Cato, Brown gone

David Cato and Josh Brown are transferring, according to a release from UI sports information this afternoon.

Cato, a junior-to-be, was stuck behind all-Big Ten strong safety Tyler Sash on the depth chart. He finished the season with six tackles and one tackle for loss. Cato, an Arlington, Texas, native, made his biggest impact as an edge safety on goal line. When free safety Brett Greenwood went down with a neck injury this season, senior Joe Conklin replaced him. With Sash entering his junior season, Cato, a 5-11, 205-pounder, was going to have a tough time breaking into the lineup.

The only opening in Iowa's secondary next year is at left corner, where juniors Jordan Bernstine and Willie Lowe will battle with sophomores Micah Hyde, who played in the Orange Bowl when Shaun Prater left with an ankle injury for a few series, and Greg Castillo.

As noted here, Iowa was looking at 2010 with nine running backs on scholarship. Now that number is eight.

Brown, a 5-11, 200-pounder from St. Petersburg, Fla., came to Iowa and needed some body work before he was going to see the field. At Dixie Hollins High School, he totaled 1,697 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns, 1,364 passing yards and four touchdowns and 244 receiving yards.

He was probably No. 8 or 9 on the RB depth chart.

According to the release, both players plan to transfer to schools closer to home. Brown's Facebook status indicated Murray State earlier this week, but nothing official on that.