One of Minnesota’s biggest-ever recruits is leaving the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
According to a report from the Star Tribune’s Joe Christensen, Jeff Jones, a former four-star recruit from Minneapolis, will transfer from Minnesota to Iowa Western Community College.
Jones was a huge get for the Gophers in the Class of 2014. Minnesota’s high school player of the year, Jones opted to stay home and star for the Gophers, picking them over the likes of Florida and Michigan.
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But per Christensen, Jones has dealt with numerous challenges during his brief time at Minnesota. He failed to qualify academically in his first semester, unable to play his freshman season. He participated in spring practice but saw very brief on-field action this season while dealing with migraines and unable to catch on at any one position. Jones was a four-star running back out of high school, but Gophers coaches switched him to wide receiver and then to defensive back in not even two full years on campus.
Jones recorded no statistics this season, appearing in only three games.
Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys told Christensen that Jones would be welcomed back, and he will have two more seasons of eligibility once he completes a two-year degree.