Kirk Ferentz reacts to multiple players redshirting, entering transfer portal midseason

Iowa had two players opt to take a midseason redshirt, forgoing playing time the rest of the season to preserve eligibility for a likely future transfer. Coach Kirk Ferentz had a muted reaction to the news.

For the long-tenured Iowa head coach, the decisions are part and parcel with where college football is at.

“I think that’s just a reflection on the times. Certainly not unique to us right now,” Kirk Ferentz said. “You know, it’s kind of like Jim Ryun when he broke the barrier on the mile. All the sudden within a year there were a bunch of guys that broke that barrier. Once one person jumps in the water then it’s easier for someone else to do it. I’m not saying that’s the case here. I don’t know how long players have been thinking about it, really wasn’t part of the discussion.

“But I applaud both guys because what you don’t want is somebody in the program that really doesn’t have both feet in the circle and totally committed to the team. At this level it takes everybody. It takes everybody on the team. So I applaud them, wish them the best and appreciate what they have done.”

Ferentz broke down the two cases on his team, noting they’re at least a little different in nature.

Leshon Williams had played in three games this fall, seeing 11 carries for 21 yards out of the backfield while recording four catches for 26 yards. He simply wasn’t getting a ton of touches.

Kaleb Brown was a receiver who played in three games this season, catching just one pass for 18 yards.

“Leshon’s case, he’s a little different because he really hasn’t been healthy since April,” Kirk Ferentz explained. “I know he’s very frustrated about that. And he’s seen some other guys do a good job, so he wants to get healthy and then use his COVID year. I wish him the best. We’ll do all we can to help him. Yeah, every circumstance is a little bit different, but I think we’ll see more and more of that as we move forward, probably in all sports.”

Generally, though, the Iowa head coach was asked about his reaction to those kinds of moves in college football. Is there a degree of frustration that comes with guys bailing on the team midway through the season?

“I mean the first thing I’d start with, and I think I used this line before a little while ago: You can’t lose what you didn’t have,” Kirk Ferentz said. “So if somebody really hasn’t been playing it’s not like you’re losing a lot of contribution if that makes any sense. And I don’t know what the stats are on either player we’re talking about this season. If Leshon had left last November that would be impactful because he was right in the thick of it and he was our best option at that point and was playing very well, too. I just want to compliment him. But that’s really not the case now. And I just talked about the injuries really that’s affected him greatly since April. And I feel bad, I feel bad any time a player can’t do what they want to that way.

“But the bottom line is this, not to be callous: If a player’s really not playing it’s not like you lose anything that way. Then the other part of it, fall back on the line from Mike Tomlin about you don’t want hostages on your team. Again, it doesn’t do anybody any good, especially the individuals, to be in an environment where they’re not enthused to be there. It’s just not good for anybody. So I just wish the guys well and I hope they find happiness wherever they do go. I really mean that, because I want all of our guys to be successful. Right now our focus is on the guys we’re coaching every day and trying to give them their best chance to be successful moving forward here.”