Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - 2021 commits Gennings Dunker and Zach Twedt join the show to discuss their recruitment, goals, and playing for Iowa

Episode Date: July 22, 2020

Class of 2021 Iowa football commits Gennings Dunker and Zach Twedt join the show today! We talk about their recruitment process, why they chose Iowa football, and how their class has been dealing with the recent information coming out of the program.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Rad Power BikesRight now as a limited time offer, get a free accessory with the purchase of a bike. That’s right. And FREE shipping to the lower 48 states. To get this special offer, text the word LOCKED to 64-000.FreshlyJoin almost ONE AND A HALF MILLION Satisfied Customers and skip the shopping, prepping, cooking, and clean up.  Freshly is offering our listeners FORTY DOLLARS OFF FOR THEIR FIRST TWO ORDERS at freshly.com/lockedon.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.ManscapedGo to Manscaped.com and use code Locked On to get 20% Off and Free Shipping. Manscaped is #1 in men’s below the belt grooming and offers precision-engineered tools for your family jewels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I thank God I was born on the good arms of the Midwest, and not on the battlefields of the U.S. It's a time of panic, and it's intercepted! It's picked off right away! Intercepted by Marty Hooker! Pick six! Eight seconds into the game! Buffen sets up deep in the pocket, goes down the field for Smith!

Oh! He's got it! Smith! Touchdown. 85 yards. High on. Touchdown, 10. Taking a shot in the end zone.

It is caught. No offense. Touchdown. That's either one or you have it. Go ahead and three. Yes. Two-point lead for the Hawkeyes podcast, your daily podcast covering your Iowa Hawkeyes and the Locked On Sports Network.

As always, I am your host, Andrew Wade, and I'm very excited for today's episode. We have two great guests on the show today. That is right. We have our very first dual interview with two commitments in the class of 2021. We have Jennings Dunker, the very first commitment in the class 2021, and Zach Tweet out of Roland Story. They are both joining the show today to talk a bit about their football recruiting, what they bring to the table as football players, what they're most excited about with joining the Iowa Hawkeyes,

and talking a little bit about some of the stuff that's happened over the last couple weeks and what they've done from a class perspective to handle that and deal with what has come to light in the last couple weeks. So great interview, great kids. Really excited to get that to you as well. Just a few moments, but we do have to take care of a few housekeeping items. If you are listening to the show for the very first time and you like what you hear, we do this every single Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

During actual college sports, we'll do this every single day. And if you like this show, please make sure to like, review, and subscribe wherever you downloaded this podcast at. Give us that five-star review and hit subscribe. That way you get this show downloaded every single time we post an episode. If you are on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, also give us a follow there. That's how we drop the podcast, let you know that an episode has hit. We also tease a few things and just talk about generally the stuff that's happening within Iowa sports.

Also, I know this is going to be a full interview today. I do want to make mention that there was a report that came out that says that Kirk Ferentz has known about some of the racial issues within the Iowa football program for the last year. I'm going to talk about that subject on Friday's episode. We're also going to talk about some of the basketball rankings that have come out with Iowa in the top five. I'm going to talk a little bit about that as well. So if you are interested in that news and you're looking forward to tuning into that today, check in on Friday. We'll be covering all that on that episode along with some other Iowa tidbits there.

So with that being said, let's hop into the interview with Zach and Jennings right now. interview with Zach and Jennings right now. So I'm joined here by two of the original recruits or the two original commits in the class 2021 for the Iowa Hawkeyes. We have Jennings and Zach on the podcast today. How are you guys doing today? Doing pretty good. Heck yeah, it's not too bad. Hell yeah. Obviously we all had some technology issues except for I guess Jennings was able to get on and have no issues. Zach, you and I struggled a bit, so we really kicked this off well. But let's kick off with an easy question. How are you guys feeling about this class 2021?

You already have 17 commits. Obviously, you two wanted to do this together. So what is the vibe like in that class right now? You want to go ahead, Jen? Me too. I guess I can take it um I think it's I think it's pretty good I mean we talk a decent amount and I think we got a lot of common uh goals and if we want to do together so I think that's pretty good

heck yeah and I mean I in my opinion it's just a very I don't solid class, as I want to put it. Like Jennings said, we've already got a great connection together. We've been communicating a lot on the same goals. It's exciting to know that everyone's mindset is in the same spot. Knowing that this class has a lot of potential to make a lot of history at the university. Definitely, man. One thing I can say is every time I talk to recruits, obviously very mature recruits, excited to play for the University of Iowa,

you two seem very similar to that. Obviously, when I emailed or texted Jennings and you, within five minutes you both wanted to hop on together. So that happened pretty quick. Sounds like you guys are pretty close in general. When I was talking to Jennings, you two hadn't actually had a conversation or not had a conversation you haven't met in person yet though right correct yeah we're a little distance away yeah yeah about four hours right yeah yeah that's what he's saying um so who who are you talking to do you guys have like a group

chat how does that work for your communication purposes correct yeah like i want to say a month and a half ago we started a Snapchat group chat, so it works out pretty well. You know, a lot of guys are sending videos or pictures of workouts, transitions into things with their programs this fall, and just, you know, we're all staying in touch with what we're doing this summer. So keeping it close. How was it to get your quarterback for the class every Iowa class has to have a quarterback um took a little bit longer to get this one but you have Joey now

um how has he integrated into that class pretty quickly uh I think he's integrated pretty well he's uh I think again he's got like a lot of the same goals and uh he wants to do within the program, and I think that's definitely a good thing. I love it. Zach, have you had a chance to talk to Joey at all? Not personally, just kind of in the group chat. But really excited for him and for us. He seems like a kid that's going to be a great leader offensively

for the University of Iowa. I don't know any other kid that would be able to fill the spot like he has so far. That's a great answer. And as far as you two go, Jennings, I think your position at Iowa makes a lot of sense. You're playing on the offensive line. Has there been any discussion about whether they want you on the interior or at the tackle position? And then, Zach, I'll take that up to you afterwards because you're coming in a little bit

vague as to what position you can play, and Iowa does like to move guys around. So, interested to see what they have kind of figured out for you as well. I think I'm definitely going to end up playing an offensive tackle because of how long my arms are because I have a 6'10 knee span. And my hands are massive. Like I can cover my whole face. And my hands are massive. Like I can cover my whole face.

But, yeah, I'll try to play an offensive tackle at Iowa. I love it, man. So how much weight do you think you need to put on, or what are you trying to get as far as a good playing weight before you get to University of Iowa? Obviously you'll put some more weight on there when you get into the weight room there, but what are you trying to get to before you get to Iowa? I don't know. I guess it's kind of like whatever I end up at because right now I'm weighing about 290 and I'm like I'm the fastest and most most athletic I've ever been like I'm running in the four nines and I'm jumping pretty good and stuff so I guess it's just I'll probably stick

around this way when I go in maybe around 300 makes sense I mean you that means you've already gained 25 pounds from your recruiting profile. I mean, obviously that was a little bit, you know, a couple of years ago, but that's pretty impressive already to have 25 more pounds on you. Yeah, I definitely gained some weight. And Zach, what about you, buddy? You're listed as an athlete. To me, that means you probably could be playing tight end.

You could be playing defensive back. If they want you to gain some weight, you could be a linebacker. There's a wide variety of positions you could be looking at back if they want you to gain some weight you could be a linebacker um there's a you know a wide variety of positions you could be looking at what have they talked to you about um i mean the main position so far has been linebacker i guess coach wallace and i have been communicating quite a bit you know i've been sitting in on some meetings with him um you know i've been sitting around lately around 25 to 230 for weight. Still being able to move and run pretty quick, so that's great. But like you said, as an athlete, it's hard telling, you know,

exactly what I'll play. Like last year for our 2A high school, I didn't do it. And so it'll just be interesting. You know, it makes it a little more complicated. And so it'll just be interesting. You know, it makes it a little more complicated. I'm not able to solely concentrate and master my craft on one position. You know, I'll be in between several others.

But just having the trust and faith in Iowa will put me where I can produce the most. Absolutely. So it sounds like you've gotten pretty close with Seth Wallace. It also sounds like Jay Neiman was a pretty big part of your recruitment. You accredited him to being a huge part of your recruitment. What was that experience like for you? Can you say that again? What was that recruiting experience like for you?

It was pretty crazy. It all happened within about a two-week period. Went to the Iowa camp last year, June 2nd. Coach Wallace, I think, came for a baseball game that week, and then it was that following week that I got a phone call and had that nice conversation with Coach Wallace. And just like that, receiving an offer. You know, then I posted it on social media while I was trying to play it, I don't know, business-like in regards to because of that at Iowa State. So I gave it a little bit of time, even though I didn't really want to. I kind of had my mind

made up. Tried to go about it in the most professional way. Took the time. Decommitted from Iowa State and then actually committed to Iowa on Thanksgiving. Otherwise, it's been a great ride so far. I've been having nice weekly conversations with both Coach Walsh and Coach Neiman. And I mean, that small variable right there already proves that I made the right choice. Absolutely, man. So I have to touch on the Iowa State thing real quick. You committed to Iowa State initially. Was your goal always to play in Iowa? Or was there something that changed when Iowa, you know, offered you actually the conversation in Iowa? Or was there something that changed when Iowa, you know,

offered you actually the conversation with Iowa? Correct. Growing up, I mean, I had no clue that I was going to be playing college football. Growing up being on a farm, I don't really watch TV. I don't watch professional sports. I don't have a, you know, NFL team or anything like that. I don't even watch TV. So it just kind of happened.

And I was like, well, I guess I'm kind of good at it. I'm going to get called. So let's go for it. So whatever walks the door. Yeah. So Iowa State came first. You said yes. Iowa came and you're like, this is way better.

Correct. Yep. I love it, man. Well, glad to have you as a Hawkeye. Jennings, you were the very first commitment in the class 2021. Correct. Yep. went to school with and Lena what made you decide to commit to Iowa so quickly? I've always I've always been like a Hawkeye fan my whole life like when we were younger we used to take like family pictures and Hawkeye shirts and stuff like that like I've always been a Hawkeye fan that's always something I've always dreamed about and it's just like I kind of once I got

invited to Iowa camp and I was talking to coaches that was like my that was the one goal and that was the one thing I really wanted so as soon as I got the offer, I took it. No sense in wasting time. Exactly. Have any schools tried to talk to you since then? I had a lot of schools talk to me after I came in, but I didn't respond to anything. It kind of died down. I haven't had a lot of schools talk to me recently. That's funny. What about you, Zach?

Any schools trying to get you to decommit from Iowa, especially after everything that's happened? I mean, same thing as Jennings. I've had a few messages from coaches, you know, KC or Nebraska. Obviously nothing from Iowa, sadly. But otherwise, no, I mean, I've made it pretty clear that my decision is set in stone I love it man um so as far as right now we're kind of in a weird time with coronavirus

um kind of going on how has that impacted your training how has it impacted your end of your junior years what are you doing to stay in shape right now what are you looking forward to most with your senior year coming up I know I just asked about four questions so feel free to answer whatever part of that you you really want to you want me to take it uh sure i think this whole coronavirus thing's actually been pretty great i mean it's a fact people are dying but for me personally it's been awesome um you know this is the first year or the first spring i was able to help my old man in the field um because you know right in the middle of track um in school and stuff that's great from a farming standpoint um you know it's also been pretty nice because i've

had a lot more time on my hands and so that's allowed me to be able to work out you know more than after school or more than before school. Especially, you know, I'm not dissing on track or anything, but track's kind of a time or period of time where you've got to be a lot more careful or you can't be fatigued or lifting heavy weight or, you know, pulling hamstrings, stuff like that. And so it's been great, you know, staying in shape. Every day I've been working out two to three times a week, trying to intake around you

know 4,500 5,000 calories a day um yeah eating about six meals a gallon of water is the minimum so yeah between working out two or three times a day and then kind of get a little job here in town keeps me pretty busy keeps me on a routine you. I hate to say my social life is completely weird, but it is what it is. I enjoy weights, and I enjoy eating, obviously. It keeps me busy and keeps me out of trouble. Sounds like you haven't had a bad experience then. What about you, Jennings? I mean, it sounds kind of bad, but it's been great for me.

