Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - STATEMENT GAME? Iowa Hawkeyes Face Alabama, Set to ELECTRIFY Des Moines Non-Conference Slate!

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hawkeye head coach Ben McCullum isn't wasting any time. Fresh off an elite eight run, Iowa just announced a marquee matchup with Alabama in Des Moines. Another sign, this program isn't thinking small. The Hawkeyes are scheduling a win, scheduling for March, and setting a message to college basketball. You are locked on Hawkeyes, your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Part of the Locked on podcast network, your team every day. Welcome in. I'm Trent Condon and this is the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast. Today's episode of Lockdown Hawkeyes is brought to you by Odu. Great organizations win because operations matter. That's why you should get Odu. Try for free today at Odu.com slash lockdown. That's ODO.com slash lockdown. Today we got a lot happening football countdown kickoff as we are 79 days away from the opener against Northern Illinois. We'll talk a little bit about the roster. The spots at number 79

Starting point is 00:01:08 on the roster and look at this team going forward. Elliot Clough is going to join us fresh off a conversation with a number of Iowa football players. He'll get his perspective on the offensive line after having a talk with Cade Peeper, Michael Metzlinsky for another year of eligibility as he gets his six year and a little bit over on the defensive side of the football as he also talked with Deshaun Lee. We'll talk about that along with a new commit for Iowa football. as Iowa gets a running back for the class of 2007. But we begin today's conversation with the big news here today. Iowa has announced a non-conference matchup against Alabama.

Starting point is 00:01:45 That game will be played in Des Moines. Yet another sign that Ben McCollum is scheduling aggressively here, is going out there and getting a program in Alabama that has been a consistent winter lately, a program that plays in a much different style of play than Iowa, but definitely a program that has played really, really well. here recently and should be a fun matchup coming up in Des Moines. This game will be played on December 21st at the Casey Center in Des Moines. It'll be the second matchup that'll be played in Des Moines. And I know a lot of the pushback that is out there right now for what I'm hearing

Starting point is 00:02:18 from certainly the season ticket base, the people to buy tickets for all the games and the non-conference games anymore outside of years like this season where you get Iowa State, which is very good, is you don't get these marquee matchups, unfortunately, in Carver Hawkeye Arena. Now, of course, For the betterment of the fans, for the betterment, probably of the team, you would love to be there having a huge matchup in Carver Hawkeye Arena. Unfortunately, for that season ticket fan base, and for the people just want to see a game in Carver, that's not the way the non-conference scheduling is going anymore. And the biggest reason for that is not the teams are unwilling to play home and home, but it's because of the financial aspect of going out there and playing neutral court games. There are organizations that put together these games, these matchups. There will be also a follow-up game that will be played next season.

Starting point is 00:03:05 That game will be down in Alabama in Mobile. But these organizations work with the arenas, with television partners, and are able to generate more revenue than what you get for just a single home-and-home game, a one-off game, whatever it may be. When you put it on a neutral floor, that gives the ability for those teams to go out there and for these organizations to add money to the coffers. for NIL finances in general for the basketball program. That's why we're seeing more and more of these games going forward. And this might not be it. There are rumblings on there. I know Tom Cakert from Hawkeye Report.

Starting point is 00:03:39 He has mentioned that there's a possibility of another game in Sioux City. We know the women's game that has also already been announced in Sioux City at Tyson Events Center as they'll face off against a top 10 team in Vanderbilt and a very real possibility that I will be playing potentially an ACC program. Rumblings have been Virginia. Tech would be that team. That game would be in Sioux City. Tom Kakert had that over at hawkeye report.com.

Starting point is 00:04:04 No date, no official announcement from the University of Iowa, anything like that. But that's what you're getting and that is the reality of this new world. When we're going through and what things look like going forward, generating revenue, giving opportunities in the non-conference to build up your coffers. That's what it is. So speaking of Alabama, next season, Alabama, After another very good year this year, top 20 team throughout the course of the season. In 2007, they are projected again to be a top 20 team.

Starting point is 00:04:36 Bart Torvick's preseason projections have them at number 19, number of guys that they brought in in the portal. Very good freshman class also coming in, including Jackson Richardson, who's a really good player. Aiden Holloway, what are their best players? But what we know about Alabama is they want to play fast. This is a program that is not going to look like the Iowa Hawkeyes. that is not the way certainly that they play. That is what we see with this squad in Alabama. Is they're going to go fast?

Starting point is 00:05:02 They're going to go quick. They're going to work to move. Sweet 16 team from a year ago, 25 and 10 overall. And they played at one of the fastest paces in the country. And one of the most efficient offensive teams in the country on top of it. Third in the country last year at Bartorvik, they're going to play fast, going to be a great matchup and we get it in Des Moines. So we also have the great matchup that'll be played in Des Moines.

Starting point is 00:05:24 That will be on November 15. This game against Alabama is on December 21st. Other games that we know currently for the Iowa Hawkeyes, they will play their home opener on November 3rd, though the opponent is TBD on that front. November 6th, another home game against Eastern Illinois. The Iowa State matchup, as we talked about earlier this week, the Sihawk game at Carver this year.

Starting point is 00:05:46 That game will be played on December 10th. They also have a scheduled home game for December 17th. That game is TBD of who they'll be facing off. December 29th against South Dakota, the coyotes will come to town. Xavier on the road. That is November 20th when they have that match up against the Musketeers, the return game from the home game that was played a year ago against Xavier, that Iowa got the victory again last year.

Starting point is 00:06:10 That will be again in Cincinnati against Xavier on November 20th. And then still that neutral court game, likely an ACC opponent, likely a Virginia Tech, still TBD when that will be played in a possibility. That one also be a neutral court game. game in Sioux City. And that's what we have at this point in time. I was able to schedule 12 games overall. They tried to get in the players era tournament last season.

Starting point is 00:06:33 They were told no at the time. That definitely changed with the season that they had. And of course, they run to the elite eight. But unfortunately in the here now, that's not going to happen. The cost of going out there and playing in Maui, playing the exempt tournaments that were used to, the Thanksgiving tournaments, that's becoming more and more difficult. And you're seeing these tournaments have to change the way that they schedule things put

Starting point is 00:06:53 together. So one of the tournaments that is an old traditional 18-team bracket. They had to switch up the way that they do things and turn it into 2 14 brackets. So that's just the reality of where we are and all these teams looking at costs that are involved, looking at the maneuverability that you have in non-conference scheduling, how you put this together. One thing I do know, after talking to Ben McCollum last year after he got the job, this is something. There is definitely a method to the madness.

Starting point is 00:07:20 There is reasoning behind each and every one of these games. and you know they're going to be locked in for this one. Alabama coming to the state of Iowa, coming to Des Moines in December. Coming back on the other side, a lot of Iowa Hawkeye talk. Elliot Clough was in Iowa City yesterday talking with a number of players. We'll get his breakdown, talk some offensive line, just how good they can be after losing three starters from an offensive line a year ago that won the Joe Moore Award as the best offensive line in college football.

Starting point is 00:07:46 That's coming up next. Stay right there. This is Lockdown Hawkeyes. Running a business shouldn't feel like you're trying to connect. a bunch of systems that were never designed to work together. One app for accounting, another for inventory, another for sales, and somehow none of them talk to each other. That's where Odu comes in. Odu is an all-in-one business management software that brings every part of your business together

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Starting point is 00:08:46 since 87, getting to a sweet 16 for the first time since 1999. It was a group of guys all working together, all working on the same page. And when we build that in organization like Iowa basketball, you know you're in good shape. Great organizations win because operations matter. And that's why you should get Odu. Try for free today at Odu.com slash locked on. That's Odu, O'DOO.com slash locked on. Iowa City.

Starting point is 00:09:22 Where next guest, Elliot Clough was earlier today as he was in Iowa City hearing from some Iowa football players. Good to catch up with you. Once again, Elliot, always enjoy the conversation. And we got a little content. As you know, as I know, content is king in this business. I got to hear from some Iowa football players. Always a good thing in the middle of June.

Starting point is 00:09:43 Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Things are, we're kind of in the dog days right now. No transfer for at all. None of that stuff. Obviously, there's recruiting going on too. But yeah, we're happy to get some content. Happy to write a little bit right now and get some up-to-date stuff from the guys.

Starting point is 00:10:03 So let's start with a couple of the guys that you had an opportunity to talk to over at the football facility earlier today. What to start with Cade Piper? Going back to the offseason and after the season concluded after the win against Vanderbilt, a lot of conversation that in NFL circles, he was absolutely beloved. He looked at this guy and there was talk that he'd be third, fourth, fifth round draft pick for a guy that only was one year as a starter. I think it shows you the potential that he has. and then the announcement that he was coming back, and I believe it was maybe somebody affiliated with you,

Starting point is 00:10:36 maybe somebody from CBS saying that he was coming back, and he was coming back to be the center. And that compoted too and the way that that is gone. So tell us a little bit about your conversation with Cade Piper and which was more of a decision, I guess, to come back than maybe some of us thought after last year. Yeah, Trent, I even saw it locked in the first round at every point in the season. Yeah, but yeah, it was our Matt Zeniths that reported that he

Starting point is 00:11:01 be back and playing center. But yeah, a lot of the conversation with him is around that center spot right now and whether or not he's going to be ready to go once the season comes along because that's a lot to have a guy who played guard, moved over to center, plus a different starting quarterback. Maybe you play two different quarterbacks are really in the season to see who your guy is. That's a lot to handle. But between him and Ms. Whiskey, it sounds like one of those guys will play center,

Starting point is 00:11:27 one of those guys will play guard. So we'll see how that shakes out. but talk to both of them today. They're both open to either thing. They both just want to play. Both just want to be on the field. Both want to do whatever is going to be best to help the team. Talking to the Peefeep today, I asked him,

Starting point is 00:11:43 I was like, what was that conversation like with Coach Barnett talking about you moving over to center? And he was like, they're really, it's pretty brief. There wasn't really once, you know, it wasn't a, hey, we see you at the center position because of your NFL trajectory or anything like that. It was just kind of that's the way it is and that's the way they're doing it. and that kind of sounds like I have a football in George Barnett to me. But yeah, it's an interesting proposition,

Starting point is 00:12:07 and you can see the potential for success just because of that athleticism with Keeper. A very underrated athlete, I mean, a very under-recruited guy who Iowa took in, added a bunch of weight to him and had some major potential on the interior of the offensive lines that even continue to grow. So it'll be the thing that I think, it really comes down to is who can really make the calls that the center needs to make because you've had a guy in Logan Jones at your anchor that had been that had been doing that for multiple years and doing a really good job of it one of the best centers if not the best center in

Starting point is 00:12:45 the country and then you're moving on to a guy who didn't have those responsibilities last year in people or a guy that has just had trouble staying healthy in Ms. Lindski. So the future of that center position along with quarterback along with the on the new faces on defense and the defensive line, those are some of the bigger question marks going into next year. Not so much how, not so much who, but how they play at that position. When we look at Peeper, I remember back in the spring talking to somebody and said the transition to center and the responsibilities, it's not just snapping the football, it's the line calls.

