Jermari Harris opting out to prepare for NFL Draft

The Iowa football team will be without their top cornerback when they face Maryland on Saturday afternoon. According to two sources, Jermari Harris did not make the trip to College Park and informed the Hawkeye coaches that he has wrapped up his Iowa career and will begin training for the NFL in hopes of being invited to the NFL Combine this winter.

Harris was a three star prospect out of high school and eventually moved into the starting lineup in the second half of the 2021 season. He capped that season with an interception and two pass breakups against Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl.

He missed the 2022 season due to injury, but returned in 2023 as a starter where he earned Iowa’s Comeback Player of the Year honors. That season he had 42 tackles, one interception and eight passes broken up.

Harris could have opted for the NFL Draft after the 2023 season, but he decided to return for his Covid season. This year he started all ten games and tied for the lead on the team with three interceptions, including one returned for a score, and he lead the team with seven passes broken up.

Iowa will have Deshaun Lee continuing to start at the other cornerback position. True freshman Jaylen Watson is listed as the backup to Harris. Either he or junior T.J. Hall will likely get the start at the other cornerback position.

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