Seon Jones is emerging as a weapon in the Georgia Southern football team’s backfield, and the freshman from Flowery Branch said he believes he can make an impact the way fellow running back Dominique Swope did last season as a freshman.

Jones, whose first name is pronounced "SEE-ahn," is Swope’s backup but he has gotten increased action at B-back since Swope collapsed April 2 during practice and was taken by ambulance to East Georgia Regional Medical Center, where he was released later that night.

Swope, who suffered a lower-body strain, was held out of last Saturday’s scrimmage, the second of spring practice, as a precaution. GSU head coach Jeff Monken said he is "optimistic" that Swope can play in the Eagles’ Blue & White spring game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Paulson Stadium.

Meanwhile, Jones is benefiting from the extra playing time.

"He did some better things (in Saturday’s scrimmage)," Monken said. "He’s got to run more physical and a little more powerful at times. That needs to be the M.O. of a guy playing back there. But he’s gotten better.

"Swope’s a power guy. Hits it up in there and knocks people backwards. Seon’s more of a slasher and cut back, get in the open field (player). I hope he’ll run with his pads low and run with power. He’s going to have to to play that position. Everybody that plays that position has to have some of the same qualities, and I think that they do share some of those. But they’re different runners."

The 5-foot-10, 196-pound Jones and the 6-foot, 209-pound Swope played in the same backfield at Buford High School, where they led the Wolves to a fourth consecutive Class AA state championship in 2010. Running out of the I-formation, Jones gained 1,204 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns, and Swope ran for 705 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Jones verbally committed to GSU before Swope. Both signed with the Eagles, but GSU’s coaching staff decided to redshirt Jones.

"Just physically, we felt like he could benefit from the year," Monken said. "I think he’s going to benefit from that. He’s improving. He’s doing better each day. He’s got a ways to go to get where he needs to to be an effective player, a productive player, but I think he can be. He’s a talented kid. Had a great high school career. We’re very optimistic about him."

While Jones redshirted, Swope ran for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns on 168 carries. Swope gained a career-high 255 yards rushing, including two touchdowns, on 31 carries in GSU’s 55-48 playoff victory over Old Dominion on Dec. 3. Swope ran for an 82-yard touchdown in GSU’s 45-21 loss at Alabama on Nov. 19.

Jones said seeing Swope be so productive as a freshman motivated him.

"I had a mindset to come in and work hard and touch the field," Jones said of last season. "I wouldn’t say start or anything, but get some time. It was up to the coaches and they felt that they would hold me out a season and let me get bigger and stronger, and I would know the plays better.

"At first, I was kind of down. But I looked at it and said it was a good thing, that I could benefit from it, and out here this year I see different things. I got bigger. I still have my speed. I’m in the playbook much harder. I’m not there yet, but I’m still working. I’m working hard in the weight room and the meeting rooms."

Jones signed as a B-back but GSU’s coaches moved him to slot for practices last fall.

"We had Robert Brown playing there. We had (Dominique) Swope playing there," Monken said of the B-back position. "We had Zeke Rozier in the lineup, so we had some guys. We just felt like we were going to need a guy at slot. As it turns out, we were able to redshirt (Jones).

"And (having) lost Rozier, and moving Robert Brown to slot, we needed to get another body over there (at B-back). And we recruited him to play that position so he’s kind of back in the position that we really anticipated playing him in when we recruited him."

Monken said Jones "is going to have to play for us" this season. He said Jones is big enough to play at B-back.

"He’s going to be a year more developed and it will be a positive," Monken said. "It also separates he and Swope by one class. I think those guys are both good players. They’re not going to go all the way through and, four years from now, they’re both gone and we’re replacing two B-backs. We’ll still have Seon for another year and that will help the transition."

After winning four state championships in high school, Jones wants to help GSU successfully defend its Southern Conference championship en route to winning a Football Championship Subdivision national championship.

"We won the SoCon last year and, unfortunately, we weren’t able to win the national championship," Jones said. "But we still have a winning tradition, and I’m glad to say I’m part of this football team. I see many wins down the road."

Noell Barnidge can be reached at (912) 489-9408.