Not to sound like, I guess, self-centered, but, yeah, when I started lockdown, I was able the first week to get into one of my buddies has a giant gym I've been working out at and I've been able to work out there four days a week, like, as long as I want, like, two, three hours and do everything I need. And I've got insanely stronger from that just, I don't know, from three months of just lifting on my own and stuff like that. So it's actually been really good for me that's awesome man I mean it sounds like you both taking advantage of a situation obviously not ideal for the world and the United States but you can only make the

situation the best for you and you guys have both done a really great job with that which is pretty great as far as going into next year if you were to have a football season what are your goals for your senior year of football and what are you looking to improve on before you get to Iowa go ahead James I think my team goals is uh would definitely be to win state and just be a great team and individual goals I get would be all-American, All-State, and I guess improve on Iowa, probably get – I don't know. Because I don't really – we don't – at my school, we don't do any pass block or anything, so it's not a whole lot of stuff I can transfer over.

Maybe just understand more concepts and stuff within football and stuff like that. Heck, yeah. Team goals for me this year would be well you know we got a new football coach coming in a role story um had a little transition there and so you know we've been having a lot of installs i guess my biggest thing would be you know try and lead the team you know the best i possibly can and uh make it not so much about myself but try and create a future for the future rolling story Norseman you know little guys coming up and also set a good example I guess one personal goal that I have would be to try and lead the state in tackles this year

last year I was you know second or third with 114 so we're gonna see if we can top that off I love man are either of you considering enrolling early and Iowa, are you both going to wait till the summer? I'm planning on enrolling early. Yes. Awesome. You seem pretty excited about it. Heck yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. Jennings is thinking about it.

I was thinking about it, but the only reason I'm not is because I want to take this high school shot put record. Otherwise, I would. The one thing I want. It's shot. Well, I think that's a fair excuse, man. You got to set that state record, though.

Otherwise, all for naught, right? Exactly. That's the goal. Yeah, we'll go get it man um as far as like who you model your game after um is there anyone from from the iowa program that you look up to someone you model your game after or anyone in the nfl obviously zach it sounds like you don't watch a ton of tv but have you been watching iowa at all the last year two years since the recruitment has started um who are you guys' role models in the football world? Hey, Jenny.

I don't know. I'm kind of the same boat as Zach. I don't watch a whole lot of TV. I'm not really sure who I would say I do. No, yeah, I'm the same way. I mean, I don't know. I don't follow players individually. You know, I just kind of follow the team and watch the game, try and learn a little bit, watch my position, but I don't know. I don't follow players individually. You know, I just kind of follow the team and watch the game,

try and learn a little bit, watch my position, but I don't necessarily look up to or focus or key on one person. Yeah. Makes sense. And then I know we talked about it a little bit before, but I have to ask the question. It's the big thing kind of going on in Iowa football. What are your thoughts on the direction of the program going forward? And how do you feel like you and your class can make changes going forward to make sure that something like the last month, month and a half doesn't really happen again within the Iowa football program? You know, it's obviously a very unique situation.

You know, I'm really trying to choose my words wisely. I just don't want to offend one side or the other. Um, you know, it kind of sucks. Coach Doyle was definitely one of the biggest reasons I chose Iowa. You know, the strength and conditioning has had a history of amazing success. Um, but luckily I'm not too concerned. It sounds like the new upcoming strength coach has been by coach Doyle's side for 10 plus years, around 15, even maybe. Um, and so that's pretty promising. You know, that's awesome. It sounds like for the most part, I've gotten reassurance from coaches that the program will most likely stay the same, just different leadership. Um, and so that's definitely something a lot easier to adjust to than an entire different program. So that's awesome. Looking forward to that, both in the class of – our class of 2021. You know, we've all been pitching in on reassurance.

