The Gophers started spring football practice yesterday without the running back who 12 months ago might have prompted more than a few wagers he would be their starter in 2016 and beyond. These days Jeff Jones lives about 370 miles from Dinkytown and he may never play again in his hometown of Minneapolis.
The centerpiece of Minnesota’s 2014 recruiting class is trying (yet again) to show he can do academic work on the college level. And even if Jones does well enough with his school work to qualify for a return to the University of Minnesota, he might choose to go elsewhere.
Scott Strohmeier, Jones’ coach at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, told Sports Headliners Jones received a scholarship offer from the Iowa State Cyclones last month. A Headliners’ source added Jones will receive a lot more offers. Jones was interested in the Cyclones before signing with Minnesota in February of 2014.
In the months after signing his National Letter of Intent, Jones tried to achieve a high enough ACT score for admission to Minnesota. Ultimately he was admitted to the U but had to sit out the 2014 season to become academically eligible for 2015. Then last fall he fumbled again academically and enrolled in January of 2016 at Iowa Western.
Jones had considered Iowa Western in the spring of 2014 when there was a question whether he could be admitted to Minnesota. His past relationship with Strohmeier is probably easing the transition to junior college where there is a potential path back to Dinkytown.
Under NCAA rules Jones can return to the Gophers without earning a degree at Iowa Western. Being admitted to another Division I program will require a degree from Western, according to Strohmeier. The coach said a combination of credits and acceptable GPA could make Jones eligible to enroll again at Minnesota.
Mid-terms will take place later this month at Iowa Western. Strohmeier is satisfied Jones is moving in the right direction academically. “He is doing what he needs to do right now,” the coach said.
Jones was the state of Minnesota’s prep Mr. Football in 2014. A Rivals.com four-star recruit and one of the most hyped players in decades to choose the Gophers, he was an MVP in the prestigious 2014 Under Armour All-America Game in Florida. However, he was slow to make an impact with the Gophers last fall and his game action was minimal, never carrying the ball or catching a pass.
Part of the problems last fall were an ankle injury and migraine headaches. He also practiced at multiple positions—running back, receiver and defensive back. Then, too, the Gophers got an unexpected boost from true freshman running back Shannon Brooks who became a big playmaker for the team.
But Jones, whose power and speed was likened to Adrian Peterson while playing at Washburn High School, is still an intriguing talent who Gophers coach Tracy Claeys is reportedly open to having return to Dinkytown. “There’s no question why he was a major recruit,” Strohmeier said.
Jones, though, won’t be given anything at Iowa Western because of his physical skills and reputation. “Like I tell all our guys, I don’t care who recruited you out of high school,” Strohmeier said. “I don’t care how many (recruiting) stars you had. I don’t care what school you came from. You’re now at Iowa Western.
“We can only (by conference roster rules) play 20 out-of-staters so if you don’t do things right, you’re not guaranteed nothing. You gotta come in and earn it just like you would anyplace else. You gotta take care of your academics. You gotta do things right off the field and you gotta prove it on the field.”
Iowa Western is one of the nation’s top junior college football programs. Strohmeier’s team starts spring practice April 2 and after 20 sessions he’s likely to see a team with high potential for next fall. The Reivers, including Jones, have already been participating in winter conditioning including pre-dawn workouts.
Showing up at 4:50 a.m. is part of the price Jones must pay for a possible return to the glamour and resources of big time college football. Strohmeier has made clear to Jones the stakes are high regarding his future.
“…As I told him the other day, like this is your shot (to get back). If you really want to give football another shot and play at a high level, or play in the NFL, then you have to take care of business.
“I think he is. I do think it’s good that he’s away (from home). Really, all he’s got is a couple of buddies here that he’s met. It’s not like he can hop in the car and head home to some guys 20 minutes away.”
What did Jones say in response to that talk he had with the coach? “He understands,” Strohmeier said. “He’s a smart kid. He’s intelligent and he knows what he needs to do now.
“Like I told him, you’re going to be here all summer long. …You’re going to be in Council Bluffs (and) it’s boring as heck in the month of June but that’s just what you gotta do. He’s fine with that.”
Gophers fans who want to see Jones can consider a trip to Council Bluffs for the Reivers’ May 7 spring game which is open to the public.