Defensive back again Xavior Williams transfers from UNI to Iowa

Iowa’s football system has never been a regular shopper in the NCAA transfer portal, but the Hawkeyes won’t be reluctant to find one thing that appears to be the proper in shape.

“For us, it’s some thing that has to make perception,’’ Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz stated Sunday.

Monday evening, the Hawkeyes located that fit in Northern Iowa defensive again Xavior Williams.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound defensive back again who prepped for West Burlington-Notre Dame declared on social media that he was joining the Iowa method for his senior time.

“I understood when I entered the transfer portal I was going to have to make a significant choice. Right after a good deal of time and consideration, I have resolved to dedicate to the College of Iowa,’’ Williams wrote on Twitter.

He thanked UNI mentor Mark Farley, his assistants and the Panthers’ power and educational staffs for encouraging him create as a player and man or woman and thanked Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and defensive coordinator Phil Parker for the opportunity he has been presented.

Williams, who positioned his name into the transfer portal when the Missouri Valley Football Convention delayed the start of its year until finally February, in the end selected Iowa in excess of possibilities from Kansas State and North Carolina Condition.

The Burlington indigenous expects to enroll at Iowa in January and get component in the Hawkeyes’ offseason exercise sessions.

“I am excited to start out this journey,’’ Williams wrote.

He comes at Iowa after three strong many years with the Panthers, earning freshman all-American recognition in 2017 and earning all-Missouri Valley Football Meeting honors the past two seasons.

He was a initially-group all-league pick as a sophomore as a cornerback and a next-staff alternative final season as he transitioned to a security placement for the Panthers.

Williams concluded with 50 tackles last year for UNI, intercepting a person move and breaking up 13 more. He also recovered two fumbles.

He joins an Iowa secondary that experienced just just one senior, cornerback Matt Hankins, among the the 8 players shown on its depth chart for the TransPerfect Audio City Bowl.

Ferentz has claimed Iowa does study the transfer portal consistently and will go after gamers that would healthy the Hawkeye program each in terms of the position they participate in and from a character standpoint.

He just lately used as an case in point defensive deal with Jack Heflin, a graduate transfer from Northern Illinois.

“He labored challenging, stepped in and actually assisted solidify our defensive line this period,’’ Ferentz mentioned. “In his scenario, it labored the way it is meant to function and was a benefit to both equally the player and the workforce.’’

Ferentz also pointed to two quarterbacks who still left the Hawkeye plan, Cody Sokol who went on to start out at Louisiana Tech and Jake Rudock who transferred to Michigan, as players who benefitted from the method.

“On our conclude, we will give it our owing diligence and if we see someone who will be a fantastic in good shape, we will go after,’’ Ferentz said. “But we will be cautious and be respectful of the approach.’’