Michigan OL Connor Jones plans to enter NCAA transfer portal

Michigan Wolverines football offensive lineman Connor Jones plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to multiple reports, including one from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. The portal opens Jan. 4, following the conclusion of the Wolverines’ season, which will end with a to-be-determined bowl game.

Jones is the first Michigan player to plan an exit to the transfer portal so far this season, outside of wide receiver Fredrick Moore, who left the team in October to preserve a year of eligibility.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pounder spent four seasons at Michigan and has one year of eligibility remaining.

Jones appeared in six games in nine games over the last four seasons, including five in 2025.

He saw action in two games as a true freshman in 2022, one at right guard (Hawaii) and one at tackle (Connecticut), while still maintaining his redshirt. He saw action in the season opener against East Carolina, contributing on special teams, the following season in 2023. In his first two years in Ann Arbor, Jones was a part of teams that won back-to-back Big Ten championships and the 2023 national title.

Jones stuck with Michigan amidst a coaching change, with Jim Harbaugh leaving for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers and Sherrone Moore taking over.

Jones didn’t appear in any games in 2024, the program’s first campaign under Moore, but earned Scout Team Defensive Player of the Week for his role in preparing the offense for the Ohio State game, despite Jones being an offensive lineman.

In 2025, Jones saw time in five games — versus Central Michigan, Wisconsin, USC, Washington, Michigan State, Purdue, Northwestern and Maryland. Jones played on offense against Central Michigan and Maryland, logging snaps at right guard (eight) and right tackle (15).

A three-star recruit in the 2022 class, Jones was the No. 891 overall player, No. 67 offensive tackle and fifth-best prospect in Colorado, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking.