By Tyler Devine

IOWA CITY, Iowa – College football players are transferring at a higher rate than ever before, but it typically does not happen during the season.

Since Oct. 29, Yahweh Jeudy, Shadrick Byrd, Calvin Lockett and Daraun McKinney have all left the Iowa football team.

McKinney, a native of River Rouge, Mich., was the latest to leave the program on Monday.

While some may assume the transfers of four Black players to the allegations of racial bias levied against the program starting in June, head coach Kirk Ferentz said it’s simply a matter of playing time.

“I think Daraun was hoping to get more playing time and he feels like he’s a really good returner and he’s got the potential to be one. We’re just a little bit full right now with (Ihmir) Smith-Marsette and Charlie (Jones) back there,” Ferentz said. “I think that we just felt like those are our two best guys.

“And Daraun’s a good defensive back too. He had a good future there, but we have a few other guys that are ahead of him right now. So not always, but a lot of times it’s based on what they see in front of them and what they think the path to the field is. I don’t want to speak for them, but that seems to be a common theme.”

Like any coach, Ferentz wants his players to stick around, but also understands it can be more detrimental if a player is unhappy.

“Ultimately if a player doesn’t want to be at a school for whatever reason, it’s probably better that they go find a place they are more comfortable,” Ferentz said. “It’s no different than would you want an employee working in your building, whatever business you may have, where they’re there only because they have to be there. It’s just not a good situation for anybody.”

Special teams are special: Throughout his 22-year career at Iowa, Ferentz’s teams have always taken pride in special teams.

That attitude is paying off this year in which freshman punter Tory Taylor is tied for third in the Big Ten in punting average and junior punt returner Charlie Jones leads the conference in punt return average.

“Well 22 years ago that was one the building blocks we tried to build the program on because we felt like it was the first area that maybe we would have a chance to get decent at, so we started there,” Ferentz said. “And if you look at any of our good teams we have played well on special teams. I think it’s important for any football team, certainly for us it’s historically, it’s an area we have to try to excel in. And one thing about it, it’s a great opportunity for players that maybe aren’t starters or maybe aren’t that experienced to get in and really do a good job.”

Ferentz started his Tuesday press conference specifically praising Jones and Taylor.

Jones, a native of Deerfield, Ill., was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after accumulating 143 all-purpose yards and a 54-yard punt return touchdown in Iowa’s 49-7 win over Michigan State on Saturday.

(Jones) did a great job,” Ferentz said. “Great to see him recognized by the Big Ten as special teams Player of the Week. And Taylor, he did a great job too. So special teams was certainly a big part of the victory.”

Friday night lights: Iowa has two Friday games scheduled this season, the first of which is this week against Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Ferentz said he is OK playing on Friday night, but that he would prefer to draw the line there and not expand to other days of the week.

“Well when we were talking about playing after Thanksgiving or Christmas, it’s not like we would be playing every night of the week,” Ferentz said. “So I am happy we’re not doing that because that really is disruptive. I don’t know how you know what day is which actually. But football teams tend to get into a rhythm, if you will. There’s a pattern to what we do in-season, out of season, all that, so. But nothing’s been in sync this year since March.”

Iowa also plays its traditional Black Friday game against Nebraska on Nov. 27.

COVID Count: The Iowa athletics department announced 30 positive COVID-19 cases Monday, the highest number of positives the department has had since September.

But Ferentz indicated on Tuesday that his team seems to be mostly in the clear despite a recent spike in cases on campus.

“My sense is our contributions have been very minimal and I’m really happy to say that — I don’t want to talk about it because I don’t want to jinx us,” Ferentz said. “But I think a big part of it, especially for college students, is they really have to kind of live like hermits, they’re online with their classes. And I don’t know how they feel, but I know how I feel, the safest part of my day is being in this building because we’re testing daily, so at least, if something is an issue, then we get it detected and at least you feel like you’re in a place where it’s pretty safe.”