Starting point is 00:13:22 There's a lot more elements than just being a road grading guard going out there. And, hey, this is the play. This is what you got to do. There's a lot more responsibilities. maybe took a little bit longer than people thought for people to pick it up. But by the back half of spring, he definitely had picked it up in a big time way and was becoming the guy that they anticipated in the middle. Is that what you heard going back to spring football with him and Kate Piper of making

Starting point is 00:13:44 that push forward that really started to gain traction as he got more and more reps? I guess I hadn't heard that exactly. It was more of just him really trying to figure out what was going on. And it was coming along. wouldn't say necessarily that at the end of spring or anything that they were ready to declare him as the starting center going into the fall. So I do think it's still a little up in the air between he and Ms. Winski, like I mentioned. But we'll see. I mean, I really do think it's just that, like you mentioned, the responsibility, the making calls for the offensive line at that

Starting point is 00:14:22 center spot. I think that's really what it comes down to because it's just, it's a lot more responsibility than just listening to your quarterback, listening to your center and going as a guard. It's having to read the defense, read the defense's line, read the linebackers, and make a decision off of that for the betterment of your offense and the movement of your offense. So that's a lot to undertake. And looking at a guy like Ms. Winsky, who's been around for quite a while, maybe that's a little bit easier, especially because he was the backup center last year. So still TBD, we'll see.

Starting point is 00:14:58 But, yeah, it wouldn't surprise me. I think if Pete gets there in the fall camp, especially, Peeper gets there in fall camp. Because, I mean, they live and breathe football over that time period, right? So I don't think it's any question about whether he physically can do it. It's just about, you know, the responsibilities and making those calls because, I mean, it's not an easy thing to do. and then Logan Jones is really, really good at. He was, yet there were struggles early on for him. And we saw in that first year, snapping the football, there was a couple of things.

Starting point is 00:15:35 And you could see the physical ability definitely there and some of the big blocks that he had, but that consistency. And now you're asking the guy to do it right away and kind of hit the ground running. You mentioned Ms. Linsky, and he is a guy going all the way back to, well, I guess now, what, seven years ago when he made his commitment to Iowa, Not many times Iowa beats Texas for a prospect in Arkansas and Florida State for a Florida kid. Yet that was the case for Michael Mislinski. It's been all about health for him and getting this six year of eligibility.

Starting point is 00:16:03 Obviously, the injuries were a big piece of that of getting this extra year. When you look at him, what can be done? What can be done to keep him healthy outside of? Put him in bubble wrap and say, don't do anything. Not going to get better doing that, though. Ms. Slinsky is it just as simple as that it's all about the health? if he's healthy he'll be fine. To me, that's it.

Starting point is 00:16:24 Obviously, that's quite a bit of pressure to undertake to have to sit for so long, and then you finally get your opportunity, and it's just one year. So that's probably the most difficult part for Ms. Blinsky as well as staying healthy. But, yeah, I mean, I just think that the offensive line and George Barnett hold him in high esteem. and if he gets his opportunity, I think he'll be just fine. Again, whether that's at center or guard, right guard is up in the air yet. But health is obviously big. And then I think one thing that we don't factor in as much as maybe we should in sport,

Starting point is 00:17:08 and especially for college kids, even if they are a little bit older, is that mental side of it because, man, he's been through a lot. and to have that type of pressure on you for your one final year, even if it was a waiver granted and you're giving this opportunity. That's a lot to undertake, especially at Iowa, taking over for the best offensive line in college football last season and trying to move forward and take over potentially for Cade Peeper, who was awesome last year, or Logan Jones, who was awesome last year.

Starting point is 00:17:43 So that's a tough spot to be in. Talking to him today was actually the first time I've ever actually had a conversation with him at length. You can tell that there's some serious gratitude there. He's very, very excited about the coming year. But that is a lot to undertake. And I'm not saying that I definitively think he's going to struggle or anything like that. But just from the human side of it, like that is a lot to undertake as a young man, even though he's been with the program for a while.

Starting point is 00:18:11 So, you know, again, at the human side of things, I'm excited for us. like talk about an opportunity after you know just being dealt poor cards for for however many years in terms of health but um yeah well we'll see how it shakes out it it's gonna be he's gonna be an easy one to root for we always hear kirk ferrence he talks about those good stories and this one set up to be one of those good stories an opportunity for him in his final campaign to go out there get a lot of playing time and do some good things for michael mislinski you can find all the interviews that elliottet did over at hawkeye insider dot com he was along with David Eicholt. The other guy that you talk to, an anticipated starter, over on the defensive side of the football, Deshaun Lee, the cornerback who we've seen real growth out of him definitely throughout the course of his career.

Starting point is 00:18:57 Take us into Sean Lee and the defensive backfield. Any takeaways from him? Yeah, you know, I talked to Deshaun pretty extensively after the spring, so I didn't have a ton for him today. But one thing that he said right now that he's really focused on is playing smarter, which I thought was interesting and like how that comes together. And he really said, you know, it's technique.

Starting point is 00:19:21 It's watching film. It's doing the little things because once you've really mastered the big stuff and, I mean, like football is a game of inches, right? Like maybe not mastered, but gotten a hold of the big stuff. You can start to work on some more of those smaller things, the technical thing, angles, stuff like that. And it sounds like that's what it was really big. focuses right now. Obviously, they're doing summer workouts. They're working to get in shape,

Starting point is 00:19:47 but wants to be able to take advantage of some of those smaller things that maybe he hasn't before. And when you're a smaller quarterback, you kind of have to, right? So matching up with Reese Vandersey is something that he said he really relished in the spring. And that'll probably help him against some of these other bigger programs like Washington, Michigan, Ohio State that they play this year. So that's one thing. The other part is leadership. He's the only senior in the entire cornerback group. And he might not be the only leader. I would say Zach Lumpmer has undertaken that quite a bit in the defensive back room,

Starting point is 00:20:24 but between the corners, he is the most season. I mean, Jalen Watson is a junior, but realistically, what he just played too much as a freshman to be a redshirt sophomore. So he is still pretty young just in his third year, whereas Deshaun is in his fifth year. So, yeah, it's an interesting spot for this defensive back group to be in with a few small guys. And then you got Rashad Godfrey. And then you got Jacob Wallace who might play cash this year. And then you got Zach Lutmer who could play five different positions.

Starting point is 00:20:56 And then you got Tyler Brown, who was just in the college football playoff. And Anthony Hawkins, who was at Villanova. And it's really rangy and could be really fun, but might not quite be ready yet. It's a really interesting group this year. And like I mentioned, I mean, they lose, I think. well, they lose the majority of their starters. I get like eight of the 11 starters from the defense last year. So it's going to be an interesting, interesting year for the defensive back group.

Starting point is 00:21:23 This could be a down year. This could be Phil Parker's best coaching job. This could be really interesting. Marcelo Vidia, true freshman. It also turned some heads, him and Darien Jones, two true freshmen coming in. And that's one thing Phil Parker has definitely shown. He is not scared about playing young guys if they're ready. He's going to put him out there and get them that opportunity.

Starting point is 00:21:43 I guess the biggest puzzle piece is what you do with Zach Lutmer. As we sit here in the middle of summer, what do you anticipate? What is ultimately going to be the starting position for Lutmer this year? So I spent the majority of the spring thinking he would just stay at cash, right, because of how important that position is. Effectively a fifth defensive back, effectively a fourth linebacker. I mean, sorry, a third linebacker as well because you have to play both of those positions, essentially at the working coverage.

Starting point is 00:22:12 You have to be able to make open field tackles. He kind of got that intimidation factor at that cash spot. But we saw in the spring at this open spring practice that he'd probably be there, that he was lining up at free safety. And we also know that that's another super important position on the defense for Phil Parker along with Mike Linebacker in terms of making calls, set the defense, things like that. So if I had the guess right now, he's probably going to line up at free safety

Starting point is 00:22:38 next to Tyler Brown, then that puts a big question mark on who's going to play cash. Is it going to be Jacob Wallet, who was getting those reps in the spring or some of those reps at least in the spring? Could Marcello Viti, like you mentioned, could he step into that spot as a freshman, which would be crazy to see a young guy do that in their first year, even after early enrolling? So if I had to guess, Lutmer is that free safety, it'd be between free and cash. I don't think he's going to line up at corner much, if at all, this year.

