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5 things to watch
Matt McGowan Pregame Editor matt.mcgowan@dailyiowan.com
1. Containing Damien Taylor
While Troy did lose its top rusher and last year’s Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year Kimani Vidal to the NFL Draft, the Trojans have another potent back in Damien Taylor. Hailing from Northport, Alabama, the 5-foot-11 Taylor ran for 346 yards on 67 carries last year, averaging 2.84 yards after contact and forcing eight missed tackles. This season, those numbers are even better, as Taylor averages 7.6 yards per rush, tallying 136 yards on 18 carries. His 5.44 yards after contact ranks 14th in the nation among rushers with at least 15 carries. Trojan starting quarterback Goose Crowder is coming off an injury from Week 2, so Taylor will most likely receive an extra workload on Saturday.
2. Beware of Brendan
for not putting points on the board across all four quarters. With conference play on the horizon, coordinator Tim Lester’s offense can’t stall out for multiple drives. If this team has three or fewer three-and-outs over 60 minutes, then the Hawkeye faithful can have hope as their team heads north to Minnesota to face the Gophers.
4. Red zone scoring
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz concluded his Tuesday press conference with a poignant statement. When asked by a reporter how he feels about the new sideline communications, Ferentz said the change was all well and good, but he has more pressing matters to attend to.
“Just trying to figure out how to score a touchdown when we got the ball inside the five [yard-line]. That’s more important right now,” he said before leaving the podium.
OFFENSE
QB 12 Cade McNamara Sr 1 Brendan Sullivan Jr
RB 2 Kaleb Johnson Jr 28 Kamari Moulton #Fr
WR 15 Reece Vander Zee Fr 0 Jarriett Buie #Fr
WR 21 Kaden Wetjen Sr 3 Kaleb Brown Jr
WR 5 Jacob Gill Jr 8 Terrell Washington Jr. #Fr
TE 85 Luke Lachey Sr 87 Addison Ostrenga Jr
LT 78 Mason Richman Sr 71 Jack Dotzler Soph
LG 70 Beau Stephens Jr 64 Leighton Jones #Fr
C 65 Logan Jones Sr 58 Kade Pieper #Fr
RG 77 Connor Colby Sr 76 Tyler Elsbury Sr
RT 67 Gennings Dunker Jr 56 Nick Dejong Sr
OFFENSE
QB 9 Goose Crowder Jr 10 Tucker Kilcrease Soph
RB 0 Gerald Green Sr 3 Damien Taylor Jr
WRX 1 Landon Parker Sr 8 Zeriah Beason Jr
WRH 2 Peyton Higgins Jr 83 DJ Epps Soph
WRZ 7 Devonte Ross Jr 5 Mojo Dortch Soph
TE 14 Ethan Conner Sr 88 Brody Dalton Jr
LT 58 Elijah Prather #Fr 56 Carlos Slayden Jr
LG 75 Zerian Hudson Jr 67 Matt Henry Jr
C 66 Eli Russ Jr 65 Tyler Cappi Soph
RG 74 Daniel King Sr 55 Tavon Matthews Sr
RT 50 Boaz Stanley Soph 71 Kyler Gibson Soph
Troy runs a similar 3-4 defense as Illinois State, featuring four linebackers on the field. One of these defenders is Brendan Jackson, a transfer from Gardner Webb over the offseason.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Jackson earned first-team All-Big South honors, collecting 71 tackles and 11.5 for loss. The senior leads the Trojans with 16 tackles this season. While the Troy defense isn’t remarkable as a unit, Jackson is still a force that needs to be kept in check.
3.Four-quarter offense
It’s been a tale-of-two-halves type of season so far for the Iowa offense. Against Illinois State, the Hawkeyes struck gold over the final 30 minutes, while against Iowa State, the scheme hit rock bottom down the stretch.
Indeed, any good Power Four football team has to convert that close to the end zone and not settle for field goals. Even if the defense drops eight to protect the pass or sends a blitz, the Hawkeyes need to avoid any negative or no-gain plays. Varying up play design would help as well. Employ motion, get quarterback Cade McNamara out of the pocket, or do anything that makes five yards feel shorter.
