Xavier Jones is a 2-year Featured Back for SMU. Xavier's 2019 season ranks in the 68th percentile nationally by opponent-adjusted EPA per play across 271 plays — a average rate for the RB.
The centerpiece of the run game — high carry volume, used in early downs and goal-line, true workhorse role.
Players from 2014–2024 matched on EPA efficiency, play volume, and adjusted value tier — not just one metric.
| Player | Team | Yr | Plays | WEPA/play | Line val | Total EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hassan Haskins | Michigan | 2021 | 280 | 0.380 | 4.8 | 106.4 |
| James Flanders | Tulsa | 2016 | 266 | 0.390 | 4.9 | 103.7 |
| Royce Freeman | Oregon | 2015 | 275 | 0.360 | 5.1 | 99.0 |
| Dalvin Cook | Florida State | 2016 | 292 | 0.340 | 4.3 | 99.3 |
| Blake Corum | Michigan | 2023 | 283 | 0.380 | 5.1 | 107.5 |
Comps are statistical — efficiency, volume, and value tier all factor in. Style and conference context differ.
| Wk | Opponent | Result | Opp SP+ | Car | Rush Yds | Avg | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD | EPA/play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | @Arkansas State | W37-30 | -2.9 | 18 | 56 | 3.1 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0.28 |
| 2 | vsNorth Texas | W49-27 | -6.1 | 16 | 127 | 7.9 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0.43 |
| 3 | vsTexas State | W47-17 | -16.2 | 20 |
Usage = share of team plays (CFBD has no true snap counts).
Chart shows per-game EPA (bars) and rolling 5-game average (line). Season breaks marked with dashed lines. Line value = est. points over replacement per game.
Car 12 · Rush Yds 27 · Avg 2.3 · Rush TD 2
| 108 |
| 5.4 |
| 1 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 0.17 |
| 4 | @TCU | W41-38 | 6.7 | 19 | 79 | 4.2 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 0.21 |
| 5 | @South Florida | W48-21 | -9.8 | 15 | 155 | 10.3 | 2 | — | — | — | 0.77 |
| 6 | vsTulsa | W43-37 | -2.5 | 26 | 121 | 4.7 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0.15 |
| 8 | vsTemple | W45-21 | 3.2 | 29 | 105 | 3.6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | -0.07 |
| 9 | @Houston | W34-31 | -4.3 | 22 | 133 | 6.0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.07 |
| 10 | @Memphis | L48-54 | 18.0 | 11 | 22 | 2.0 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0.10 |
| 11 | vsEast Carolina | W59-51 | -14.0 | 20 | 157 | 7.9 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 0.29 |
| 13 | @Navy | L28-35 | 9.9 | 18 | 61 | 3.4 | 1 | — | — | — | -0.07 |
| 14 | vsTulane | W37-20 | 7.5 | 18 | 125 | 6.9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0.28 |
| 1 | @Florida Atlantic | L28-52 | -0.6 | 12 | 27 | 2.3 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | -0.04 |
