The transfer portal will not open until December 9 but that has not stopped players from around the country from essentially opting out the rest of the season and announcing intentions to transfer. Last month, USC’s Bear Alexander shut it down to preserve his redshirt. On Monday, Kirk Ferentz announced that Ohio State transfer receiver Kaleb Brown and last year’s leading rusher Leshon Williams will preserve their redshirts and hit the transfer portal this December.
Iowa’s Kaleb Brown and Leshon Williams Will Hit Transfer Portal
#Iowa wide receiver Kaleb Brown has announced via his Instagram that he will use his redshirt this season and not play in any more games for the #Hawkeyes in 2024. pic.twitter.com/nTntp8rjn9
— Sean Bock (@SBock247) October 7, 2024
The portal has been a godsend for highly-rated recruits and transfers who get passed up on the depth chart. Brown transferred to Iowa after one season at Ohio State. In the 2022 season, Brown hauled in just one pass for five yards for the Buckeyes. In 2023 with the Hawkeyes, Brown started to carve out a niche. He finished as the third-leading receiver with 22 catches for 215 yards and a touchdown. This year, however, he fell down the pecking order. Through three appearances, Brown had one catch for 15 yards.
Brown played in five games as a freshman, so his redshirt was intact. He is set to redshirt this year and look to use his final two years of eligibility elsewhere.
Iowa senior running back Leshon Williams is entering the portal.
He’ll use his final year of eligibility elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/BPRNqJoBTg
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) October 7, 2024
Meanwhile, at running back, Williams was pushed aside after playing second fiddle to Kaleb Johnson for three years. Williams actually used his redshirt in 2021 after playing in just three games, so he’s just looking to get a jump start on the transfer process with just one season of eligibility remaining after this year.
After playing in three games in 2021, Williams began to make an impact for the Hawkeyes. In 2022, he was the team’s second-leading rusher with 412 yards and two touchdowns off 116 carries. Johnson’s 2023 was limited due to injuries and it allowed Williams to step up. He ended up leading the way with 821 yards and one touchdown off 170 yards. This year, his carries dried up. Williams is fourth on the team with just 11 carries for 21 yards.
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