Phil Parker has ‘good idea’ of Iowa’s starting cornerbacks, but ‘things change every day’

Iowa defensive coordinator reluctant to name starting cornerbacks with more than a week before start of 2024 season

IOWA CITY — Phil Parker has a “good idea” of who his starting cornerbacks will be in 2024.

But with 11 days to go until the Hawkeyes’ season opener, the Iowa defensive coordinator (and 2023 Broyles Award recipient) was reluctant Tuesday to name who specifically those starters will be.

“I got a list of guys and rank them, but things change every day with us throughout the practice,” Parker said.

Jermari Harris seems to be the likely answer at one of the spots as he approaches his sixth season of college football. He started 12 of Iowa’s 14 games last year, and Parker said he has been “taking a lot” of first-team reps in fall camp.

With another first-team cornerback spot up for grabs, the Hawkeyes’ options include T.J. Hall, John Nestor and Deshaun Lee.

Parker has been “seeing T.J. Hall grow and improve his standard of play.” Nestor is “really doing a good job, very competitive out there.” Lee, meanwhile, is “doing a heck of a job.”

“It’s really interesting to see those four over there,” Parker said. “One day, one guy might have a better day than the other guy. It’s depending on what day and what the point of attack, how productive are they?”

Lee started six games in 2023 — first in place of Harris during his two-game suspension and later in place of Cooper DeJean after his injury. Hall primarily played on special teams in six games before suffering an injury. Nestor played 10 games as a true freshman, also with the bulk of those snaps happening on special teams.

Iowa has not always been keen on rotating defensive backs. Iowa’s Week 6 win over Purdue last year, for example, featured only five players who took snaps in the secondary, according to Pro Football Focus’ snap counts. But its current depth at cornerback could create some options there.

“You can see maybe playing more guys in the back end, if you have to,” Parker said.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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