Camp Countdown: Linebackers
Tom Kakert | Editor
Josey Jewell leads the Iowa linebackers
With two of three starters returning to the Hawkeye linebacker group, Iowa should be strong once again in the middle of the defense.
The linebackers will once again be led by Josey Jewell, who kind of came out of nowhere to be an All Big Ten level player. That’s not meant to diminish Jewell, but only to say, no one saw him becoming as good as he was last year. Also back is Ben Niemann who was a first year starter last season.
The big question this spring was would Aaron Mends emerge as the third starter and it certainly seems like he did just that. Jack Hockaday looked like he could mount a challenge, but Mends remains at the top of the chart.
TWO DEEPS
OLB: Ben Niemann (JR), Bo Bower (SR)
MLB: Josey Jewell (JR), Angelo Garbutt (RFR)
WLB: Aaron Mends (SO), Jack Hockaday (SO)
THE RUNDOWN
When you start with Jewell in the middle of your defense, it’s in good shape. Jewell emerged last fall and played incredibly well all season long. He was the true anchor of the Iowa defense. Jewell had 126 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and intercepted 4 passes. The good news is I think he’s just tapping into his ceiling as a player.
Niemann also started for the first time last year and quietly he was very solid at outside linebacker. His position is always fairly quiet when it comes to tackles and he had 45 on the year. Niemann did have 6.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks.
Mends drew plenty of praise last year from former Iinebacker coach Jim Reid as a player he was really high on in the future. Well, the future is here now. Mends is very quick and athletic and he’s going to need to be at a position that tends to get a lot of activity. Last year, Cole Fisher, who won the job in camp last year, had 116 tackles, so Mends will likely reach the 100 level this year. But, if we learn anything from last year, it’s that a surprise could happen so Mends has to have another strong camp if Hockaday comes on strong.
While the two deep has various names in the second spot my sense is Bower could be the real backup at two of the linebacker spots, maybe even all three. Much like the Iowa offensive line, many times, the Hawkeye coaches like to have their backers play multiple positions. Garbutt could factor in the middle, but Iowa might opt for experience there depending on how quickly he is developing.
Nick Wilson will be a player to watch this fall. Certainly can seem him factoring in on special teams, but there’s a good buzz about his on the field performance this spring and on scout team last year.
NEW FACES
There are quite a few new faces coming to the Iowa roster at linebacker. Probably a decent chance that one or two actually play this year, but only on special teams. One name to really keep an eye on is Amani Jones. He’s getting some rave reviews early on. Barrington Wade is another player that has left a positive impression this summer. A pair of brothers of current Iowa players also join the Hawkeyes in Nick Niemann and Kyle Taylor, along with Kristian Welsh.
BEST CASE
Iowa knows they have a pair of proven commodities in Jewell and Niemann. Both are very good and Jewell could end up being first team All Big Ten and possibly an All American. Niemann is just rock solid. If Mends really comes along as a starter like the coaches hope, this group could be very athletic and make a big impact on the field.
WORST CASE
I seem to always start with possible injuries and if Iowa were to lose Jewell for any length of time, that’s a hole that probably couldn’t fill appropriately with anyone on the roster. The other concern is that Mends moves into the starting role and struggles to play the position at the level that Cole Fisher did last season.
Tom Kakert | Editor
Josey Jewell leads the Iowa linebackers
With two of three starters returning to the Hawkeye linebacker group, Iowa should be strong once again in the middle of the defense.
The linebackers will once again be led by Josey Jewell, who kind of came out of nowhere to be an All Big Ten level player. That’s not meant to diminish Jewell, but only to say, no one saw him becoming as good as he was last year. Also back is Ben Niemann who was a first year starter last season.
The big question this spring was would Aaron Mends emerge as the third starter and it certainly seems like he did just that. Jack Hockaday looked like he could mount a challenge, but Mends remains at the top of the chart.
TWO DEEPS
OLB: Ben Niemann (JR), Bo Bower (SR)
MLB: Josey Jewell (JR), Angelo Garbutt (RFR)
WLB: Aaron Mends (SO), Jack Hockaday (SO)
THE RUNDOWN
When you start with Jewell in the middle of your defense, it’s in good shape. Jewell emerged last fall and played incredibly well all season long. He was the true anchor of the Iowa defense. Jewell had 126 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and intercepted 4 passes. The good news is I think he’s just tapping into his ceiling as a player.
Niemann also started for the first time last year and quietly he was very solid at outside linebacker. His position is always fairly quiet when it comes to tackles and he had 45 on the year. Niemann did have 6.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks.
Mends drew plenty of praise last year from former Iinebacker coach Jim Reid as a player he was really high on in the future. Well, the future is here now. Mends is very quick and athletic and he’s going to need to be at a position that tends to get a lot of activity. Last year, Cole Fisher, who won the job in camp last year, had 116 tackles, so Mends will likely reach the 100 level this year. But, if we learn anything from last year, it’s that a surprise could happen so Mends has to have another strong camp if Hockaday comes on strong.
While the two deep has various names in the second spot my sense is Bower could be the real backup at two of the linebacker spots, maybe even all three. Much like the Iowa offensive line, many times, the Hawkeye coaches like to have their backers play multiple positions. Garbutt could factor in the middle, but Iowa might opt for experience there depending on how quickly he is developing.
Nick Wilson will be a player to watch this fall. Certainly can seem him factoring in on special teams, but there’s a good buzz about his on the field performance this spring and on scout team last year.
NEW FACES
There are quite a few new faces coming to the Iowa roster at linebacker. Probably a decent chance that one or two actually play this year, but only on special teams. One name to really keep an eye on is Amani Jones. He’s getting some rave reviews early on. Barrington Wade is another player that has left a positive impression this summer. A pair of brothers of current Iowa players also join the Hawkeyes in Nick Niemann and Kyle Taylor, along with Kristian Welsh.
BEST CASE
Iowa knows they have a pair of proven commodities in Jewell and Niemann. Both are very good and Jewell could end up being first team All Big Ten and possibly an All American. Niemann is just rock solid. If Mends really comes along as a starter like the coaches hope, this group could be very athletic and make a big impact on the field.
WORST CASE
I seem to always start with possible injuries and if Iowa were to lose Jewell for any length of time, that’s a hole that probably couldn’t fill appropriately with anyone on the roster. The other concern is that Mends moves into the starting role and struggles to play the position at the level that Cole Fisher did last season.
