IOWA CITY, Iowa – – University of Iowa football student-athlete Ryan Boyle will earn his bachelor’s degree in May and transfer from the Hawkeye program. The announcement was made Friday by head football coach Kirk Ferentz.

“Ryan is a hard worker, a good teammate, and a good student," said Ferentz.  "We wish Ryan academic and athletic success in the future."

Boyle's departure leaves Iowa with just three quarterbacks on scholarship for next season, including starter Nate Stanley. The other two quarterbacks on scholarship are redshirt freshman Peyton Mansell and true freshman Spencer Petras, who signed a national letter of intent with Iowa in December and is now enrolled at the UI for the spring semester.  

Boyle was part of Iowa's 2015 recruting class, along with fellow quarterback Drew Cook. They both were redshirted as true freshmen and Boyle then switched to receiver in the spring of 2016, but was unable to crack the rotation during the 2016 season.

Boyle then switched back to quarterback, but saw no action this past season as the third-team quarterback behind Stanley and Tyler Wiegers, who graduated in December and has since transferred to Eastern Michigan where he will play next season as a graduate student.

Cook also switched positions from quarterback to tight end last spring. He didn't see any game action this past season.  

Boyle is a native of West Des Moines and a graduate of Dowling Catholic High School. He led Dowling to back-to-back state titles in football as a junior and senior.

There have been persistent rumors that Boyle would transfer after it became apparent that he would be stuck behind Stanley.

By graduating, Boyle would be able to play immediately for a different FBS school.

He is the third quarterback since 2013 to leave Iowa as a graduate transfer, joining Cody Sokol and Jake Rudock.

Sokol transferred to Louisiana Tech, while Rudock transferred to Michigan after the 2015 season. They both started as graduate students, with Rudock leding Michigan to a 10-3 record in 2015..