Jermari Harris has ‘more to give’ ahead of sixth season with Iowa football

IOWA CITY — Jermari Harris might have a new nickname.

“I got called ‘uncle’ a couple of times,” the Iowa cornerback said earlier this summer. “I remember when I was calling guys uncle. I remember when (Michael Ojemudia) was here, I’m like, ‘Oh, the old man.’ Now, I’m getting called the old man.”

Uncle Jermari — who will turn 24 in September and believes he is the oldest defensive back Phil Parker has ever coached — will be a key part of the Hawkeyes’ secondary in 2024 after deciding to return for his sixth season of college football.

“I felt like I had more to give,” Harris said. “Last year obviously wasn’t my best year, but toward the end, I felt as though I had gotten to a good rhythm.”

Harris, after missing the first two games with a sports wagering suspension, started every other game at cornerback. Opposing quarterbacks completed 62.3 percent of their passes to receivers Harris was covering, according to Pro Football Focus.

Now, Harris is trying to “build on that” rhythm he found at the end of last year as he approaches the 2024 season.

He has the benefit of a truly healthy offseason — something he described as “beautiful” — after having to bounce back last offseason from his injury that kept him out of the entire 2022 season.

“Now I get the chance to just run around, enjoy the weather, be out there with the guys, condition,” Harris said. “Being able to work on my footwork day in, day out — it’s a blast and something I don’t take for granted.”

It also helps that Harris has grown in many facets during his six years at Iowa, including taking better care of his body and time management. He also has grown in his “comfort level of being uncomfortable.”

“I understand that in order for me to be where I want to be, in order for us to be where we want to be as a team, we have to be uncomfortable,” Harris said. “Put ourselves in that deep water.”

With 18 career starts, Harris is the most experienced cornerback returning in 2024 by a wide margin. While the Hawkeyes have an abundance of experience at safety, the next-most experienced corner is Deshaun Lee with six career starts.

Iowa’s other options at cornerback this season are young, but have shown promise. Fellow Chicago native John Nestor will be in his second season of college football after appearing in 10 games as a true freshman. Lee and T.J. Hall, meanwhile, will be in their third years. All three are “great corners,” Harris said.

“They push me,” the veteran Harris said of his younger counterparts. “When there’s competition in general … the cream of the crop will rise.”

Harris once was the younger cornerback contributing in a more experienced defensive back room. The Chicago native started six games in 2021 as a sophomore when older, more experienced guys such as Riley Moss, Matt Hankins and Terry Roberts suffered injuries.

When Harris started his first game in 2021 against Wisconsin, the other starters in the secondary were Dane Belton, Jack Koerner and Hankins — one junior and two seniors.

Now, it’s Harris’ turn to be the uncle.

“Kids say what they want to say,” Harris said. “It’s just funny how the tables have turned.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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