American Athletic Conference opponents?

"I know we're going to play for the conference championship ... and a bowl game," Jones said. "This season's really just getting started."

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If all works out in Jones' favor, SMU will have six more games before he officially hangs up his No. 5 jersey for the Mustangs. The senior season has been one to discuss in full, one of pleasant turnaround for the Spring, Texas, native.

Jones currently has 36 career rushing touchdowns. He passed the great Doak Walker (1945, 1947-49) for fourth all-time with a 155-yard, two-touchdown performance against USF last month. He now chases Reggie Dupard (1982-85), who is in third with 41 rushing touchdowns. The ultimate goal -- with at least four games left on the schedule -- is to catch Eric Dickerson (1979-82) and Zach Line (2009-12), who both have 47 rushing touchdowns all-time.

"It's been a grind. I just give it to God," Jones said. "But I'm not done yet. I feel like I've got a lot more left in me. I just want to keep on helping this team win and continue to make history at SMU."

Jones is 116 rushing yards away from a 1,000-yard season. He leads the AAC with 16 total touchdowns -- 14 rushing and two receiving. On a team that gets praised for his passing attack, Jones has done his part in SMU's offense, which is ranked No. 6 nationally in scoring (43 points per game) and No. 10 nationally in total offense (504.1 yards per game).

"Xavier's been one of those guys all year who's got a sense of when we need to make play," SMU coach Sonny Dykes said of the 5-11, 208-pound senior. "He seems to have an understanding of when we need one and the ability to make one when we need one."Take last Thursday's game against Houston, for example. With the game tied, 7-7, early in the second quarter, Jones scored his a highlight run of the year, a 62-yard touchdown run where he juked multiple Houston defenders and gave the Mustangs the lead.

It was a lead SMU wouldn't relinquish.

"I saw it live," tight end Ryan Becker said. "Whenever he made that last cut, he kind of cut to the back side of the field. I was thinking he's got a bunch of guys on him -- but it was a great run. I was thinking, 'Holy crap, he's got a chance.'"

Dykes added: "That was a pretty critical time in the game where we were having a hard time getting going offensively. He figured it for us."

Jones finished with 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the win. For the year, he's got 884 rushing yards and is averaging better that five yards per carry. It's a welcomed turnaround from last year, where, for the season, Jones had 311 yards and two touchdowns.

The reason? Jones is healthy. His junior season was riddled with nagging injuries that included an ankle injury the second day of camp and a grade 2 MCL sprain in his knee early in the fall.

"Coach Dykes didn't want to play me if I didn't feel comfortable," Jones said. "But that's in the past now. We're healthy now."

Jones said he wanted to treat his senior season as if this were a breakout year. So far, so good for him and the Mustangs, who are enjoying an 8-0 record and a top-15 national ranking in both the AP Top 25 Poll and the Coaches Poll.

Jones and the Mustangs are now preparing for a huge road test against Memphis in a game that will be shown as a primetime event on ABC on Saturday. Memphis is a team he and the rest of the seniors have yet to beat.

He'd love to be the reason why the team gets that huge road victory -- and he's capable of being the catalyst.

"Every day, we just want to get the win," Jones said. "Everything else will take care of itself."

SMU (8-0, 4-0 AAC) at Memphis (7-1, 3-1)

6:30 p.m. Saturday, Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis