Tag: Hawkeyes Football

Iowa legend coming back as honorary captain for Hawkeyes vs. Rutgers

Iowa has an abundance of legends that have worn the black and gold. One of those legends will be the honorary captain versus Rutgers.

Some are believers that the presence of greatness can elevate others. For the Iowa Hawkeyes, they are hopeful that can be the case this Saturday as they host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a massive tilt with Big Ten West implications on the line for the Hawkeyes.

Everyone knows that Iowa produces NFL-caliber tight ends like an assembly line at a factory. One position group that they also consistently pump out talent from is the secondary, be it safeties or cornerbacks.

One of those talents will be back this Saturday inside Kinnick Stadium. Desmond King will be the honorary captain.

King’s career at Iowa is up there among the best that have been through the program. his career is littered with awards and recognition. At Iowa, he totaled 263 tackles, 47 pass breakups, and 14 interceptions.

Desmond King was first-team All-Big Ten in 2015 and 2016, a unanimous All-American in 2016, the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year in 2015, and the Jim Thorpe Award winner in 2015. King went on the be drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers. In 2018, he was a first-team All-Pro.

Iowa has continued its ways of producing outstanding defensive talent to follow in King’s footsteps. For Hawkeye fans, they may be hoping that his presence can bring some ball-hawking this Saturday.

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Next in line: Jay Higgins named a Dick Butkus Award Semifinalist

Jay Higgins is filling the big shoes of being an Iowa linebacker. The Hawkeyes’ defensive leader is a Dick Butkus Award Semifinalist.

Entering this season, the linebacker position might have been viewed as one of the question marks facing the Iowa Hawkeyes and their defense. That question has been answered and then some this year.

Jay Higgins is the answer. The leader of the Iowa defense has waited for his time to shine and taken full advantage of it. The linebacker leads the team in tackles and is among the best tacklers in America.

His play this year has earned him a spot among the nation’s finest linebackers. Jay Higgins has been named a semifinalist for the Dick Butkus Award. The award is given out annually to the most impactful linebacker in America.

Jay Higgins has been every bit of impactful so far this year. He leads Iowa in tackles with 113 tackles through nine games. He averages 12.6 tackles per game. Higgins is third in the nation in total tackles and second in tackles per game.

Higgins is stepping into his role right on the heels of one of Iowa’s best linebackers they have ever seen in Jack Campbell, last year’s Dick Butkus Award recipient. Higgins is looking to be Iowa’s second Dick Butkus Award winner in as many years.

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Iowa Hawkeyes’ Drew Stevens earns the title of Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week

After a game-winning field goal to move the Iowa Hawkeyes to 7-2, Drew Stevens has been named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.

The money man for the Iowa Hawkeyes once again came through in the clutch as he has done so many times before. Drew Stevens saved the day for Iowa in their 10-7 victory over the Northwestern Wildcats on a blustery day at Wrigley Field.

The 52-yard field goal proved to be the game-winning kick to put Northwestern to bed. The kick was the most important play of the day for the Hawkeyes and may prove to be one of the most important plays of the season with the trajectory it could put the Hawkeyes on. The kick was also good enough to earn Drew Stevens honors as the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.

Stevens has been a luxury for the Hawkeyes this year. He is proving to be one of the most consistent players on this team and one of the best kickers in America. On the year he is 14-18 on field goal attempts with a long of 53 yards while being a perfect 16-16 on extra points.

Drew Stevens has been great since the day he began at Iowa. In just his second season, Stevens has a career mark of 30-36 on field goals while being automatic on extra points by connecting on all 40 tries.

Iowa is going to be in tight ballgames the rest of the way and each kick coming off of Stevens’ right is going to be amplified. He has answered the bell every time so far with ice in his veins.

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Hawkeyes trending in opposite directions in USA TODAY Sports Re-Rank, CBS Sports 133

Despite being on a bye week, the Hawkeyes saw some movement in the rankings. Curiously enough, they trended in opposite directions.

The last week and a half for the Iowa Hawkeyes has been nothing short of tumultuous and full of storylines. From the punt return issue versus Minnesota to the decision that Brian Ferentz will not be back as offensive coordinator in 2024, it can be forgotten Iowa has a game coming up.

Not just any game, either. They are headed to Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, to take on the Northwestern Wildcats who suddenly look frisky and not the cakewalk game many envisioned.

Amid all of that, the Hawkeyes still saw some movement in multiple ranking outlets despite not playing. All movement is due to other teams winning or losing and moving the Hawkeyes around. What is interesting is these rankings view Iowa as moving in different directions.

USA TODAY Sports provides the weekly re-rank and slotted Iowa up at No. 28, despite a three-spot slide. Northwestern saw a four-spot jump and sits at No. 81 with a 4-4 overall record.

CBS Sports 133 also moved the Hawkeyes but it was by no work done themselves. Their rankings moved the Hawkeyes up two spots to No. 35. The Wildcats are No. 80 but saw one of the biggest jumps of the week after they climbed 12 spots.

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Cooper DeJean named Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist

Cooper DeJean has been nothing short of spectacular this year. His play has him as a Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist.

The 2023 campaign for Cooper DeJean has not skipped a beat from where he left off after bursting onto the scene in 2022. All of the preseason hype and recognition are for real and may have even underestimated the product out of Odebolt, Iowa.

DeJean has been nothing short of spectacular for the Iowa Hawkeyes on the defensive side of the ball. He takes away teams’ top receivers and eliminates half of the field at times with his stickiness in coverage. His play has earned him recognition as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Each year, the Jim Thorpe Award is given out to the best defensive back in college football. It isn’t only that, though. The player’s athletic ability and character also play into the decision. DeJean has proven to be an exemplary defensive back in all three areas.

DeJean’s 2023 season has seen him make plays regardless of where he is on the field. He has 38 total tackles, three pass deflections, two interceptions, is averaging 12.28 yards per punt return, and has a punt return touchdown.

If DeJean were to take home this hardware, he would join fellow Iowa defensive back Desmond King, the 2015 winner of the Jim Thorpe Award.

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Kickoff time for Iowa Hawkeyes versus Rutgers Scarlet Knights announced

Iowa welcomes in Rutgers next week in their final Big Ten divisional crossover game. Kickoff time and the network have been announced.

In what will be the final Big Ten divisional crossover game for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2023, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights come to Kinnick Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11. This will also be Iowa’s final crossover game in the current configuration of the Big Ten; East and West divisions go to the wayside next year with the new-look conference.

Iowa welcomes the Scarlet Knights in for a mid-afternoon kickoff inside Kinnick. Kickoff time will be at 2:30 p.m. CT and is going to be able to be viewed on the Big Ten Network.

The game will be Iowa’s annual Military Appreciation Game. This game has become a tradition for Iowa. The Hawkeyes often ditch the yellow Tigerhawk logo in favor of one decked out in the American flag.

What many may have viewed as a bit of a dud just a few years ago has morphed itself into a matchup of two teams already bowl-eligible just eight games into the season. Iowa and Rutgers each carry a 6-2 record at the moment.

Iowa heads to Wrigley Field to take on Northwestern prior to Rutgers coming to town. The Scarlet Knights have a much more daunting task of hosting the Ohio State Buckeyes this weekend.

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Hawkeye fans react to news that Brian Ferentz won’t return as OC in 2024

Brian Ferentz won’t be returning as offensive coordinator in 2024. Iowa fans reacted across social media to the long awaited news.

The move has long been speculated among fans, supporters and anyone discussing the Iowa Hawkeyes. On Monday the speculation ended.

David Eickholt of Hawkeye Insider was first to report Brian Ferentz would not return as the offensive coordinator in 2024.

Interim Iowa athletics director Beth Goetz confirmed the news on Monday afternoon.

“Anyone who loves Iowa football recognizes both the success and challenges that have brought attention to our program this season. Our struggles on offense coupled with the offensive coordinator’s contract make this a unique situation.

“After conversations with head coach Kirk Ferentz, coach Brian Ferentz and President Wilson, I informed Brian that our intention is for him to be with us through the bowl game, but this is his last season with the program. Making this known today is in the best interest of the program and its loyal fans; it provides clarity during this pivotal time in the schedule,” Goetz said in a statement.

The Hawkeyes’ offense has struggled the last few years and this move signifies change is coming. Brian Ferentz took a pay cut prior to the season along with an amended contract that called for Iowa to average 25 points per game and to win at least seven games in order for Ferentz to remain as the Hawkeyes’ offensive coordinator.