Starting point is 00:23:12 But it'll probably be free safety and cash that he, if he does move around a little bit between those positions. But also, don't count out of Anthony Hawkins, like I mentioned. He's a little bit behind in the spring. But, like, physically in terms of the tools, man, he could be really good at free, really rangy, really long, natural, fluid athlete. And then to have Lutmer back at cash, where he was. phenomenal last year, I think would probably be in the best interest of the defense. But again, that's a big, we'll see. I'm pretty sure Tyler Brown has strong safety locked up, the cornerbacks, Deshaunee,

Starting point is 00:23:50 and then Jalen Watson, Rashad Godfrey. But we'll see. Again, if I had to project right now based on the spring, excuse me, he'll probably be at that free safety spot. Of the videos that I saw with you and David over there, the only newbie, if you will, was Camari Brown, who comes in from Elon trying to help on that defensive line. Now, he's a defensive end position and defensive tackle still remains that big question mark, I think, in the middle.

Starting point is 00:24:17 It looks like you got a haircut as well from his profile when he showed up on campus back and got things chopped off up there. But Camari Brown, a fun piece, a guy that got to the quarterback at the FCS level at a big time way. And Iowa could use a little bit more pass rush this season. Yeah, I don't know that he'll be a starter opposite of Karen, Kenneth Meriwether, I think that's probably going to end up being Yosea Pena. But either way, Kamari Brown is definitely going to be part of the rotation.

Starting point is 00:24:44 I mean, you could see it in his film from Elon, violent, twitchy, and that's really what you need if you're looking for a pass rush, heavy hands. And he was good in the run game, too. So I think it's really just about adapting to Iowa's two-gap run system, two-gap schemes that they play with. and obviously the focus for the past rush is causing disruption, not necessarily sacks. But Iowa hasn't had a guy on the defensive line.

Starting point is 00:25:15 He had double-digit stack since AJ Epinessa. So could that be Kamari Brown coming off a year where he did that at Elon? Could it be Yose? Could Kenneth Merriweather pop this year? That'd be a big move. I think the closest since Epinessa was Joe Evans. So we'll see. I think he had eight and a half or nine and a half.

Starting point is 00:25:34 I'm not quite sure. But if one of those guys can do that this year, talk about stepping up to the moment because that group just got decimated in the off season. So Camari Brown, Yosea, Vanessa, one of those guys can pull that off. That'd be huge for Iowa's defense. Yes, absolutely. And we know dating back, and it's funny, I was just having this conversation going back to the 2010 Iowa football team that returned a ton coming back.

Starting point is 00:26:00 But the one thing, they had starters, they didn't have depth on that defensive line. and that definitely showed up and it lost to Northwestern, a couple other spots during the course of that one. And that has changed now over the last 15 years. It's not just having guys that can go out there and play and play effectively, but creating that deaf. And then Camari Brown definitely going to be a piece of that one. Elliot Club, joining us from Hawkeye Insider.com.

Starting point is 00:26:21 Elliot, what more for you? And that is a commitment today from the running back spot, Kean Thomas out of Indianapolis. Always good to go into India and get one. And always good to beat Big Bert Beelma, because it sounded like it was down to maybe Iowa and Illinois. for his services. Tell us a little bit about what you know of the Warden Central three-star running back Kean Thomas.

Starting point is 00:26:41 Yeah, you know, reading or rather watching his film kind of looks like a mixture of a Kamari Moulton and Xavier Williams. A little bit thicker of a back, 5-11, I think 2.15 coming out of the spring, which would make him either the second or third biggest running back on Iowa's roster right now. So that's kind of interesting. Nice to win for Jay Norval to sort of continue to turn things around in the running back group with his leadership. Like you mentioned, Illinois involved. Indiana was a program that offered Michigan State, Purdue, Kentucky.

