QB Jalon Jones excels in debut for Charlotte 49ers

CHARLOTTE ATHLETICS

Charlotte receiver Fresh Walters runs into the end zone after catching a pass from James Foster in the Green's 16-15 win against the White in the Green-White game Saturday at Jerry Richardson Stadium.

Jalon Jones enjoyed his first dip in the FCS football pool with the Charlotte 49ers.

Jones, a Bethune-Cookman transfer, led a pair of touchdown drives for the White team in Saturday’s Green-White game at Jerry Richardson Stadium. Jones connected on 3-of-4 passes for 38 yards to go with 14 yards rushing on the two series to give the White a two-score advantage. Although the Green won 16-15, Jones was pleased with the game as a springboard to fall drills.

“Honestly, I feel like it’s a diving board,” he said. “We had a great spring season when our workouts were hard, we knew that we wanted to work towards something and then as soon as spring ball came around, it was balls to the wall. Everybody was firing on all cylinders. We had a bunch of times where they had to dial us back because we're going so hard. We’ve got a whole bunch of good guys on the team that want to win.”

Jones piloted White to a 15-0 lead that included a heavy dose of running Shadrick Byrd, who rushed for 30 yards and a 1-yard touchdown. Jones was impressive, hitting wideout Jack Hestera for a 20-yard gain and tight end Colin Weber for 10 more to pull White inside the 10. 

On White's second possession, Byrd ran for 60 yards and Hestera scored on a 13-yard end around for a two-score advantage. Green rebounded behind James Foster, who tossed a 5-yard pass to Reggie Givhan III with 2:49 left for the game-winner.

"I thought (Jones) was outstanding and I thought (Foster) played great,” new 49ers coach Biff Poggi said. “(Jones) is dynamic. He was a showstopper today. He's going to give people trouble."

Green answered late in the first in large measure due to a 66-yard run by Hahsaun Wilson that moved them near the goal line and three Xavier Williams completions, including a 12-yarder to Fresh Walters for a score.

Poggi, who made his public debut at the Green-White, has overhauled the roster, bringing in more than 40 players for spring drills, including 29 Division I transfers like Jones. Fifteen transfers were from Power Five schools as part of Poggi’s win-now philosophy as Charlotte transitions to the American Athletic Conference.

"Love it,” Poggi said. “I'm really happy about the turnout” of an estimated 5,250 fans for the game.  "The people I'm meeting are fantastic.  We can't wait for South Carolina State to come [for the Sept. 2 opener] here and have it packed to the rafters."

Charlotte’s coaching staff concentrated on defensive physicality and intensity over the spring. The 49ers were one of the worst defenses statistically in Conference USA and Poggi has made overhauling it’s identity. The same goes for the offense as well, with emphasis on controlling time and pace with the ground attack.

“We have a lot of work to do," Poggi said. "We only had them for 15 practices.  We have so much more install going in. We’ve got a lot to do. Need to keep getting more physical, keep getting tougher, keep stopping the run, keep running the ball.”

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