The Indianapolis Colts reportedly have interest in USC running back Austin Jones ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, despite Jonathan Taylor leading the backfield.
While the Colts may not be major players in the running back market during the draft, adding depth behind Taylor is a priority.
It is expected that the Colts will look to add a running back on Day 3 of the draft or through priority free agents after the draft.
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Colts showing interest in USC RB Austin Jones
According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Colts are one of the teams interested in Jones.
Standing at 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds, Jones spent five seasons in college, three at Stanford (2019-2021) and two at USC (2022-2023). His best season was in 2022, where he had 705 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 135 carries, along with 267 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown.
While Jones did not attend the NFL Scouting Combine, he did participate in USC’s pro day. His 4.57 40-yard dash time may not be impressive, but he did have a 36.5-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-0-inch broad jump.
Jones is expected to be a priority free agent signing for the Colts after the draft. While he may not have the size for a heavy workload, he is known for his pass-catching abilities.