SO LONG, FAREWELL: Derrick Mitchell Jr. to transfer

It wouldn’t be the football offseason if we didn’t get some attrition now and then, would it?

The news of Jay Scheel hanging the cleats up notwithstanding, we got our first bit of departure chatter this afternoon: Derrick Mitchell Jr. is choosing to graduate in May, and seek to play elsewhere as a graduate transfer.

Things never really came together for Mitchell this year—he was expected to be a third down back or at least an option at receiver out of the backfield, but an unspecified foot injury he suffered at the beginning of the season coupled with the emergence of Akrum Wadley never spelt great things for him.

And with Mitchell placed behind sophomore Toks Akrinibade in the January two-deeps, the writing was on the wall.

Mitchell might have been in Kirk’s Doghouse since he was suspended for violating team rules in 2015. He carried the ball just two times all year, both in Iowa’s first game. He caught two passes in the Iowa State, Northwestern and Minnesota, but that’s where his action ends.

With Mitchell leaving, Iowa just has just four backs on scholarship: Wadley, junior Marcel Joly, sophomore Toks Akrinibade and RS freshman Toren Young. That’s ... not very many running backs.

Iowa has one incoming running back for sure in Ivory Kelly-Martin (we’ll have a full ‘crootin update for you tomorrow) and they will probably offer a few others with the Mitchell news. There is of course still Jonathan Parker, but who really knows what’s going on with him. He’s listed as a receiver on Iowa’s website, so there’s also that.

Best of luck wherever you decide to continue your football career, Mr. Mitchell. Once a Hawk always a Hawk.