Kirk Ferentz clarifies status of Jermari Harris after announcement for NFL Draft

With the reported decision by Jermari Harris to opt out of the remainder of this year, Kirk Ferentz has gone into what he knew about that from the Iowa cornerback.

Ferentz addressed Harris’ choice to sit the rest of the season ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft during postgame media on Saturday. He said he found out earlier this past week because of his health concerns and history.

“During the week,” said Ferentz. “It was during the week.”

“I just found out, you know, he didn’t think he could go. So hopefully he can get himself healthy and, you know, do what he’s got to do and move forward,” Ferentz said.

However, Harris might still be available for them in the season finale against Nebraska per Ferentz.

“Yeah, we’ll see. We’ll see,” said Ferentz. “I’ll let you know what I think I can let you know on Tuesday. But, yeah, we’ll see. It’s like that with everybody.”

Harris did not appear in this weekend’s win at Maryland. He did play in the 10 games prior this season in which he posted 27 tackles, seven deflections, and three interceptions with one going for a pick-six.

In his six-year collegiate career during 44 games, including 27 starts at corner over the past four seasons, Harris has had 105 tackles, 19 deflections, and eight interceptions.

Again, though, medical history is apparently what came into play here for Harris. He missed all of his fourth season with an injury before becoming Comeback Player of the Year last season. Now, to be careful, he’s shutting it down and Ferentz can’t blame him if he isn’t okay to play.

“You know, (Harris) has been through a lot medically too, you know, the last three years. Jermari has got hardware in his leg,” Ferentz said. “You know, sort of three components to it. You’ve got the medical staff that says he’s cleared, the player says he’s good to go, and then the coach has to say, ‘Yeah, I think you can function out there’. All three have to be, you know, aligned. The first one? You know, if the medical staff says a guy can’t, it doesn’t matter what the coach or player think. So it’s pretty, pretty simple there.”

“The other thing? I just always, you know, because I don’t know what the chatter is out there. I don’t read any of that stuff. But, the only thing, I will never forget a quote from Bum Phillips where he always used to say it’s easy to be tough with other people’s bodies,” said Ferentz. “You know, I’ve, you know, had three kids play in our program. Two had surgeries, one had multiple surgeries. Then the other didn’t have surgery but he had a really tough injury his senior year and missed a lot of time practicing, didn’t miss any game time. So, you know, it’s – you don’t know what kids are going through, what they played with, all of that. Everybody’s got different, you know, pain thresholds and different circumstances medically.”

Harris could possibly play in the last game versus the Cornhuskers on Saturday. He may not, though, with Ferentz providing more of an explanation as to why he decided on what he did.