PRO: Felix Jones was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the team's first pick in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft to add another versatile weapon to the club's offensive arsenal. Jones, who complemented Marion Barber in a two-running back system, showed flashes of his versatility before injuries landed him on Reserve/Injured. With his ability for explosive plays, Jones became the first club rookie to score a touchdown in his first three professional games with an 11-yard touchdown run on his first career carry in the season opener, a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the home opener followed by a 60-yard touchdown rush in Week 3. Before his season ended, Jones was second in the NFC, eighth in the league with a 27.1 kickoff return average. Arriving in Dallas no stranger to sharing time in the backfield, Jones spent three seasons at the University of Arkansas as part of a one-two punch with fellow 2008 first round draft choice Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders. Jones' kickoff return ability was displayed through his collegiate career as he left the college ranks as the NCAA's ninth ranked kickoff returner with a career average of 28.2 yards-per-return. From the backfield, Jones averaged 7.7 yards-per-carry, second only to Glen Davis (Army - 8.26 avg. 1943-46). He joined Davis, Mike Rozier (Nebraska - 7.16 avg.) and Reggie Bush (USC - 7.3) as the only backs to average over 7.0 yards-per-carry with a minimum of 350 attempts. In just three years at Arkansas, Jones amassed 5,099 career all-purpose yards, joining McFadden (5,881) as the only players in school history to crack 5,000 career all-purpose yards. Jones will return to full health at the start of the team's training camp and will continue to add another dangerous offensive weapon to the Cowboys offense.
TRANSACTION SUMMARY:
11/26/08: Placed on Reserve/Injured with a toe injury.
4/26/08: Drafted in the first round (22nd overall) by Dallas.
2008 (Dallas):
Had his rookie season shortened after suffering a hamstring injury at Arizona (10/12) and subsequent great toe injury suffered during the rehab process, but averaged 8.9 yards with three touchdowns on 30 carries and returned 16 kickoffs for 434 yards (27.1) and a touchdown.
In his NFL debut at Cleveland (9/7), rushed for 62 yards on nine carries with one touchdown - an 11-yarder on his first career carry. Also returned his first career kickoff 20 yards.
In the home-opening win against Philadelphia (9/15), returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown to mark the first kickoff return by Dallas since Randal Williams returned one 38 yards for a score against Philadelphia (10/12/03). Jones' was the longest by a Cowboy since Reggie Swinton had a 100-yard return for a touchdown at Philadelphia (9/22/02) and the longest by a Dallas rookie since Ike Thomas had a 101-yard return against the N.Y. Jets (12/4/71).
Jones racked up 247 return yards against the Eagles to establish a single-game club record while his 41.2-yard return average was good for the fourth best in club annals.
With his 60-yard touchdown run at Green Bay (9/21), scored a touchdown in each of his first three professional games to become the first rookie in club history and the first league rookie since Andre Davis (Houston) and Donte' Stallworth (New Orleans) in 2002 to accomplish that feat. The 60-yard run was the fourth-longest touchdown run by a rookie in team history.
Did not have a carry against Washington (9/28), but rushed for 96 yards - including a 33-yard fourth down touchdown scamper - on just nine carries (10.7 avg.) against Cincinnati (10/5).
Returned one kickoff 22 yards and had three carries for 22 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter with the hamstring injury at Arizona (10/12).
Was inactive the next five games before landing on Reserve/Injured on Nov. 26 with the toe injury.
COLLEGE:
Started 11 of the 38 games he played in and rushed for 2,956 yards and 20 touchdowns on 386 carries through his career.
His 7.7 yard-per-carry average was second only to Glen Davis (Army - 8.3 from 1943-46) in NCAA history. He also joined Mike Rozier (Nebraska - 7.2) and Reggie Bush (USC - 7.3) as the only backs to average over 7.0 yards-per-carry with a minimum of 350 attempts.
Started three-of-13 games as a junior, ranking fifth in the SEC with an average of 89.4 rushing yards-per-game as part of the nation's fourth-ranked rushing attack (286.5).
Named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year, averaging 29.6 yards-per-kickoff return (22 returns for a school record 652 yards) with two touchdowns.
Finished second in the SEC (22nd in the nation) with 1,990 all-purpose yards (third-most in school history), averaging 153.1 per-game.
Was the nation's fourth-leading kickoff returner, averaging 29.6 yards-per-return.
Was an All-SEC first-team selection as a sophomore, adding second-team accolades from the league's coaches and Associated Press as he became only the eighth running back in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards when he earned 1,168 yards - good for eighth in school record books - on 154 carries (7.6 avg.) with six touchdowns for an offense that finished fourth in the nation averaging 228.5 rushing yards-per-game.
Finished fourth on the squad with 15 catches for 107 yards (7.1 avg.) and three scores.
Returned 23 kickoffs for 554 yards (24.1 avg.) and a touchdown to rank third in school history for kickoff return yards in a season.
The kickoff return for a touchdown was his second career 100-plus yard return for a score to make him only one-of-two Razorbacks (Boyd Cypert) and one-of-two SEC players (John Avery, Mississippi) to have two 100-yard returns for touchdowns in a career.
Ranked 22nd nationally, third in the SEC, with 1,829 all-purpose yards (fourth-most in school history), to finish second to McFadden's 2,058 from 2006 on UA's all-time list.
His total of 1,829 all-purpose yardage broke the previous UA record and ranked second on the UA single-season list only to McFadden's (2,058 yards) in the same season.
Became the first freshman in school history to earn first-team All-America honors when CollegeFootballNews.com named him to its team as a kickoff return specialist.
Second-team All-SEC pick by the league's coaches.
Finished second in the nation with a 31.9-yard kickoff return average, racking up 543 yards and one touchdown on 17 returns to earn SEC All-Freshman honors as a kickoff returner.
His 543 total kickoff return yards were the third-most in a single season in school history.
Rushed for 626 yards and three touchdowns on 99 attempts (6.3 avg.), finishing second on the team, 10th in the SEC, in rushing with an average of 56.9 yards-per-game.
Tied teammate McFadden for the conference title with 6.3 yards-per-attempt.
Became just the second player in school history to record two 100-yard rushing games as a freshman.
PERSONAL:
Attended Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Okla., and was named the Tulsa World Player of the Year following his senior season, rushing for 2,282 yards and 48 touchdowns on 205 carries (11.1 avg.).
Led his squad to a 13-1 record and a state runner-up finish, rushing for 166 yards and three touchdowns in the 5A state championship game.
Sidelined with a broken ankle early in his junior season, but still managed to rack up 800 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns.
Rivals.com ranked him as the 19th-best athlete in the nation and the fourth-best overall player in Oklahoma.
Majored in kinesiology at Arkansas with an emphasis on teaching.
COMMUNITY:
2008 Dallas Cowboys Rookie Club.
Annual Team holiday hospital visits.
Dallas Cowboys Kickoff Luncheon and Cowboys Family Cookbook benefitting Happy Hill Farm.
Salvation Army Angel Tree Christmas Program.
Hosted the Felix Jones �Running Back to Make a Difference� MVP charity weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
