Hawkeyes: Next-Man-Up U; Iowa keeps winning despite injuries
IOWA CITY – DB U. Linebacker U. Tight end U. Wide receiver U. Seems like every college football teams lays claim to some sort of positional specialty these days.
For Iowa this season, it could be Next-Man-Up U.
Injuries to key players hit the 17th-ranked Hawkeyes (9-2) early and often this fall, but they keep on winning.
How?
“Next man up. That’s a big thing here at Iowa,” said junior defensive back Jermari Harris, who missed two games early this season with his own ailment. “Injuries are part of the game, unfortunately. It goes back to just being ready, no matter where you are on the depth chart. You gotta be ready.”
Sophomore safety Xavier Nwankpa echoed the same sentiment.
“I think it goes back to preparation and just being ready. It’s next man up,” the Pleasant Hill, Iowa product said. “You hate to see anybody get hurt, especially a player as great as Cooper, but we all take pride in being ready to go when our number is called.”
Even without defensive back Cooper DeJean, the Hawkeyes shut down an Illinois offense coming off a two-game heater where the Illini scored a combined 78 points. Iowa held them to 13.
“The standard is high for our defense here at Iowa. As a unit we want to maintain that,” said Harris, the Chicago product with 15 career starts. “Everybody understands that. We’re all on the same page. We feel like if we play well, we’re going to have a great chance to win."
Losing DeJean, a lock All-American and likely first-round NFL draft pick next spring, was tough for both Nwankpa and Harris.
“Cooper’s one of the guys on the team I’m closest with. You worry about him as a person first and how he’s doing, but he’s a strong person,” Nwankpa said. “He wants us to go out there and continue to play well.”
DeJean (leg) joined an unfortunately star-studded lost-for-the season list which also includes quarterback Cade McNamara (knee), tight ends Luke Lachey (ankle) and Erick All (knee) along with defensive tackle Noah Shannon, who was suspended by the NCAA for betting on non-football related games.
"It's been a tough year with all those guys going down, guys that are great players," said Nwankpa, who has 38 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, one interception and one sack. "We try not to dwell on it too much. Adversity's going to come your way. It happens, but the season goes on and you have to be ready for the next one."
Iowa's defense has been on pretty much all season.
The Hawkeyes rank third in the country in points allowed at 12.3. With DeJean down, redshirt freshman Deshaun Lee stepped in opposite Harris and played well on Saturday against the Illini.
“I have confidence in Deshaun, everyone does,” Harris said. “He’s a really good player and he went out and showed it.”
With the Big Ten West title and a trip to Indianapolis to face either Michigan or Ohio State on Dec. 2 in the championship game already in the bag, Friday’s 11 a.m. contest in Lincoln against 5-6 Nebraska could be viewed as a trap-door special. Nwankpa says no chance.
“It’s all Nebraska, nothing else,” he said. “We have a chance to win our 10th game and we’re all really focused on that. We'll worry about next week, next week.”
Under head coach Kirk Ferentz, the Hawkeyes have won 10 or more games seven times in his 25 seasons.
Hitting double figures again is a major motivator.
“You think about 10 wins, that’s a great season,” said Harris, who was a part of the Hawkeyes’ 10-victory campaign in 2021. “I don’t think anybody’s going to be looking ahead. Nebraska beat us last year and we want that (Heroes) Trophy back.”
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