Iowa cornerback Jermari Harris will miss the team’s season opener against South Dakota State on Saturday, Sept. 3. Head coach Kirk Ferentz spoke on the disciplinary action involving the defensive back following his OWI arrest last week.

Harris was arrested early last Sunday morning. He was initially pulled over for driving without headlights. That’s when the officer noticed Harris’ bloodshot eyes.

From The Gazette:

The officer said Harris, who was driving a 2015 red Dodge Dart, was stopped for driving without headlights and had bloodshot eyes, impaired speech and balance and “smelled of ingested alcohol.”

Harris admitted he had been drinking, the officer said. His blood alcohol concentration was 0.096 percent, according to a Datamaster result in the police complaint. The legal limit for driving in Iowa is 0.08 percent.

Ferentz said he was “not happy” with the decision Harris made.

Harris appeared in 13 of Iowa’s 14 games last season and made 6 starts. He was credited with 34 tackles, 8 pass break-ups, 4 interceptions and 1.5 tackles for loss during Iowa’s 10-4 campaign.

The Hawkeyes closed the year with a B1G West title and a trip to the Citrus Bowl.

Harris was listed as a returning starting cornerback heading into the 2022 spring practice season. Ferentz confirmed of the suspension while meeting with reporters following the conclusion of spring practice.