UTEP Football: Aaron Jones Out for Season

Sean Kugler dropped a bomb today. Aaron Jones is out for the season. The Miners leading rusher and best offensive weapon had surgery today, leaving the Miners with a huge hole to fill on offense.

“It’s great to have a special talent like Aaron Jones, but when you don’t have a special talent like that on the field, we’ve got to come up with ways to generate running the ball,” coach Sean Kugler said on Monday. “We have to come up with ways to move the ball successfully by throwing the ball. Our offense will probably have to look a little bit different because of that, but that’s okay.”

The Miners are 0-2 after suffering a pair of blowout losses at the hands of Arkansas and Texas Tech. This week, they play New Mexico State in the I-10 rivalry game.

UTEP was the team which started the Aggies current 12 game losing streak, winning 42-24 last season at the Sun Bowl.

Jones ran for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns in that game.

The magnitude of the loss of Jones is immeasurable. Even Aggies coach Doug Martin was sad to hear the news.

“I hate to hear that about any player but especially one like him because I’m telling you, he is gifted,” Martin said. “He is a special football player. I hate to hear that. But it won’t affect a lot. They’re still going to run the football. They’re not going to change their offense because of one guy not being there and they’ve got good running backs behind him.”

Good running backs, yes, but none are Aaron Jones.

Jeremiah Laufasa is expected to be the lead back in a new running back by committee. Treyvon Hughes could also see an increased roll.

The Miners were already without running back David Hamm who was dismissed from the team this summer.

UTEP and NMSU will square off on Saturday night at 6PM from Aggie Memorial Stadium.