Follow @Tony Liebert on Twitter
Four days after adding Miami (OH) transfer LB/S Rowan Zolman, the Gophers are back on the board, adding Elon transfer DB Tre’Von Jones. Listed at 6-foot, 173 pounds Jones garnered plenty of experience at the FCS level, appearing in 38 career games and starting 27. Originally committed to James Madison, Jones will now provide some much-needed depth in the secondary for the Maroon & Gold.
Let’s work!! #RowTheBoat 🚣🏽〽️ pic.twitter.com/pi1c9c3oTb
— Tre’Von J. (@trejones10_) April 29, 2023
Who is Tre’Von Jones?:
Hailing from Warrenton, North Carolina, Jones was a four-sport athlete at Trinity Christian High School, starring in basketball, baseball and track & field on top of football. On the gridiron, he earned First Team All-Purpose and Conference Player of the Year as both a junior and senior after earning All-Conference accolades as a sophomore in 2016. As a star DB, he also played QB on the offensive end.
After committing to Elon, he quickly contributed, earning Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-America honors as a true freshman with 57 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 FF, 4 PBUs and 1 INT. He showed his versatility lining up at CB and safety as well as punt and kick returner throughout his college career. He finished his Elon career with 185 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 2 sacks, 3 INTs and 15 PBUs. After entering the transfer portal as a grad transfer, he received public offers from Virginia, Charlotte, App State, Hawaii, and Georgia State. He was originally committed to James Madison before flipping to the Gophers.
- Scouting Report:
Listed at 6-foot, 173 pounds, Tre’Von Jones has the versatility to line up at safety and cornerback. Given the Gophers’ current depth chart, I would expect him to slot in at corner. Although he played at the FCS level, he has the athleticism to be a power conference contributor. With great ball skills and tracking ability, he will the potential to be a suitable No. 2 option alongside Justin Walley.
**Highlights**
Ain’t no limit with this sh*t, I’m trying to touch the sky.. 💫#Blade 🗡
🎥: @Chandlaman__ 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/bITd5uhYax
— Tre’Von J. (@trejones10_) January 13, 2023
Instant Reaction:
With five defensive backs entering the transfer portal, one medically retiring and two getting drafted in the NFL, the Gophers had a serious need for CB depth. After adding Rowan Zolman as a LB/S earlier in the week, the Gophers have added another versatile defensive piece with Tre’Von Jones. Justin Walley needed an experienced No. 2 CB to play alongside and Jones will provide that, fitting a serious need.
What is next?:
With almost every FBS spring game in the books, the transfer portal will continue to stay hot in the next few weeks. The Gophers have begun to fill their defensive needs, but I still would not be shocked if they added one or two more players on that side of the ball. Jones now gives them eight scholarship portal adds and 17 departures. If they can add at least one more player on the defensive side of the ball, I think it would be a fine portal window. There have obviously been some tough loses, but that is college sports in 2023, you just have to adapt.