You know, it's a huge thing, especially, you know, I've got a couple African-American recruits here, and I can definitely see some of the concerns that they have coming in and how they might second-guess some things. But we've all been there right by their side being pretty supportive because, again, no matter what happened, as fast as changes are going to be made, coaches are listening, coaches are changing, and that doesn't change the fact

that this class of 2021 can make a lot of history at the University of Iowa um collectively as a group you know so and that was a really well-worded answer man what about you Jennings um I guess I'll agree I'll just agree with everything Zach said I don't know if I can say it better but I guess one thing I'd say it's just it's all about how you like respond to the negative situation I guess to make the most out of it so that's what I would say you have to respond the right way that's fair enough man a couple other quick questions Jennings you are a wrestler sounds like as well right yep how do you feel like that helps you on the offensive line obviously Iowa, Iowa has a big history of offensive linemen who have that wrestling background. Did the Iowa coaches make any mention of that as one of the big reasons,

you know, one of the things they liked about you coming into Iowa? Yeah, they definitely – I think it definitely played a big part in that. I think it also definitely plays a big part in, like, my athleticism, how I can move because it really trains you to use your hips and use leverage and get low and stuff like that. I think it definitely helps me when I play football. And you wrestled at – did I read that right, that you actually cut down to 220 last year for wrestling?

My freshman and sophomore year I was 220. My freshman year I only weighed 190 pounds, like, at the most. Were you playing offensive line still? Yeah. Sophomore year I was like 220 and just last year I was, I would weigh in at like 260, around 260. So you wrestled heavyweight then finally? Yeah, junior year.

I was like, dear God, you shouldn't be cutting down to 220, man. That sounds miserable. No, I didn't do that. And, Zach, what other sports? So it sounds like you play track. You mentioned baseball a little bit. Do you play baseball as well or no? Well, I usually don't play track.

I run track. Yeah, excuse me, yeah. Just give me shit. No, you're good, man. Yeah, I used to play baseball. I didn't practice. You know, we tried to pack in 28 games in about a four or five week period um so you know i really want to be able

to pick up my shoulder by the end of the summer um otherwise yeah used to do baseball did basketball in the past might uh be wrestling this winter you know it'd be hard to go half a season with the team and then just up and feel kind of like a d-bag they might try wrestling so wait so you don't want to just pick up half a season for basketball but you're okay with doing it for wrestling oh yeah because wrestling basketball is a team sport like that way they used to play without but that way okay that that makes sense i had to bring it up like that's that seems kind of a little bit um backwards to me that that makes sense i had to bring it up i was like that's that seems kind of a little bit um backwards to me but that makes sense man yeah cool so i just have a couple um

pretty easy questions then just to get to know you um what is your favorite non-football activity do you consider weights football activity? No, man, that won't work. All right. I'll do that or farming. Farming is awesome. A and F, baby. All the way. What about you, Jennings? I like shooting off bottle rockets. I like slip and sliding.

Slip and slide, baby. Yeah. And I ride my little moped around. I think you take the cake for arguably the three best answers to that question that I've ever ever asked so great what what is your favorite football memory so far to both of you in our high school teams yep just in general anything you were ready to do football Yep, just in general. Yeah, anything you were ready to do football? I guess mine would have to be, you know,

having the privilege to play under Aaron Stenland. You know, we're kind of a distant family friend. If you look him up, you know, you can see plenty about him. Very famous high school football coach, very successful past in several sports, and so that's definitely it, but then, you know, being third in the state last year for tackles is pretty cool. Awesome. What about you Jennings? I would definitely beating,

it would definitely be beating the Orangeville Broncos two times in one season. That was amazing. In fifth grade baseball, I was on a, I was on the, like the, like the Lena Little League team. We were awful. Right. And we played Orangeville and they're like this travel team and they I was on the Lena Little League team. We were awful, right? And we played Orangeville, and they were like this travel team, and they'd freaking smoke just like 27-0. I'm coming for them.

Your grudge goes back to fifth grade. Exactly. All right. I can get on board with that, but, man, all right. All right. So next question then, what is your major going to be at iowa or are you both undecided um i'm not too sure yet haven't narrowed it down geez there's a lot more options than you think coming into high school to go into college um something along the lines of an entrepreneurial major would be sweet. But yeah, most likely business.

