Overall, the Hawkeyes will honor 16 seniors before their matchup against Illinois. . But that year, he learned a valuable lesson. In December, theres all kinds of time in December to start thinking a little bit more vividly about that or concretely about that. Because of depth, Jones would still have to wait to make an impact at his position. And he hadnt done it here at Iowa. . Charlie Jones officially measured 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds at the combine. I was on scholarship there. "Not just in the weight room but on the field, every weekend on the JUGS machine.". "Every day, he comes in and takes another step forward. Against Michigan State on Nov.7, Jones scored on a 56-yard punt return touchdown and had another return of 31 yards that led to another Iowa touchdown. led special teams with five punt returns for 105 yards vs. MSU, including 54-yard touchdown return . All rights reserved. Adrian Kraus/Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. He'll aim to improve his draft stock at the scouting combine. "I think he has a great opportunity ahead of him to take strides and let the world know his name and I think he'll do it as a returner and a receiver. . . After two seasons at Buffalo and three at Iowa, the 5-11, 186-pound Jones had a break-out year for the Boilermakers when he led the country with 110 catches while clocking a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. four punt returns for 33 yards at Maryland with a long of 15 and two kickoff returns for 53 yards with a long of 38 yards . Take Charlie Jones in Fourth Round of 2023 . [2], Jones began his collegiate career at Buffalo. Now he is an emerging star on the nation's fifth-rated team -- largely because of a gadget. . Its gonna be very special to run out there and be able to hug my parents and itll be cool.. . Jones had previously elected to return to Iowa for a sixth season instead of entering the 2022 NFL Draft. He also returned 15 kickoffs for 289 yards, with a long of 43 yards. . Its pre-camp, so a lot of stuff can change, Wick said. He can catch a lot of tough balls, Spencer Petras said of Wick at media day. . It definitely was a tough decision, Jones said. Charlie Jones (American football, born 1998) - Wikipedia Seniors Charlie Jones and Riley Moss have the option to return to Iowa football as the NCAA gave all 2020-21 student-athletes another year of eligibility. 2023 NFL Draft: Bengals Select WR Charlie Jones, Purdue . "First and foremost, Charlie is an incredible, insane worker," said LeVar Woods, Iowa's special teams coordinator. When Man and Machine Become One: The Robotic Rise of Charlie Jones ranks second in the Big Ten in punt returns (7.7) and kickoff returns (25.4) . Jones will be reunited with former Iowa teammate and fellow receiver Tyrone Tracy Jr., who transferred to Purdue shortly after the end of last season. When it didn't shake out his way during his senior year (of high school), he could've moped and complained. Overall, Jones produced 1,251 all-purpose yards on offense and special teams. Decided to transfer to Iowa prior to the 2019 season. Emotion should be running high when Iowa and Purdue square off on Nov. 5 in West Lafayette, Indiana. . I dont know about that, Moss said. Once a low-ranked high school prospect, he joined the Hawkeyes as a walk-on in 2019 and earned a scholarship in December 2020. Even when the coaches are off, and no one is in the building, you walk in and Charlies here. Now, can we as a staff help him get better? named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his play in 49-7 win over Michigan State . The 2023 NFL Draft has finished and the Cincinnati Bengals have made their picks. Charlie and Tory are always out here, Woods said. one reception for 12 yards at Northwestern to go with one rushing attempt for six yards . . Jones caught 21 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns in 2021. one reception for nine yards at Wisconsin . He finished the campaign with 1,361 yards and 12 touchdowns on a whopping 110 receptions. . (Rob Howe/HawkFanatic.com), 2023 HawkFanatic | Website Design and Development by, Incoming Iowa freshman wrestler Gabe Arnold wins national title at U.S. Open Championships, Iowa softball defeats Rutgers 9-6 for 30th win of season, Iowa baseball splits doubleheader at Penn State, Denver Broncos pick Iowa DB Riley Moss in third round, Sam LaPorta selected by Detroit Lions in second round of 2023 NFL draft, Charlie Jones explains why he transferred from Iowa to Purdue, Iowas 2023 NFL draft class stands out on and off field. Feels like it flew by but Im excited to be here. Now well talk a little bit more in December.. . .13 yards on three punts returns at Northwestern and two kickoff returns for 19 yards . CHARLIE JONES TO ENTER TRANSFER PORTAL - Black Heart Gold Pants . Purdue, on the other hand, averaged nearly 350 passing yards per game last season as OConnell threw for 3,712 yards and 28 touchdowns. So did Pro Football Focus and The Sporting News. Purdue's Charlie Jones is in contention to be one of the wide receivers selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. averaged 18.2 yards per pass reception and 6.2 yards per rushing attempt . Iowa ranked 109th in yards per game (180.1), 114th in yards per pass (6.2) and 113th in completion percentage (55.0). started at wide receiver in 24-7 loss to Purdue . [1] Jones amassed 506 punt and 635 kick return yards during his two-year career in the Black and Gold. Latest on Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Charlie Jones including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN 34-yard reception led to first touchdown of the day . . Iowa receiver/return man Turned Walk-On