Ex-Gopher Jeff Jones back in jail

The onetime top football recruit, who had been charged with felony drug possession, violated terms of his release.

July 13, 2016 at 7:21PM
Former Gophers football player Jeff Jones
Former Gophers football player Jeff Jones (Star Tribune file/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Jeff Jones, a top Gophers football recruit in 2014, was jailed Tuesday in connection with violating terms of his conditional release from jail after a May arrest. Jones had been charged with felony drug possession in May after being arrested by Bloomington police.

Jones was released May 16 after bail was set at $28,000.

Jones was arrested by Bloomington police on May 13 after being stopped for a traffic violation. Police said they found 1.78 grams of cocaine in his sock and a loaded .38 caliber handgun. Because he had a firearm at the time of his arrest, Jones faces a minimum three-year prison sentence if he is convicted on the drug charge .

Jones, considered one of the nation's top football recruits at Minneapolis Washburn High School, came to the Gophers in 2014 and played sparingly. He announced last December that he was transferring to Iowa Western Community College; Gophers coach Tracy Claeys left the door open at the time for Jones' return to his team.

But was kicked off the Iowa Western team this April. Jones also had a felony drug warrant from his time in Iowa.

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