In its weekly availability report, the Iowa Hawkeyes listed junior wide receiver Kaleb Brown as out.
It’s the first time this season that the 5-foot-10, 200 pound receiver has been listed on Iowa’s availability report. After serving a one-game suspension to begin 2024, Brown has played sparingly this season for the Hawkeyes.
Brown has played in just three games this season and has registered just the one catch for 18 yards versus Troy on Sept. 14. This comes after Brown caught 22 passes for 215 yards with a touchdown in 2023. Brown’s receptions and receiving yardage both second second among Iowa wide receivers last season.
Ahead of the Hawkeyes’ Cy-Hawk date versus Iowa State on Sept. 7, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz discussed Iowa’s plans for Brown.
“Then Kaleb Brown, it’s going to be good to get him back, too. The deal was last week he worked on the scout team against our defense, and Phil and those guys did a great job, and that’s what you want to hear. He had a great attitude about it. He’s back in the rotation now and he’ll be out there Saturday. I don’t know how much, but he’ll be out there,” Ferentz said.
According to Pro Football Focus, Brown has tallied just 19 snaps this season. The Chicago product registered a season-high 11 snaps against Iowa State in Week 2.
Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester was asked about the absence of Brown last week during the Hawkeyes’ bye week.
“I think he’s really just getting to understand the timing of the game. We’ve had him targeted a couple times that he just hasn’t run the route quite like we needed him to. Today was probably his best day. He’s really starting to get in it. We’ve got to find ways to get him the ball.
“I’d like to build this thing where we have seven, eight, nine, 10 guys that can run a route and catch a ball and he needs to be one of those guys. But, he has to continue working on all the little things and the technique and the detail.
“That’s his main issue. When he’s on time, man, when he catches the ball, did you see the way he punctured vertical? That part is natural. We have a couple things to get him the ball, but he’s just really got to work on his fundamentals.
“I’m excited because I do see hands-wise, the guy makes one-handed catches at practice all the time. He’s blocking really physically right now, which I’ve been really proud of, so we’ve got to continue to grow his role in the offense without a doubt,” Lester said of Brown.
Brown was the only player listed on the Hawkeyes’ availability report. Senior running back Leshon Williams and junior wide receiver Seth Anderson were both out on Iowa’s Week 4 availability report at Minnesota, but that duo is now back healthy at Ohio State.
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