The Iowa Hawkeyes have lost a player to the transfer portal—and to make matters worse, he’s headed to a longtime Big Ten rival.
Defensive back John Nestor, who entered the portal late last month, has officially announced via social media that he’s transferring to the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Nestor appeared in 10 games for Iowa last season, recording 14 tackles and a fumble recovery in a limited role. With key defensive backs like Jermari Harris and Sebastian Castro leaving for the NFL, Nestor was poised to see more playing time in 2025. However, he’ll now be pursuing that opportunity elsewhere—specifically, with one of Iowa’s most notable rivals.
A 2023 recruit, Nestor notched just two tackles as a freshman. After two seasons with limited snaps, the Chicago native appears to be seeking a bigger role at a new school.
This offseason, Iowa has experienced several player departures through the portal. Still, they’ve also been active in adding new talent, bringing in quarterback Mark Gronowski, wide receiver Sam Phillips, and several offensive linemen.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz has expressed skepticism about the transfer portal, but if he wants to remain competitive, leveraging it effectively is becoming increasingly important.
The Hawkeyes finished the past season with an 8-5 record, ending with a loss to Missouri in the Music City Bowl—a disappointing conclusion to their year.
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