Marvin Jones to enter transfer portal, moving on from Georgia after two seasons
Another Georgia outside linebacker is entering the NCAA’s Student-Athlete transfer portal, bringing the total at that position to three since the end of the 2023 regular season. Sophomore EDGE Marvin Jones Jr. is seeking a transfer after two seasons with the Bulldogs.
Jones has appeared in 25 games for Georgia over the past two seasons. He played in 13 games as a true freshman in 2023 while dealing with a torn labrum suffered in high school. Jones finished that season with four total tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack and had surgery to repair that injury at seasons end. That knocked him out of winter workouts and spring drills, but he was ready for the start of 2023 preseason camp.
The 2023 season saw Jones’ role grow. He appeared in 12 of 13 games, missing the matchup with South Carolina because of an illness. The 6-foot-5 250-pound defender racked up 12 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one sack.
As a prospect Jones finished the 2022 cycle with five-star status. He was the nation’s No. 20 overall prospect according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that includes all four recruiting services. Jones was the nation’s No. 4 EDGE prospect and the No. 4 player in Florida. He’s the son of legendary Florida State linebacker Marvin “Shade Tree” Jones.
More on the transfer portal…
The NCAA student-athlete transfer portal launched in 2018. It marked a change from when student-athletes had to get a release from one school to transfer to another and they could be limited as to where they transferred. The portal allows student-athletes to simply notify their current school and its compliance department that they intend to move on to another program. Entering the transfer portal does not mean a prospect has to transfer, it just means they can be recruited by other programs and take visits. Georgia has had players enter the portal in the past and elect to return.
Since its implementation, Georgia has added several notable prospects. That list includes Lawrence Cager (Miami), Eli Wolf (Tennessee), Derion Kendrick (Clemson), Tykee Smith (West Virginia), Rara Thomas (Mississippi State) and Dominic Lovett (Missouri). The Bulldogs have had years when they’ve been active in the portal, attempting to take as many as four prospects before the 2021 season. They have also had seasons like 2022 when they didn’t take a single player and went on to go 15-0, winning the National Championship for a second straight season.
Portal needs for Georgia in the current class include defensive line and wide receiver, where it is expected to land multiple players at each position. The Bulldogs could also be in the market at running back, outside linebacker, offensive tackle, or safety. If a player wants to transfer from SEC school to SEC school, he must do so by January 2 when the current window closes. There is another window that will open in the spring but, at that point, a player must transfer in from outside the conference in order to play right away.
