Iowa defensive back Terry Roberts enters transfer portal

IOWA CITY — Iowa defensive back Terry Roberts has entered the transfer portal as a graduate transfer.

Roberts, when healthy, had been a key part of Iowa’s defense and special teams units.

He started at cornerback in three of Iowa’s first six football games in 2022 before missing the rest of the season with an injury.

Roberts also missed much of the 2021 season after suffering an injury during a special teams drill in practice.

“He’s a very dynamic special teams player, and then on top of it, he’s really played corner well and played it with some emphasis out there, some enthusiasm,” Kirk Ferentz said earlier this season.

Roberts said in a tweet Tuesday that coaches, teammates, fans and the community “have helped me find ways of life and helped me create memories that will last a lifetime.”

Iowa will have a couple experienced options to fill Roberts’ void, but not many. Jermari Harris will be coming back from a season-long injury on one side.

Cooper DeJean has been playing cornerback for much of 2022, but playing there instead of safety or Cash has been partly out of necessity because of the lack of depth at the position.

After that, T.J. Hall and Jamison Heinz are next on the depth chart.

Roberts has one year of eligibility remaining.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com