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Kirk Ferentz releases statement on tragic passing of former Hawkeye OL Cody Ince

josh helmer
·3 min read

The Iowa community was rocked late last night as news began to spread that former Hawkeye offensive lineman Cody Ince, 23, had passed away over the weekend.

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz confirmed the tragic news today and released a statement on the life and legacy of Ince.

“I am incredibly sad to hear about Cody Ince’s sudden passing. Cody was a tremendous young man, valued teammate, and contributor to our program. He loved football, fishing and hunting, and believed in the importance of family and friendships. Cody was just beginning this next chapter of his life and was about to be married. Mary and I are heartbroken for his fiancée, his family and all his friends who knew and loved him. All of us in the football program—his coaches and teammates—are mourning his loss,” Ferentz said in his statement.

Ince’s obituary reads that he “passed away unexpectedly” at his home near Grantsburg, Wis. His Celebration of Life will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, at the BrowTine Event Center in Amery, Wis.

Ince signed with the Hawkeyes out of Unity High School in Wisconsin and was a three-star signee per 247Sports. The recruiting service ranked him as the No. 81 offensive tackle and as the No. 6 player from Wisconsin. Ince chose Iowa over offers from schools such as Central Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota, North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, Purdue, South Dakota State, UCF, and Virginia.

Throughout his Iowa career, Ince carved out a key role. The 6-foot-4, 282-pound offensive lineman appeared in 29 games and started 10 of them across the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the league’s coaches and media in 2020. Phil Steele tabbed Ince as a fourth-team All-Big Ten selection that season.

Ongoing injury issues led to Ince medically retiring from football in March of 2022.

Of course, much larger than any impact he made on the football field itself was the impact Ince made on his teammates, his friends, and his family members’ lives.

Several former teammates paid their tributes to Ince. Purdue running back and former Iowa wide receiver Tyrone Tracy Jr. wrote to Ince on his obituary’s Tribute Wall.

“I have had the honor of knowing and playing with Cody while I was at the University of Iowa. He was not only a great teammate but an amazing person! Always smiling and cracking jokes but he took his job on the field personally and I loved that about him. He used to always bring in deer jerky or sunflower seeds and he made sure I got some every time. It’s the little things that I will remember! Thank you Cody for being such an amazing person and friend!” Tracy Jr. wrote.

Oklahoma State wide receiver and former Hawkeye receiver Arland Bruce IV took to social media to share his love for Ince.

“Rest in Peace Cody Ince, may God watch over your family as they mourn your passing and you enter into The Kingdom of Heaven! You showed me what true leadership looks like and how to be a great teammate,” Bruce wrote.

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Story originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire