2023 Football Roster
Roster
Donovan Jones
- Height:
- 5-9
- Weight:
- 180
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Miami, Fla.
- High School:
- Champagnat Catholic School
Gifted young running back who provides outstanding burst and energy … Has starting experience … Game-breaking speed was exhibited during first season in the rotation … Is the top backup entering the 2022 season.
2022 at Gardner-Webb: Played in 11 games, primarily as the third-string running back...Finished the year with 54 rushes for 278 yards and three touchdowns...Opened the season with five carries for 61 yards and a touchdown vs Limestone (9/1)...Also returned a kickoff 16 yards against the Saints...Season-high 10 rushing attempts at Coastal Carolina (9/10) for 33 yards...Also had two catches for 29 yards vs the Chants...Had a season-best four receptions for 39 yards at Elon (9/17), a game where he also rushed nine times for 39 yards and a touchdown...Ran the ball twice for 27 yards and a touchdown at Campbell (11/12)
2021 at Gardner-Webb: Played in all 11 games with one start … Earned his starting nod vs. Campbell (10/9) … Finished the season with 201 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 36 carries … Averaged a healthy 5.6 yards per carry … Named Big South Conference Freshman of the Week after breaking out with 102 yards on six carries and two scores vs. Western Carolina (9/25) … Had a 79-yard touchdown run late in that win … Ran six times for 37 yards and a score vs. Lincoln (9/18) … Scored on a nine-yard run at Monmouth (10/2).
High School: Played at Champagnat Catholic (Fla.) School under Coach Hector Clavijo … Rated as a two-star prospect by 247Sports.com and Rivals.com … Rated as the No. 24 all-purpose back in the Class of 2021 nationally … Rated as one of the top-10 running backs in South Florida … Named Class 2A State Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-State ... An All-Dade County choice ... Carried 120 times for 1,292 yards and 14 touchdowns in 13 games in 2020, despite playing less than three quarters in most of those contests … Team finished 11-2 and will won its second-straight Florida Class 2A State Championship … Had seven games with 100+ yards on the ground, including a season-high 213 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries vs. Seffner Christian … Ran for 120 yards and a touchdown in the state title game win ... Had 143 yards and two scores in a win over First Baptist Academy … Helped team to a 10-3 record and the Florida Class 2A State Championship in 2019 … A first-team All-Dade County selection by the Miami Herald as an all-purpose back … Carried 113 times for 491 yards and three touchdowns ... Earned Class 2A All-State honors as a sophomore after rushing for 1,200 yards … Chose Gardner-Webb over Austin Peay, Syracuse, Tulane, Coastal Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Rhode Island and Southern Miss.