I honestly have no idea. Good answer. Fantastic. What is your favorite food to eat i'd have to say chicken and rice still some yum yum stuff good stuff i'd have to say that the rafters haystack burger what is that it's a restaurant i work at um there's like a haystack burger it's like a haystack it's like a it's like a burger and there's like provolone american cheese and there's onion rings on it so good oh all right sounds pretty delicious and so you work at the restaurant then

yeah i'm working at a restaurant for in the fall it'll be three years just a waiter or a cook uh i'm like a i'm kind of like a server kind of like i run food and stuff and then i wash dishes and i help out like with everything i guess all right so you get a lot of tips with all your backing something like that i usually get i shouldn't say that yeah something like that uh zach you said you had a job as well right what do you do yeah i serve some of them in here in story city it's like a little landscaping mowing uh just kind of manage the mowing side of everything so we do a lot of corporate businesses and residentials um and so you know it takes up a whole week so i'm able to manage

that while the other part of the company does you know applications for a lot of other projects but that way i love it man sounds like if you're ever in Denver, you could maybe help me figure out how to get grass on my yard. In Denver? Yeah. Dude, it is tough to grow grass out here. Like, it's borderline impossible. It's terrible. There's no rain.

Everything's dry. It's rough. Got some friends out there, for sure. Heck yeah, man. Well, hey, guys, I don't want to take up too much of your time. Just wanted to obviously get to know you. Last thing, though, before I let you both go, what do you want Iowa fans to know about you?

If you had to say one thing, what do you want them to know about you? Or what is one thing you would like to say to Iowa football fans that are listening to this podcast? And, yeah, I just put you on the spot there, Zach and Jennings. Uh-oh. You got some creepy eyes there, man. You were really staring into the camera there. This isn't live, is it? No, man, we're good.

This is not live. This will be airing probably Friday, and I probably won't post the video, but I can if you want to. Dude, the video would be kind of cool. Yeah. You might have to. The one thing that I want Iowa fans to know about me, without sounding like an arrogant kid.

I mean, if you say something real bad, I can edit it out. No, I'm excited. Can't wait to get over Iowa City. Can't wait to participate in a leadership role over there for the football team. See what this class has in store. I'm sure it'll be creating some sold-out games every weekend. I love it. Jennings, you have some time to think about it.

What are you saying, man? Unlike Zach, I want this to sound as arrogant as possible. I want everyone in Iowa City to know I can grow a better mustache than Zach Tweed. Oh, yeah, okay. You might have to put that in the podcast. We're going to have a poll when we get to Iowa City. I think there will be a poll right now. Like who has the better mustache right now?

And then in two years. No, not – okay. I got to send you a picture from a while ago. You sent me a picture. You don't want it. You don't want it. It's a bad picture. I got to send you a picture from a while ago. All right, you sent me a picture. You don't want it. You don't want it. It's a bad picture. I got to take a new one.

All right, Harrison, you both sent me your best picture. I'll put it on the poll. We'll see who has the best mustache. Winner takes all. And then we might try this again in two years. We'll see. Guys, I really appreciate you hopping on the show. I'm super excited for your careers at Iowa.

Stay safe out there with everything going on. And have a good night, y'all. All right, we are done with that interview and done with the episode. A big shout out to Zach and Jennings for taking the time out of their weeknight to chat with me on the show and talk a bit about Iowa football.

I hope you all had an opportunity to listen. Obviously, if you are at this point, you definitely did. I hope you did enjoy it as well. If you liked the episode, make sure to like, review, and subscribe wherever you downloaded this podcast at. Give us that five-star review. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Interact with us. Let us know if you have any questions. We have lots of great guests coming up in the next couple of weeks. We have the funniest woman in Iowa sports, Lucy Rodin, coming on the show next week as well. And we're also looking

to interview a few other kind of special guests. So stay tuned for that. And then on Friday, we are going to be talking about some of the reports that have recently come out saying that Iowa knew about some of the racial issues that came out about a year ago. So we're going to be talking about that on Friday's episode as well. Again, thank you all for tuning in to today's episode of the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Have a fantastic Wednesday. Stay safe out there and let's go Hawks.