2019 draft=X man for the D Will 2020 draft =X man for the O?

For those of you on BBI that are a little bit older, perhaps you remember the early 80s in college football, and the incredible talent and team that was the SMU Mustangs.

Certainly every football fan knows the name Eric Dickerson, one of the NFLs all time great running backs, and a former member of the Mustangs from that era.

Unfortunately, the SMU team was filled with behind the scenes kickbacks, fraud, and so many NCAA violations that they paid the ultimate price- expulsion from the NCAA.

Many years have past and though SMU returned to football in 1988 after 2 years, it was without many scholarships and the team would play its games in a different stadium, one holding only 23,000 seats. It was not until an incredible 2019 start to the season, with an an 8-0 record, that SMU would find itself ranked #24 nationally, a first after so many years.

The 2019 offense relied on two game breakers- receiver James Proche, and a less talked about, but highly effective running back, Xavier (the X Man)Jones.

Jones stats for 2019 and his entire career are worthy of far more discussion. For 2019, he would rush for 1276 yards on 244 carries while scoring 23 touchdowns. He would also add 2 receiving touchdowns, finishing with 25.

For his career, Jones would break Eric Dickerson's all time career TD record with 48. He would also finish with 72 career receptions and a total of 4,000 career yards rushing and recieving.

Following the season, the invite calls to SMU came in to Proche for more looks including the Combine, but the X Man heard nothing. No all star bowl games, no Combine. His only hope was with a Pro Day, which we now know was cancelled.

What we do know about Xavier Jones is that the SMU program lists him at 5' 11" and 208 pounds. His game film (some highlights attached) shows his speed, his willingness to take contact, and his elusive natural movement.

The lack of attention prior to the NFL draft has been motivation for Jones. But not his only motivation.

Growing up Xavier Jones was best friends with DJ McClintock. They dreamed of playing D1 football together and eventually playing in the NFL. After high school, Jones would realize the first dream-a scholarship to SMU. McClintock would also play college football, but at East Texas Baptist. Jones and McClintock remained close, and in touch almost daily. They dreamed that McClintock's success at ETBU would get him to a D1 program.

But tragedy struck before that could happen. Out on a day off swimming in a lake with friends and teammates, McClintock saw a girl in trouble at the waters edge. He tried to save her, and did, but unfortunately, he and another ETBU player, Tre Harrison, drowned.

Since that time, Xavier Jones has dedicated every college game he played to his best friend "DJ". He feels the need to continue their NFL dream the best he can-with Jones making it there.

Wouldn't it be something if the running back known as X Man who broke Eric Dickerson's TD record and who dedicates his football to a friend named "DJ" could see a future that included playing in the NFL with a backfield teammate named "DJ".
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