Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Hawkeye Football: Last look at Cy-Hawk & Predictions, 4 * Nicolai Brooks commitment

Starting point is 00:00:00 it's time to officially go on record predictions and how Iowa wins this game on the road against Iowa state. Plus Iowa picks up a big four-star offense alignment and Nick Brooks over Alabama, Georgia, Florida state. You are locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes part of the the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.

Starting point is 00:00:38 Welcome in. I'm Trent Condon. It's hate week. And this is the Locked On Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We are everywhere where you get your podcast. You can also find us on YouTube. While you're there, hit that subscribe button.

Starting point is 00:00:56 Helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. Also lets you know when we go live with instant reaction. We have a short up with the big news right after it came out. Nick Brooks making his commitment to the Hawkeyes. And after each and every game, we got you covered there. It lets you know when we are available. Also, after the Cyhawk game tomorrow evening, we will be going live with an instant reaction podcast here on the Locked On Network.

Starting point is 00:01:21 Today's episode is brought to you by GameTime. on the Locked On Network. Today's episode is brought to you by GameTime. Download the GameTime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE for $20 off your first purchase. Let's get into it here. Oh, what a great day as we are on the eve of CyHawk. Our last look at the Hawkeyes as they prepare for the matchup against Iowa State.

Starting point is 00:01:41 And as we've been talking about a lot this week, it is two teams where it still feels like we are feeling out, right? Getting that feeling out process of the early portion of the season. A week ago, both teams really had similar type of games. Now, if you just look at the final score, you see that Iowa State wins the game 30 to 9. Iowa wins the game 24 to 14. And you think that Iowa was in much more of a dogfight than they actually were against Utah State. Look, Utah State got their only touchdown of the game against the reserves.

Starting point is 00:02:10 It was a 24 to 6 game. It was, as we like to say, the Ference lockbox where they were going to run the football, punt it back, play defense and win the game. They got some reps out of the reserves, but this was not a game where the Iowa defense struggled. Were there disappointing elements to it? I think so. Just getting to the quarterback one time is a part of that. Only one sack in the game, and that came from Deontay Craig in the first half of the football game.

Starting point is 00:02:37 You could call that disappointing. Were there some missed tackles? Absolutely, but it's also first game. First game a year ago, they came out on fire against South Dakota State, and they needed it in the 7-3 win. This one played out a little bit differently. The offense jumped out with those two scores early and really changed the complexion of the game. And you look at Iowa State, boy, they must have dominated you and I winning that game 30-9. They didn't. And, you know, it's funny because as the week has progressed, as it has gone on, I maybe have become more and more concerned. And yet, for whatever reason, as we sit here,

Starting point is 00:03:12 and maybe it's the news of the Knicks-Brooks commitment just put me in a better mood, in a better mental spot for this football game, it feels like some clarity is starting to come to me now. And we'll get into that as we make our prediction. But I want to start here, some of the keys to the game as I look at it. Now, we've talked about number one, running the football. Chad Leistico of the Des Moines Register, he had a great article earlier this week talking about the team that runs the football the most. Not who runs for the most yards, who just runs the ball the most has won 14 of the last 15 of the matchups

Starting point is 00:03:45 between Iowa and Iowa state. It's a pretty incredible number. Again, not rushing yardage, not totals, just who runs the ball the most. It really, it makes sense because both of these teams,

Starting point is 00:03:56 even going back before Matt Campbell was there, they still want to run the football. They still want to be able to do that. And in order for Iowa to be at their best offensively, they have to run the ball and not just run it and hit a couple of big plays. It also opens up so much more with what I was able to do in the passing game, run that running game gets going. Cade McNamara, it is said earlier this week by Kirk Ferentz that he's going to be limited.

Starting point is 00:04:21 The quarterback sneak, which has been a huge part of the Iowa offense for a long time now, that's out right now, at least with Cade McNamara in the game. The ability for him to move, to go out, to do the bootlegs, to do the waggles, those are also big parts of the Iowa offense. And I don't know if they completely ripped the pages out. I would find that highly unlikely, but they're not able to do it at minimum as much as they probably would like to. All right. So you have that component and maybe it spooked me just a little bit. Maybe it made me a little bit too nervous about that.