Starting point is 00:27:16 So he was wanted around and across the Midwest, a guy that really, I think, sees the floor, sees the field well, is patient enough to let the offensive line work. Not really a huge breakaway speed guy, but he can do it at the high school level. So maybe that's something that he works on and builds at the college level. I don't necessarily foresee him being a part of the rotation early like a Nathan McNeil was. But you give him the opportunity to come in and be part of the strength and conditioning program at Iowa. And I think that could really be super fruitful for him. Just one breakout year as far as I know that I found online.

Starting point is 00:27:59 It was his junior year at Warren Central, which is a powerhouse in Indianapolis. and he was a peacock in the machine. I think he could work 1,300 yards on the ground. So a guy that's a little bit of a battering ram, but also can make you miss with his feet. So nice win for Jane Orbell. Hock Eye Insider.com, the spot to go for all things, Hawkeyes, all those videos up as well.

Starting point is 00:28:22 David Eichold and Elliott Clough, doing great work over there, along with Sean Bach, as always. Elliot, thank you for your time. We'll talk again here in a week or two. Sounds good. Thanks, Trent. L.AF Clough, Hawkeye Insider.com, breaking things down for the Hawkeyes. Trent, kind of back with you one final time on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast.

Starting point is 00:28:49 Thanks for being with us and making Lockdown Hawkeyes, your first listen every day, your daily Iowa Hawkeye podcast here on the Lockdown Network. And if you are a daily viewer or listener of Lockdown Hawkeyes, you can get your daily fix of Lockdown Hawkeyes completely ad free by joining the Every Day or Club today. Start your seven-day free trial right now and get closer to the Hawkeyes. Hawkeyes without the interruptions. Click on the link in the show notes or go to Lockdown,

Starting point is 00:29:14 hawkeyes.com to claim your free trial. That's locked on hawkeyes. Dot supercast. Dot com. As we wrap things up here, the countdown continues. We are down to 79 days until kickoff of Iowa football for the 2020 26 season. And when we look at 79, number 79 on the roster,

Starting point is 00:29:34 he is an incoming freshman Carson Nielsen out of Waterloo West. He is a behemoth, 6'7, 295 pounds. And this is something that has been talked about often. Him and this other group of true freshmen coming in, they don't look like your typical freshman in Nielsen might be at the top of that list. Watching him at the high school level called his playoff game a year ago over in Wauke, incredibly impressed by him, the footwork of a guy at his speed. And definitely if he continues to rebuild that body, get into Big Ten football playing shape.

Starting point is 00:30:05 He very well could be a guy, not this season, but early. early in his career, have potential to be one of those tackles out there wide, definitely has the footwork and the size to go along with it. Now building him into a Big Ten player. That's up to Raymond Braithwaite in company with the Strength and Conditioning Program. And of course, Coach Barnett on the offensive line. Missed yesterday, Michael Burton number 80. He's a guy showing a little bit so far. We've heard his name a little bit coming in from Omaha at the tight end position. We know how stacked up they are this season, certainly at tight end. And you start obviously and looking at this team, the return this season of

Starting point is 00:30:43 Addison Estrango, what he's going to be, what he's going to be able to do for this squad. That's going to be an incredibly important, what we have with DJ Vanami and his potential this season. There's a ton of buzz about him and what he's going to mean for this group going forward. Just absolutely so excited with Vanami and what he can be this year. Thomas Meyer, a young guy that got his feet wet a season ago. You have the potential out of him.

Starting point is 00:31:09 Zach Ortworth, who's been around the program. Mason Woods, another freshman showing up and people already buzzing about Mason Woods and the versatility that he has and the elite athleticism for Mason Woods. Eli Johnson, another red shirt freshman. This tight end room, it's stacked. We shouldn't be surprised because feels like always the running, or the tight end room, excuse me, is pretty stacked up for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Out of time for today.

Starting point is 00:31:31 We'll be back with you tomorrow with more lockdown hawkeyes. Tom Kankert from hawkireport.com is going to join us. Thanks for being with us and making lockdown Hawkeyes, your first listen every day. We'll talk to again tomorrow. Until then, go Hawks.

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