Opportunity into Scholarship. The Hawkeyes defeated the Illini, 33-23, at the last home game of the season. And how can the rest of the unit help him, whether its finishing blocks or creating a better seam for him. . one reception for nine yards vs. CSU . also had seven punt returns for 18 yards . "Charlie has done a phenomenal job," Tracy said. Purdue won 24-7. also had four punt returns for 53 yards at ISU, with a long of 24 yards, and 44 yards on two kickoff returns, with a long of 24 yards . Iowa's Charlie Jones keeps family written on his arms as central The 6-foot, 188 pound redshirt senior was also named the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return. It might have been a surprise to everyone else, because no one knew who he was, Woods said. 2023 The Cincinnati Bengals. When it comes to football, he's always been goal-oriented," Winiecki said. Taylor came from Australia last season having never seen a football game until he played in the 2020 opener at Purdue. . He had no receptions last season. . Iowa wide receiver and return man Charlie Jones is reportedly transferring within the Big Ten to the Purdue Boilermakers. saw action in 42-3 loss to #2 Michigan . WR Charlie Jones (NOT on Scholarship) is very Fast & Athletic The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. High school was totally different from college, said the 6-foot, 188-pound Jones. (AP Photo/Justin Hayworth). The loss of Charlie Jones leaves a major hole in Iowa's special teams, but his decision to enter the transfer portal also creates an opportunity for several intriguing young players to assume a . . . . Obviously you're going to have days you're not doing as well as others but he takes that to heart and comes back even harder. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine Ex-Iowa wide receivers Charlie Jones, Tyrone Tracy Jr. have opportunity If we're going to be team that's serious about playing well then we need guys on our special teams. . . Iowa receiver Charlie Jones (16) lays out for a catch in front of coverage from Minnesota's Justin Walley during their game on Nov. 13, 2021 at Kinnick Stadium on Iowa City, Iowa. RT @willie_lutz: During his time at Iowa, Charlie Jones showed some TREMENDOUS shiftiness as a punt/kick returner. Jones is not considered a burner by any means, but he has shown that he can turn on the jets in order to get by a defender. But I knew a way to get my foot in the door was special teams. That gives you a glimpse of how fast the motor runs inside Jones, who left a season of eligibility on the table when he decided to leave the University at Buffalo and give Big Ten football a shot at Iowa. The 6-foot, 188-pound sixth-year senior was named Big Ten Conference Returner of the Year at the end of the 2021 season. . Charlie Jones and Ivory Kelly-Martin share a moment together after Saturday's loss to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl Iowa finished ranked 121 st nationally in total offense last season, averaging just 303.7 yards per game, including 180.1 passing yards per game. . A hard decision for me and my family. Snatches the ball out of the air and shows the concentration to make acrobatic catches look easy. Charlie Jones Stats, News, Bio | ESPN . . You can connect with KenningtononTwitter@SkinnyKenny_or email him at ksmith@gannett.com. He 684 total yards (395 receiving) in helping the Bulls reach a 10-4 record. . . We will update this space as soon as Charlie Jones' 3-cone time at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine is revealed. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall), Iowa wide receiver Charlie Jones (16) celebrates touchdown with Iowa defensive lineman Logan Lee (85) and Iowa running back Ivory Kelly-Martin (21) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Ames, Iowa. preseason first-team All-Big Ten return specialist by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele . . . (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus), Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones makes a catch against Syracuse during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Currently, he is line to secure one of their key receiver spots. Jones has come quite a long way both figuratively and literally on his journey to starting at Iowa, a college journey that began in 2017 over 750 miles away in Buffalo, New York. Sep 16, 2021 2:36 PM EDT. New York Giants Draft Prospect: WR Charlie Jones Athlete. Hometown Deerfield, Ill. High School Deerfield Previous School Buffalo Bio Stats Terms Of Service, Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair, ISAAC - Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, UI Football Autograph Policy and Procedures. Players Will be Tested 4 HRS Before Kickoff Franisdaman Oct 8, 2020 1 2 Next Franisdaman HR King Nov 3, 2012 65,859 79,560 113 Heaven, Iowa Oct 8, 2020 #1 And ISM wants to return punts!! I want to be successful and help the team as much as I can.. The Bengals have been trying to find both a backup wide receiver and returner and on Saturday they grabbed one candidate in the fourth round with Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones. saw action in 28-21 win at Nebraska as offense gained 186 net rushing yards . . At that time, they were a run-focused triple-option team that limited Jones' opportunities to showcase his skill at receiver. first-team All-Big Ten return specialist by league coaches and media . . According to his 247sports profile, he only had one offer: Buffalo, where he singed in February 2017. 