Starting point is 00:04:53 We talked earlier today on my radio show. You can catch me every weekday from 11 to 1 on KXNO here in Des Moines, where I'm from and on the iHeartRadio app. You can catch our radio show. It's just called Miller & Condon. Myself and Ken Miller are talking sports and a lot of sports wagering and a whole lot more. We had Tom Caker on today from HawkeyeReport.com, part of On3 Media.

Starting point is 00:05:14 And Tom mentioned, I know he has a really good relationship with Cade McNamara. Tom does a lot with the Hawkeye Swarm, the NIL Collective, getting money back to these student athletes. And I know that he's had an opportunity to talk with Kate a lot. So I posted to him, you know, I'm probably get a little bit more than just what we're able to see in the press conferences and the like, what do you say? And one thing that Tom said is that he's feeling better, better than he was at this time a week ago. That was a woe for me. That was an eye-opener because to be honest, I was ready to pick Iowa State. In fact, on the radio show, I picked Iowa State and then I

Starting point is 00:05:53 reevaluated and I thought, all right, McNamara may be feeling a little bit better. He's not 100%. He more than likely is not going to be 100% throughout the course of the season, unless he's able to shut it down for a week or two. That's the only way that I see him being what you'd call 100%. But feeling better, that's good. And maybe it is just understanding the pain tolerance, understanding what needs to be done in order to get him ready. Whatever it is, that was an eye-opening moment for me. Iowa has to run the football. Back to the point. Get there, Condon. All right, back to the point. Iowa has to run the football. Back to the point. Get there, Condon. All right, back to the point. Iowa has to run the football because it opens up so much. You don't want Cade McNamara that has to only really work out a shotgun. A, Iowa's not shown an ability to run out a shotgun as they've tried to do it over the last couple of years. And secondly, you don't want him to be a

Starting point is 00:06:39 sitting duck back there. You want to be able to have your full complement of the offense. And even with the limitations of the offense, and there are plenty of those, you definitely want that to be able to have your full complement of the offense. And even with the limitations of the offense, and there are plenty of those, you definitely want that to be a piece of what we're going to see coming up on Saturday. Look, the Iowa State defense is good. Now, where, and it's certainly their defensive backfield. I mean, that's the strength of Iowa State. TJ Tampa, he's going to be a top 100 pick in the NFL draft.

Starting point is 00:07:00 They got dudes back there. You saw it last week with the pick six. They got some dudes in the defensive backfield. And though their defensive line played well, I also have to remind myself of this. You and I was breaking in four offensive line starters last week. They had just one guy back from their offensive line a year ago. And that young front that they have, Peterson's the veteran, Notikin. Played really well. And Dominic Orange in the middle. But those guys are really young.

Starting point is 00:07:28 Those last two guys that I mentioned. And those two guys. Have certainly not even seen. Even. An offensive line. To Iowa standards. Not very good. But an offensive line like this.

Starting point is 00:07:37 The offensive line that they're going to see is better. Than what you and I tried out there. Even with the deficiencies of this Iowa defensive line. Offensive line. Excuse me. They're going to be there. All right, so I had that, and it's bringing me back. Bringing me back to my sane space, right? Maybe. We're getting there.

Starting point is 00:07:52 We're talking ourselves into it. Running game, got to be better. Going up against a young front. And also the linebackers for Iowa State, really green. Jack Sadowski is their guy in the middle. He's a freshman, a true freshman. They're really inexperienced in that linebacker group. Inexperienced in their front three.

