Let's play good news, bad news. Bad news! Another player is transferring away from the Iowa football team. Good news! It's not another running back. Bad news! It's one of Iowa's biggest recruits of the last few years, a superb athlete, and a potential difference-maker on offense or defense. Good news! It's not a defensive lineman. Bad news! It's A.J. Derby.
IOWA CITY, IOWA - University of Iowa football player A.J. Derby has asked for a release from his football scholarship and will transfer from the University of Iowa. The announcement came Monday from Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz.
“A.J. has asked for his release, which has been granted,” said Ferentz. “We are sorry to see A.J. leave the program. He has been a positive member of our team and a pleasure to coach over the past two years. We wish him the best as he moves forward with his career.”
A.J. Derby added the following: “I would like to thank the University of Iowa and football coaches for the opportunity. Unfortunately, I don’t feel this is the best fit for me personally to reach my goals as a student-athlete. I especially wish my brother (Zach) the best of luck in the coming year. I will miss all of my teammates, family and friends who have supported me here. Good luck to everybody. Once a hawk, always a hawk.”
Derby played in nine games as a redshirt freshman in 2011, completing three of six passes for 30 yards and recording one solo tackle on special teams.
We don't the know the whys and wherefores of this particular transfer decision -- it may be because Derby still has an itch to play quarterback, it may be because he's upset about his treatment after his run-in with a bus window last fall, it may be because he didn't like the depth chart at linebacker, it may be because he didn't like the gum Kirk Ferentz chewed, or it may be for some other reason altogether. But he's gone. And so Iowa football loses another player to the grim specter of attrition. This sucks. God, does this suck. Best of luck to A.J. wherever he lands.