Iowa Receiver Charlie Jones Enters Portal

B1G Return Man of the Year Looking to Transfer

Iowa receiver Charlie Jones spanes for a catch during a game against Minnesota on Nov. 13, 2021 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)

IOWA CITY, Iowa - A normally quiet time of year for Iowa Football became noisy Wednesday. And not in a good way. 

In the morning, incoming freshman cornerback Olando Trader announced he was reopening his recruitment after signing with the Hawkeyes in December. News broke in the afternoon that Big Ten Returner of the Year, Charlie Jones, was entering the transfer portal. 

Jones (6-0, 188) gave up a scholarship at Buffalo to walk on with the Hawkeyes before the 2019 season. After sitting out a season, the league coaches named him second-team all-Big Ten as a return specialist in '20 and he earned a scholarship. 

The Deerfield (IL) High product raised his level of play last season, becoming the third player in school history with both a kickoff return and punt return for touchdowns. He won the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year award and was named first-team All-Big Ten return specialist by league coaches and media. 

Jones toyed with the idea of entering the NFL after the '21 campaign, but announced in January that he'd be returning to Iowa for a sixth season of eligibility. He said in the spring that he was hoping to show more at receiver to go with his proficiency as a returner, making himself more attractive for the pros. 

Jones caught 21 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns last season. He did not catch a pass in '20. 

Iowa returns three of its top four pass catchers from last season in tight end Sam LaPorta, and receivers Nico Ragaini and Arland Bruce IV. True sophomore Keagan Johnson comes back after catching 18 balls in Year 1. 

Johnson and Ragaini were listed as starters on the spring depth chart. Jones, Bruce IV and walk-on Jackson Ritter showed up as backups on the latest two-deep.