Starting point is 00:08:08 The 3-3-5 stack has given Iowa a lot of problems. Iowa has not shown an ability to run the football against this Iowa State front and what they do defensively with Haycock. However, it's still young. It's still green. There's no Will McDonald up there. There's no Isay Ali. There's not the guys that we've seen in the past up front. There's no Mike Rose in the middle of that defense. Get me a little bit more optimistic. Keys to the game. Don't turn it over. Iowa has dominated turnovers in this series as of late, and they dominated a year ago and still couldn't find a way to get it done in the 10-7 loss. The

Starting point is 00:08:41 fumble on the goal line, opportunity late, still couldn't get it done. I'm coming around. I'm coming around. We'll make our official prediction. And the big news of the day, four-star offensive lineman, Nikolai Brooks. Nick Brooks from Cedar Rapids,

Starting point is 00:08:57 Kennedy, has made his commitment. He chooses the Hawkeyes, and who the Hawkeyes beat for him, absolutely incredible. We'll get into that as we continue here. Locked on Hawkeyes, and who the Hawkeyes beat for him, absolutely incredible. We'll get into that as we continue here, Locked on Hawkeyes. Today's episode is brought to you by Nutrafol. Men, you tired of weakening or thinning hair? Well, you can see me.

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Starting point is 00:10:23 Nutrafol.com slash men. That is spelled N-U-T-R-A-F-O-L.com slash men. And enter that promo code LockedOnCollege. Again, Nutrafol.com slash men. Promo code LockedOnCollege. Trent Conant back with you once again on the LockedOnHawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making LockedOnHawkeyes your first listen every day. So we're getting into the keys here.

Starting point is 00:10:48 They're the simple ones. Run the football. Don't turn it over. Those are easy, right? Here's another one for you. Win the special teams battle. It's something that I was dominated. Iowa State finally has a dedicated special teams coach.

Starting point is 00:11:02 I don't understand why all programs don't do that. It took Matt Campbell seven years to figure it out, but here they are still winning. We saw the big kick return, setting up the first touchdown of the game from Caleb Johnson. Absolutely. Torrey Taylor. Hey, we can't be leaky up here.

Starting point is 00:11:19 We cannot allow Iowa state to get a cheapie, get a pump block, get a field goal block, return, have a big return. Can't do it. Can't afford it. And a game that I believe is going to be low scoring, it's going to be grinded out, it's going to be a slugfest. You can't have these

Starting point is 00:11:36 things happen. And Iowa's been good. We know that. But you let a guy that had blocked three kicks a year ago come through the middle last week against Utah State. Can't have it. Not just play even, win special teams. Iowa State set up their second touchdown and a big punt return.

Starting point is 00:11:53 Can't allow it. In a game that I believe is going to be 13-10, 17-13, maybe 20-17, you can't allow that to happen. One other thing that has been bouncing around in my mind before I make my prediction for Iowa State, and that is what happens in this football game with Phil Parker. You go back to the 2019 game where Iowa came roaring back and won it 18-17. That's when, of course, we got to see the Iowa State punt team

Starting point is 00:12:23 run into each other, fumble the ball, give it back, and Iowa was able to put a knee on it and pick up the victory you go back to that game though and for a while Brock Purdy was on fire I mean he was doing whatever he wanted to as Iowa State raced out to an early lead that was also the rain delay game he was on point I mean he was throwing the football wherever he wanted and then finally Phil Parker decided to dial up the pressure and to change the complexion of the football game. Now going up against a raw quarterback and Rocco Beck. Going up against a guy that was okay against you and I.

Starting point is 00:12:56 Didn't do a whole lot. Took a couple of shots, missed on him. It was a Charlie Checkdown kind of game for Beck. Do you sit back and do what we normally see I would do? Get that feeling out process, figure out what they're doing, and then make the adjustments, make the changes in the game plan. Or if you're Phil Parker and you say, hey, we still don't know about this offense.

Starting point is 00:13:20 We still don't know what they're going to get. Let's bring the pressure right away. Let's go after this raw quarterback and this offensive line that from Iowa State still has not shown enough from them that they're remarkably improved from what we've seen. They're without their best offensive lineman to Jake Remsburg, who's out with the gambling suspension for six games. Let's go after him. I want to see it. Bill dialed up right away. Let's not dig around here. games. Let's go after him. I want to see it. Phil, dial it up right away. Let's not dig around here. Let's not have that holding up process. Let's not go after the quarterback. Let's bring the pressure. Let's make them beat us deep. Let's see if they can do it. Let's see if the young man

Starting point is 00:13:54 is ready to go. That's what I want to see from Phil Parker. Are we going to get it? Let's get to the prediction. Now, two caveats here. This summer, really back in the spring, I bought everything I could on the Hawkeyes in this football game. With the impending gambling investigation, knowing that they were going to be without Hunter Deckers, Jarrell Brock, a few of the other names that are out there,

Starting point is 00:14:17 Remsburg, Hanneke, knowing that I bought everything. I went one point back on May 5th on FanDuel. You could have got the Hawkeyes getting points, plus one and a half, and I did. And I loaded up for me heavy. It was a 10-unit play. Now, 10 units is probably a little bit different

Starting point is 00:14:34 than other people, but I loaded up for me. And then I added more. And even when Iowa went to become the favorite, I still kept adding. So first with that one and a half, this is how I'm going to play it gambling wise. What I did is I picked up Iowa State plus four and a half. I delayed minus 118 at FanDuel to do it.

Starting point is 00:14:56 But what that sets up for me with the one and a half ticket that I have and now the four and a half with Iowa State. If you're new to gambling, that means if Iowa wins this football game by four, three, two, one, or even Iowa State wins by a point, I win both of my bets. I win both sides of it.

Starting point is 00:15:12 It's pretty good. It's a pretty good middle. So that's how I'm playing at gambling. But in terms of away from the gambling side, just how this game's going to go, I believe that this defense is going to be ready. I believe that throughout the week, maybe I was overstating this Iowa State defense

Starting point is 00:15:28 because I have question marks about their young front three and then their three linebackers. I do have questions there. And I think this Iowa offensive line is going to take a step forward in the run game from what we saw a week ago. I don't think Iowa's going to be moving the football up and down the field

Starting point is 00:15:42 and doing whatever they want to in this football game. That's not what this is going to be. What it is going to be, though, is a Hawkeye victory. I was going to get it done. 17-12 is the final. Hawkeyes get the win. Go to 2-0. We get the mini-bye next week against Western Michigan, and we are set.

Starting point is 00:15:59 That's what we have. I'm going back on my prediction I gave on radio. I can't do it. I just can't. Not with you folks here on Lockdown Hawkeyes. You're with me every single day. I love you gave on radio I can't do it, I just can't not with you folks here on Lockdown Hawkeyes you're with me every single day, I love you for it I can't do it, maybe you help me out the comments section, you guys definitely

Starting point is 00:16:13 help me out over there, call me out a little bit making this team sound like the 85 Bears you're exactly right, no this defense is good, John Haycock I respect the hell out of him, I really do as a defensive coordinator, and I still have my questions about Bryant as a play caller. And the matchup there, I mean, it is a huge deficit

Starting point is 00:16:30 between Bribo and what they have with Haycock defensively. Still, it's about the Jimmys and the Joes, and our Jimmys and Joes are better than what Iowa State has. Iowa, 17-12, we get the win. We come back and talk about a future Iowa Hawkeye. That is right. Iowa has hit it big in the recruiting world. A four-star offensive lineman.

Starting point is 00:16:52 We need offensive line help. Iowa was able to do just that when they picked up the commitment of Nick Brooks. We'll talk about him and who Iowa beat to get him. Absolutely amazing. Iowa picks up a big, big four-star. We do that as we continue here. Locked on Hawkeyes. Well, you can catch the Iowa game

Starting point is 00:17:12 as they get ready to take on Iowa State tomorrow on Sirius XM. Of course, 2.30 kickoff on the Hawkeye Broadcast Network, and you can catch it as well on Sirius XM. 2.30 kickoff there with the hometown broadcast. That's right. You can hear Gary Dolphin on the call for the broadcast on Sirius XM. Just go to the SXM app and search Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:17:36 It'll pop right up there for you, and you can find it right there. Today's episode of the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast is brought to you by Game Time. Big ticket, big price. This is the time you want to get involved with our friends at Game Time. Last minute deals, last minute tickets. They have flash deals that are also happening. Easy to find and buy the tickets for every event in your area. And maybe you're not looking for the CyHawk game.

