Derby, Sokol to start for new teams

Two former Iowa football players will have prominent roles with different teams this weekend.

Former Iowa quarterback/linebacker A.J. Derby (6-foot-5, 255 pounds) is listed as a starter at tight end for Arkansas. Derby, who was an all-state player at Iowa City High, played quarterback last year with the Razorbacks. He started one game (at Rutgers), played in seven and completed 19 of 36 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. Derby, now a senior, saw action against Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama and Ole Miss. Arkansas plays at Auburn this week.

'A.J. Derby (is) a little bit of an unknown commodity to the outside world,' Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. said. 'We're anxious to see (Derby) play in a game.'

Former Iowa quarterback Cody Sokol will start for Louisiana Tech this Saturday at Oklahoma. Sokol, a fifth-year senior, took snaps for the Hawkeyes at Nebraska last November but elected to transfer after receiving his degree at Iowa.

Backup linebacker Laron Taylor transferred from Iowa to Youngstown State over the summer. Taylor, a red-shirt sophomore, is listed as the Penguins' second-team middle linebacker. Youngstown State plays at Illinois.

'I decided to transfer from Iowa, because I honestly felt like I wasn't getting a fair opportunity to be the starting linebacker,' Taylor told Detroit radio stadium WCHB. 'I don't regret my decision to come and play at Iowa, because life is ultimately about learning and progressing from the decisions you made whether the outcome was what you predicted or not. I'm just here now to embrace this new opportunity that lies in front of me.'

True freshman offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher, who committed to Iowa at one time, is listed as Alabama's second-team left guard entering the Crimson Tide's opener against West Virginia. Pierschbacher, an all-state player from Cedar Falls, will wear No. 71 and back up senior Arie Kouandijo. Pierschbacher also has played some left tackle in practice, according to the Tuscaloosa News.

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