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Wide Receiver Jerminic Smith No Longer With Hawkeyes

By Joe Favia

Oct 10, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Jerminic Smith (9) catches a pass for a first down as Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Eaton Spence (27) defends in the first half at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa beat Illinois 29-20. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Iowa City, IA, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Jerminic Smith (9) catches a pass for a first down as Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Eaton Spence (27) defends in the first half at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa beat Illinois 29-20. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports /
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Today it was announced that wide receiver Jerminic Smith will not be apart of the Hawkeyes this Fall. This coming after Smith was not apart of the recent Spring activities with the team. With this news, it puts the wide out position in potentially further flux with the season ever approaching.

Smith, who was Iowa’s top returning receiver in catches and yards was slotted in by many to be a starter for the 2017 season with a lack of depth in upper classmen at the position. The Garland, Texas native ends his Hawkeyes career after two seasons in which he climbed up the depth chart after a great deal of attrition at the position.

Smith’s best game came in his first appearance for the Hawkeyes in 2015 against Illinois. He caught 4 passes for 118 yards on the afternoon. Known for his dependable blocking, it will be a tough departure heading into the Summer.

The Hawkeyes now hope that recovering star Senior receiver Matt Vandeberg can return in time for the season. Behind him in terms of upper classmen are unproven pass catchers including Ronald Nash, Adrian Falconer and Brandon Bishop. Junior College transfer Nick Easley may now be in line to start after rave reviews since coming to Iowa City.

This departure along with the injury-related retirement of Jay Scheel in January, should allow younger receivers such as Devonte Young, Dominique Dafney and the amongst the five 2017 recruits including: Brandon Smith, Henry Marchese, Max Cooper, Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Trey Creamer (if used on offense) to see the field come September.

Of course, Akrum Wadley will be seeing more than his share of the football, and the Hawkeyes feature a strong tight end’s room, including the potentially dynamic Noah Fant.