While Iowa will likely hit the seven-win threshold — it is 6-2 — it is a ways off the points per game mark. Through its first eight games, Iowa has scored 156 points, or 19.5 points per game.

Iowa would need to score 169 points over its next five games, or average 33.8 points per game to meet that 25 points per game mark. If the Hawkeyes make it to the Big Ten Championship game, Iowa would need to score 194 points over its next six games, which equates to an average of 32.3 points per game.

As expected, social media took to it when the news broke. Here are social media reactions from Hawkeye fans regarding the news.

Hawkeyes freefall in USA Today Re-Rank, CBS Sports 133 rankings

The Iowa Hawkeyes took a tumble in both the USA TODAY Sports Re-Rank and the CBS Sports 133 Rankings after their loss to Minnesota.

Most teams would be very happy to be sitting at 6-2 after eight weeks while still having a chance to win their division in their conference. In the grand scheme of things, the Iowa Hawkeyes record and what is in front of them is positioned a lot better than most teams. How they have gotten here is another thing, though.

It has been about as putrid and bad as it can be offensively for the Hawkeyes. Scoring 10 points against Minnesota isn’t going to get it done and it certainly isn’t going to draw and brownie points in the rankings.

USA TODAY Sports provided their weekly NCAA Re-Rank 1-133 and the Hawkeyes saw a large fall. Iowa fell nine spots from No. 17 down to No. 26. Surprisingly, USA TODAY’s Paul Myerberg still has the Hawkeyes on the cusp of his top 25.

The CBS Sports 133 was not so kind to Iowa. Iowa was at No. 25 in their rankings last week and freefell 12 spots down to No. 37.

Iowa’s next opponent, after a bye week this upcoming weekend, is the Northwestern Wildcats. USA TODAY has the Wildcats at No. 85 in the NCAA while CBS slots them down at No. 92.

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Goin’ Gold: Social media reacts to Iowa’s alternate uniforms versus Minnesota

Social media had their investigative hats on and nailed this one. Reactions to Iowa’s alternate gold uniforms against Minnesota.

Where there is smoke, there is fire. That old saying holds true once again.

The Iowa Hawkeyes were teasing a potential alternate uniform all week which led to fan speculation on social media. The speculation and conspiracies have proven to be true as it is official that Iowa will be donning their third alternate uniform set of the year when they take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The announcement came from the official Iowa Football twitter account after a few cryptic messages that led fans to know something was coming. While the entire ensemble has yet to be shown in all of its glory, fans can imagine what the uniform looks like. Some fans have even taken to photoshop to craft up what this uniform set may look like in its entirety.

As Iowa gets ready to take on Minnesota in a massive Big Ten West showdown, here are some of the social media reactions to the alternate uniforms for the Hawkeyes.

Former Hawkeye LB Jack Campbell’s run defense grading out among the best in NFL

Jack Campbell’s run defense in the Detroit Lions’ 20-6 Week 6 win over Tampa Bay earned an elite grade from Pro Football Focus.

Not too many guys like to stick their nose into a hole and meet a running back at full speed anymore. It can be a lost art in the game of football. But, it still remains a crucial piece of a good defense.

The former Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker, Jack Campbell, is in his rookie year for the Detroit Lions and is already showing his willingness and ability to be a hard-nosed player on the field. In a way, Campbell personifies the culture that the Lions emanate. They are hard-nosed, physical, and not afraid.

Campbell’s style of play matches that and it shows. Pro Football Focus graded Jack Campbell as the highest-graded rookie run defender in the NFL in Week 6.

In the Lions’ 20-6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Campbell registered seven tackles, including three solo tackles.

The first-round draft pick is already paying dividends to the Lions for their trust in taking him earlier than many suspected he would go in the 2023 NFL draft. Through six games, Campbell has accumulated 26 total tackles, a sack, and one pass deflection. The former Hawkeye has these numbers with just two starts, but he is rapidly making a case that it’s hard to take him off the field.

Campbell and his fellow Iowa rookie, tight end Sam LaPorta, have been contributors very early in their careers for the Lions. They know how to win games and played serious parts in helping Detroit get out to a strong 5-1 start.

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