Iowa Hawkeyes’ Charlie Jones reportedly entering the transfer portal
On3’s Matt Zenitz reported Wednesday that redshirt senior wide receiver and return specialist Charlie Jones has entered the NCAA transfer portal. Outside of entrants to the 2022 NFL draft and those whose eligibility expired, it’s the first major defection from the Hawkeyes’ program this offseason.
Jones originally arrived in Iowa City as a transfer from Buffalo where he had 18 receptions for 395 receiving yards and three touchdowns and also 15 kickoff returns for 289 yards in 2018.
After sitting out the 2019 season following his transfer, the 6-foot, 188 pound wide receiver and return specialist became an integral part of the Hawkeyes’ special teams during his time in Iowa City. He was also Iowa’s fourth-leading receiver last season, hauling in 21 grabs for 323 receiving yards. Jones tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions in 2021, matching tight end Sam LaPorta’s three touchdown grabs.
Iowa wide receiver and return specialist Charlie Jones has entered the transfer portal, @on3sports has learned.
Was a first-team All-Big Ten selection as a returner. Also posted 21 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns.https://t.co/xWsWSZF8sP
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) May 25, 2022
Jones led the Big Ten and finished 11th nationally with a 10.5 yards per punt return average in 2020. The Deerfield, Ill., native housed a 54-yard punt return against Michigan State on Nov. 7 during the 2020 season in Iowa’s 49-7 win over the Spartans.
As a result, Jones was named the first-team All-Big Ten return specialist by Phil Steele, second-team All-Big Ten return specialist by the league’s coaches and third-team All-Big Ten return specialist by the league’s media in 2020. He was also honored as a honorable mention All-America return specialist by Phil Steele and was the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week in 2020 after his return against Michigan State.
Then, last season he registered a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against Illinois at the tail end of the first quarter to start Iowa’s rally against the Fighting Illini. After trailing 10-0 early, the Hawkeyes would go on to win, 33-23.
Jones took home the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year and first-team All-Big Ten return specialist honors by the league’s coaches, media and Phil Steele in 2021. He was second-team All-Big Ten by the Associated Press last season.
Jones caught a 26-yard touchdown from quarterback Spencer Petras in Iowa’s 27-17 win in Ames, Iowa, over the rival Iowa State Cyclones last year. He also had a nine-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter of the Hawkeyes’ 23-20 win over then-No. 4 Penn State in week six of last season.
His final touchdown of 2021 came on a 72-yard touchdown grab from quarterback Alex Padilla versus Minnesota. It put Iowa ahead to stay in that 27-22 victory.
The loss of Jones means that Iowa’s pair of young wide receivers, sophomores Arland Bruce IV and Keagan Johnson, will be counted upon to enhance their production. The same can be said of redshirt senior wide receiver Nico Ragaini.
Of that trio, Johnson finished with 18 receptions for 352 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown grabs, Ragaini added 26 receptions for 331 receiving yards with one touchdown reception and Bruce tallied 25 grabs for 209 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in 2021.
The Hawkeyes also bring back their top pass catcher in tight end LaPorta. He finished 2021 with team-highs in receptions and receiving yards with 53 grabs and 670 receiving yards.
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