Starting point is 00:18:02 Maybe you're looking for making a road trip to one of the road tilts. Wisconsin's coming up around the corner. Of course, that big one out at State College. I've been there. An incredible event. And it's not just for sporting events. Yeah, they got you covered for football, basketball around the corner, baseball fan. You want to get those Cubs playoff tickets. Twins fan like me. Hey, same thing there. But they also have concerts, comedy, theater, and a whole lot more. And GameTime, the GameTime guarantee. That's what they have. It means you'll always get the best price.

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Starting point is 00:19:12 Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. Trent Conant back with you once again on the LockedOnHawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making LockedOnHawkeyes your first listen every day. podcast. Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. Well, it was a big day in the world of Hawkeye football as they pick up a commitment from Nick Brooks. Now, the dude is an absolute behemoth. If you don't know the story of Nick Brooks, this was anticipated in recruiting circles. Most people believe that he was going to be a Hawkeye when he moved back from Georgia to the state of Iowa back last summer. A lot of people thought this was going to be the end game. He moves back to Cedar Rapids. He's going to Kennedy High School.

Starting point is 00:19:51 6'7", 345 pounds is what he's listed at over at 24-7. There's other people that say he's going to be even bigger than that. So he is a class of 2025 recruit, meaning he is just a junior this season. So got two more years of high school football in front of him before he makes his way to the college campus into Iowa. Still, kid that was playing in Georgia, and everybody was after him. This was his final list.

Starting point is 00:20:19 His final five. Alabama, Florida State, the two-time defending champion, Georgia Bulldogs and Tennessee. These are programs that are elite. These are programs that recruit at an incredibly high level. These are programs that also have NIL and yet Iowa was able to pick them up. And before people get all worried about what happened with Caden Proctor, it's not a one in a million situation. That thing was weird from the onsite.

Starting point is 00:20:49 And there were so many rumblings and so many things. What you hear about Brooks, I wouldn't anticipate that. Now, never say never is never. A year and a half is still a long, long time away. But this one feels really good. Feels really solid. 24-7 has him as the 118th player in the country, the number one player in the state of Iowa,

Starting point is 00:21:11 12th overall in the composite rankings there for offense alignment. This is a big one. To beat Bama and Florida State and Georgia and Tennessee, amongst others, big time. Good work out of the Iowa staff getting his commitment in. Now hold on to him, And that's the next one. He is the second commitment in the class of 2025. Also joining another in-state player from Pleasant Valley.

Starting point is 00:21:31 And Joey Van Wetsinga. You see his older brother who is a walk-on and a fullback with the football team right now. So two in the class of 2025. Adding to the class of 2024 in the offensive line class that they have with a couple of commitments there. It's a big one. Gotta like it. Have to be excited about that.

Starting point is 00:21:49 Anytime you can go into a weekend beating Alabama and Georgia and Florida State for a recruit, yeah, you're feeling pretty good. That will do it for today. Again, we will be back with you tomorrow right after the Iowa-Iowa State game goes final. We will have a lockdown now,

Starting point is 00:22:05 just a minute, a little recap, and then we will go live with a YouTube live. Just search Lockdown Hawkeyes. Again, hit that subscribe button. That will let you know that you are good to go and that we got you covered. As soon as we go live, you will know instantly

Starting point is 00:22:19 as we will get to you right away after the game with the Hawkeyes and the Cyclones here on the Lockdown Network. Thanks as always for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We'll talk to you again tomorrow. Let's get it done. Hawks, bring back a win. Go Hawks.

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Hawkeye Football: Last look at Cy-Hawk & Predictions, 4 * Nicolai Brooks commitment

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