Questions for each of Iowa’s Big Ten media days attendees
The Iowa Hawkeyes descend upon Indianapolis for Big Ten media days on Wednesday, July 26.
Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz will address the press from 11:15-11:30 a.m. CT. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes’ player attendees feature defensive back Cooper DeJean, linebacker Jay Higgins and tight end Luke Lachey.
Here’s a pair of questions for each of Iowa’s players attending. Plus, one big question for coach Ferentz as well.
CB Cooper DeJean
Can this secondary be better in 2023?
It sounds a little crazy, because Iowa had a pair of NFL talents in cornerback Riley Moss and safety Kaevon Merriweather to go along with cornerback Cooper DeJean last season.
But, Iowa replaces Merriweather with a former five-star signee in Xavier Nwankpa that registered a pick-six against Kentucky in his only significant playing time. Opposite Nwankpa is one of the Big Ten’s highest-graded safeties from last season, Quinn Schulte.
Meanwhile, Jermari Harris is back from injury and should be terrific opposite Cooper DeJean. The Chicago, Ill., product tallied four interceptions in 2021. Plus, DeJean is a year older and wiser. Mix in Sebastian Castro at CASH and you’ve got some impressive top of the depth chart talent in Iowa City.
Can this Hawkeye secondary be better than 2022? It feels like it’s possible.
TE Luke Lachey
How good is this tight end position group?
This will be one of the big talking points for Luke Lachey. The 6-foot-6, 253 pound tight end headlines an iconic position group at “Tight End U.”
Lachey was a part of one of the nation’s top duos just last season. As Sam LaPorta led Big Ten tight ends in receiving with 657 yards on 58 receptions, Lachey was more than serviceable, finishing with 398 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions. Lachey also answered the call in a pair of games when LaPorta went down with injury, tallying 12 catches, 166 receiving yards and one touchdown grab.
Now, he’s expected to be the leading actor. How does this group compare? In addition to himself, Erick All arrives in Iowa City. At Michigan in 2021, All reeled in 38 catches for 437 yards.
Iowa also has names such as Addison Ostrenga, Steven Stilianos, Grant Leeper and Zach Ortwerth in that tight end room.
LB Jay Higgins
How do you follow up the Butkus?
The short answer is you don’t. Or, as best as you can. But, Jay Higgins is a very talented linebacker in his own right. As is Virginia transfer Nick Jackson. And this duo has every reason to be supremely confident and feel like they will keep the Iowa defense as one of the Big Ten and nation’s elite units.
There’s plenty of production here for Iowa. Higgins, a 6-foot-2, 233 pound linebacker, started a pair of games last season, played in 12 and registered 39 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks.
Meanwhile, Jackson has tallied 105, 117 and 104 tackles over each of the last three seasons. Why does he feel like Iowa is in good hands at the backer position?
CB Cooper DeJean
How can you be better?
Cooper DeJean was incredible in 2022. He set a single-season program record with three interception returns for touchdowns and tallied 13 passes defensed.
He might not see as much action this season as teams opt instead to attack Jermari Harris. That probably won’t be a great idea either, but that’s beside the point.
How can DeJean be better? What areas does he feel he can improve upon this season?
From the outside, it doesn’t look like much. He was electric in the special teams department both covering and returning punts. The Odebolt, Iowa, native is a bonafide lockdown corner and he was just selected as the preseason Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year in his encore act.
TE Luke Lachey
Why will the offense be better?
It’s the elephant in the room. As Iowa’s lone offensive attendee, Lachey is going to get asked about this incessantly. Unfortunately, until Iowa answers the call this season, it remains the Hawkeyes’ most important question.
Maybe Lachey can shed a little light on why he and the rest of the Hawkeyes feel good about the progress this team is making with Cade McNamara taking over under center. There’s also several wide receiver transfers to be excited about. Charleston Southern transfer Seth Anderson and Ohio State transfer Kaleb Brown should both be impact guys for the Hawkeyes.
The offensive line should be improved, too. Offensive tackle Daijon Parker comes over from Saginaw Valley State as does Miami (Ohio) guard Rusty Feth. Mix those two in with Logan Jones, Mason Richman and others improving and now Iowa should be back to Hawkeye offensive line play of old.
Lachey’s response to this question will be fascinating.
LB Jay Higgins
What type of leadership role do you have on this defense?
Cooper DeJean feels like the obvious leader in the secondary, though both Quinn Schulte and Sebastian Castro are veterans back there as well. Up front along the defensive line, the trio of Noah Shannon, Joe Evans and Logan Lee will all have key leadership roles.
When Shannon chose to forego his opportunity to attend Big Ten media days due to his involvement in Iowa’s gambling probe, Higgins was the name that the Hawkeye coaching staff chose. That suggests he’s one of the top voices on the defense.
So, how does Jay fit into that leadership equation? Is he a vocal player? Does he want to take on that role?
Head coach Kirk Ferentz
Can this team win the Big Ten?
No, it’s not the question you probably expected. Sure, Kirk Ferentz will get asked about the offense and the weird 25 points per game designated performance objective for his son and offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz.
But, how good is this team? While others might still want to hammer on Kirk for not firing his son or for the recent offensive shortcomings, he and his staff have seemingly done a great job retooling this roster.
How good of a job does he think he and the Iowa staff have done and can this team go win the Big Ten?
Capitalizing on this era of historic defenses feels like it’s ramped up in importance after back-to-back seasons of laughably bad offense. Can this team go add to its trophy case in 2023?
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