In his final media comments before the game kicks off, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz revealed several Hawkeyes that won’t play versus Missouri in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.
Ferentz shared that senior center Logan Jones, junior wide receiver Seth Anderson and sophomore defensive back Koen Entringer will all be sidelined due to injury.
“A couple of things I’ll just share with you personnel-wise. We have three of our players that will not be available medically. Logan Jones will not be able to go. Didn’t make it there. Seth Anderson suffered an injury a couple of weeks ago, and he is not going to be able to go. I don’t see that happening. Koen Entringer, same thing,” Ferentz told reporters on Sunday.
Jones has been dealing with a broken bone in his right hand, which is his snapping hand. The 6-foot-3, 293 pound center practiced on Friday and was snapping with his left hand, but Iowa will turn to senior Tyler Elsbury in his Jones’ place.
“Last year Tyler stood in there I think for four games when Logan missed. He got injured and had to come out. Els did a great job, really good job. That is a real benefit. It’s a luxury item, quite frankly, to have him available. Nick DeJong did a great job when Dunk was out, and we didn’t miss a beat.
“It’s hard to replace a guy like Logan. Logan is not only a really good football player, team leader, he will be on the sideline tomorrow and can’t go, unfortunately. Tyler will do a good job. Great opportunity for him. I know he’s excited about it,” Ferentz said of Elsbury.
Jones has started all 12 games this season at center and 38 over the past three seasons for Iowa.
Meanwhile, Anderson has played in seven games this season and started two. The 6-foot receiver has caught five passes for 106 yards. Entringer has played in all 12 games, started one and has 18 tackles and one interception on the season.
Iowa will also be without senior linebacker Kyler Fisher, who has been listed as the Hawkeyes’ starting Leo. According to coach Ferentz, Fisher did not meet an eligibility requirement.
“We have three guys that won’t be able to go, and another guy I just want to mention, Kyler Fisher, one of our seniors, has an unmet eligibility requirement, which is kind of ironic. I can give you a whole commentary on college athletics today. He’s a graduate, but he has an unmet requirement there,” Ferentz said.
Without delving into all of the details, Ferentz sounded disappointed for Fisher and wanted to make note of the contributions that Fisher chose to continue making for the team in its bowl prep for Missouri.
“He’s not going to be able to compete. He’s been with us. I just want to take a minute to talk about him because to me he’s what’s good about college football. We hear about all these crazy stories.
“A little slip there, so he missed something, an assignment, whatever it may have been. He’s chosen to stay with the team. He’s a senior and has practiced each and every day, been on the look squad. That was not beneath him. He’s been doing a great job working against our defense,” Ferentz said.
Ferentz said Fisher’s journey at Iowa is an important one for the Hawkeyes.
“I think the story, the depth of things and why this is important. Walked on here from a small town in Iowa. We’ve had a real history of walk-ons doing special things for us.
“Three years ago I wasn’t sure he liked football, quite frankly, just watching him in the weight room and watching him in our program. It’s not that he was disinterested. Just didn’t look like he was really enjoying things. I’m not sure what happened to him, but this happens to a lot of guys in college. Somewhere along the way, somewhere year two and three, something just happened for him, and he’s just done an unbelievable job,” Ferentz said.
Fisher’s attitude and development is even more impressive considering he hasn’t been able to crack Iowa’s starting lineup.
“Hasn’t started. We’ve had some pretty good linebackers. Hasn’t started on the inside positions, but he was our starter outside and has been an unbelievable player in special teams the last couple of years.
“A great leader. Everything he does is first-class. I just want to single him out. It’s unfortunate he won’t play, but he’s been here doing a great job, and he’ll be on the sidelines with us tomorrow,” Ferentz said.
Iowa will close its season against Missouri from Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., with a 1:30 p.m. CT kickoff on ESPN.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions.
Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF