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Notre Dame Football: 3 biggest surprises from 2019 season

By Dante Pryor

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 13: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly stands in the tunnel in front of his team before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Notre Dame Stadium on October 13, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 13: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly stands in the tunnel in front of his team before the game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Notre Dame Stadium on October 13, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. Tony Jones Jr.

Tony Jones Jr. was supposed to be the power guy. His job this season was simply to come in short-yardage and goal-line situations. He was never supposed to be the feature back. He was the thunder to Jafar Armstrong’s lightning. Then, Jafar had an injury early in the season and never got back on track.

When that injury happened, it became the Jones Jr. Show and he responded well. In his junior campaign in South Bend, Jones Jr. racked up over 900 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns. Not only was this a pleasant surprise, but a much-needed one as well.

The veteran running back’s 857 yards were almost twice as many rushing yards than the other three running backs on the roster. In fact, Armstrong, C’Bo Flemister, and Jahmir Smith combined for a paltry 464 rushing yards and just 3.1 yards per carry which is half of Jones Jr.’s 6.0 yards per touch. Quarterback Ian Book was second on the team in rushing yards and touchdowns this season.

Jones Jr. even chipped in the passing game with 15 receptions, and was a reliable blocker in passing situations. Without him, the Irish run game would have been in deep trouble.

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