40-yard -dash: 4:43. ", Kennington Smithis the new Iowa Hawkeyes beat writer for the Des Moines Register. His hello world Kinnick moment came against Michigan State on Nov. 7, 2020. Iowa, however, will be staying home. led the Big Ten and ranked fourth nationally with one punt return touchdown in 2020 . Now the challengeis to translate his playmaking ability at punt returner to receiver and help the receiving core replace the production it lost from last season. Jones began his career at the University of Buffalo where he redshirted as a freshman. Jones, who graduated from Deerfield (IL . Charlie Jones - University of Iowa Athletics WR #16 Charlie Jones Height 5-11 Weight 184 lbs. Jones leads the conference and ranks second in the NCAA in total kick return yards (605). Im going to be able to fit the skill sets that I have in the system here.. But in Year 5 of his college career, he's embracing yet another new challenge. Confidence in this sport is everything, Jones said. Here are some notes and quotes from what looks to be a popular draft. . fourth-team All-Big Ten punt return specialists by Phil Steele . The Hawkeyes won the game 49-7 and Jones was named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. [14] At Purdue, Jones caught 110 passes for a school-record 1,361 yards. Verified. He previously played college football for the University at Buffalo and the University of Iowa. Hard Work Key to Charlie Jones' Success - Sports Illustrated Iowa led the Big Ten and ranked 11th nationally with 10.5 average on punt returns in 2020 . Charlie Jones. 5-11 Iowa wide receiver Charlie Jones puts his hands up to catch a pass during a football game between Iowa and Minnesota at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. Ill help him with some stuff he needs. saw action in 26-20 win over Nebraska . . started at wide receiver in 30-7 win over Kent State as offense rushed for 206 yards and gained 418 yards total offense . . Jones shuffled off to Buffalo, where he redshirted in 2017. He is expected to be a Day 3 pick. Every time I went out there, every time I went back for a punt, I was trying to change the game, try to make a big play.. Charlie Jones - University of Iowa Athletics He ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and tested like an elite athlete during the pre-draft process. The 6-foot-0, 188-pound Jones announced today that he will be using his extra year of eligibility allowed by NCAA due to COVID and will play for the Hawkeyes as a sixth year senior in 2022. Longtime time state of Iowa sports journalist and author formerly of the Des Moines Register. Jones returned a punt for a touchdown against Michigan State in 2020 and a kickoff for a score against Illinois in 2021. He played at Buffalo from 2017-18 before moving to Iowa. He was a playmaker for Iowa in 2020 but in a different capacity: a punt returner on special teams. . Thats called a coachs dream. At the end Ill ask him, Hey, can you do this for me? Hes a great guy to work with and hes really helped me progress as a punt returner. The desire to improve remains a Jones trait, much like Woods has described. second-team All-Big Ten return specialist by league coaches . Tracy, who grew up near Indianapolis, saw his role in the Iowa offense reduced substantially after he was passed on the depth chart midway through last season by then true freshman Keagan Johnson. But Im going to treat it as if it is my last, but, I dont even know. two receptions for 20 yards vs. Purdue, along with 37 yards on two punt returns and 56 yards on two kickoff returns . Head coach Kirk Ferentz said he made rounds to seniors with eligibility remaining in the Hawkeyes bye week in October, to see if any of them wanted to return in 2022. I put the time in and just worked on my craft. A season later, Jones wont be flying under the radar at Kinnick Stadium any more. "It moves around, it's this robot,'' Jones says. Jones is the only receiver with a touchdown catch so far this season, which . dark, Larry Ruppis not a FanDuel employee. Jones, from Deerfield, Ill., would have jumped at a scholarship offer from Iowa as a high school senior. Hes really been a student of the game.. He hadnt returned punts since high school, but Woods saw Jones had potential to do just that. saw action in 35-7 win at Minnesota, but had no statistics as offense rushed for 235 yards . 28 yards on three punt returns, with a long of 28 . It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Iowa will kick off against Illinois at 1 p.m. Not only do the Hawkeyes lose a valuable weapon, they lose him to a divisional rival that has beaten Iowa four of the last five years. . Jones caught two passes for 106 yards.The Hawkeyes defeated the Gophers 27-22. Purdue had also brought in receiver transfers Tyrone Tracy (also from Iowa) and Elijah Canion (from Auburn) as well. Jones grew up in Deerfield, Illinois and attended Deerfield High School. Syracuse won 32-29. NFL Draft Profile: Charlie Jones, Wide Receiver, Purdue Boilermakers Austin Hanson, Pregame Editor. He announced that he was returning to Iowa on Jan. 12 because of unfinished business.. He also has 9-inch hands. . For the game, he returned five punts for 105 yards. one kickoff return for 25 yards and one rushing attempt vs. Kent State . Hes here doing a thousand push-ups, a thousand sit-ups, hes catching balls and punts off the Jugs gun., Or you might catch him fielding punts off the foot of Tory Taylor, his roommate. Charlie Jones returning to Iowa in 2022 - Go Iowa Awesome But when he was at Iowa in 2021 he was the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Year. Michael Conroy/Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. . Charlie Jones Height: 5'11" Weight: 175 pounds Arm Length: 31 5/8" Hand Size: 9" #RatedRookie | #NFLDraft The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) March 4, 2023 Charlie Jones 40-Yard Dash Time