5. Running back rotation
Troy’s defense has been a sieve so far this season, letting up 66 points over two games, so Iowa won’t have any excuses
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for giving Kaleb Johnson the rock when the going gets tough in conference play. He’s fourth in the nation in rushing yards but has 36 carries in six quarters of football and missed three games due to injury last season. Giving him more than 20 carries against a Troy defense that’s conceding 212 rushing yards per game in 2024 is counterproductive to the growth of the running back room. Backups Kamari Moulton and Leshon Williams should get an increase in reps against the Trojans, not only to give Johnson a break, but to develop their own skill and confidence for later should the Hawkeyes need them.
PK 18 Drew Stevens Jr DEFENSE
LE 45 Deontae Craig Sr 48 Max Llewellyn Jr
LT 95 Aaron Graves Jr 57 Will Hubert Soph
RT 94 Yahya Black Sr 55 Jeremiah Pittman Jr
RE 49 Ethan Hurkett Sr 90 Brian Allen Soph
29 Sebastian Castro Sr 37 Kyler Fisher Sr
MLB 34 Jay Higgins Sr 41 Jaden Harrell Jr
WLB 10 Nick Jackson Sr 43 Karson Sharar Jr
CB 2 TJ Hall Jr 7 John Nestor Soph
SS 1 Xavier Nwankpa Jr 4 Koen Entringer Soph
FS 30 Quinn Schulte Sr 6 Zach Lutmer #Fr
CB 27 Jermari Harris Sr 8 Deshaun Lee Soph
P 9 Rhys Dakin Fr
K 40 Scott Taylor Renfroe Jr DEFENSE
DE 0 Raymond Cutts Sr 45 Cheick Kaba Jr
DT 95 Luis Medina Jr 99 Julian Peterson Jr
NT 93 Kam Curry Jr 98 Jamel Fils-Aime Jr
BAN 1 Phillip Lee Jr 5 Jah-Mal Williams Jr
WLB 7 Jordan Stringer Jr 6 Terry Thomas Jr
MLB 4 Brendan Jackson Sr 2 Steven Cattledge Jr
SPEAR 3 Devin Lafayette Jr 11 Darrell Starling Jr
CB 21 LJ Green #Fr 12 Trent Henry Jr
FS 39 Ian Conerly-Goodly Jr 14 Cecil Powell Sr
SS 25 Justin Powe Soph 24 Rondall Carter Fr
CB 9 Damaje Yancey Sr 10 Jabari Strait Jr
P 48 Robert Cole Sr
CASH/ LEO
Lester
Jackson
Taylor
Johnson
Project: Hello from the Other Side
Kaelyn O’Brien and Max Bailey will be among over 75 families at Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 14.
Matt McGowan
Pregame Editor
matt.mcgowan@dailyiowan.com
Iowa football will have plenty of new faces in the stands when it takes on Troy at Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 14.
Amid the sold-out crowd decked in gold will be more than 75 childhood cancer patients from the University of Iowa Stead Family’s Children’s Hospital, many who are attending a Hawkeye football game for the first time and will get the opportunity to wave from the stands rather than the 12th floor of the hospital.
The event, called
“Project: Hello from the Other Side,” was invented by Ashley Hull, whose son James is also a cancer patient. While the project is only in its first year, it has received more than $4,000 in donations to cover the cost of tickets and other game-day expenses for the more
than 460 individuals in attendance, ranging from kids and their families to hospital staff.
The Iowa-Troy contest bears a special significance, as the game’s “Be Bold, Wear Gold” theme recognizes pediatric cancer awareness. September is also Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month.
The idea for the project started back in 2021.
A then-13-month-old James was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis in May of that year.
Hailing from Dyersville, Iowa, the Hulls’ local doctors organized a trip to the Field of Dreams, a baseball diamond carved in a cornfield that served as the set of the 1989 movie.
Hull said the excursion was originally intended as a team bonding experience for the medical staff, but she decided to bring along her family and other kids in treatment as well.
The next year, Hull began fundraising to purchase hotel rooms for far-away families. These efforts continued annually until the spring of
2024, when Hull “went overboard” and had a lot of money left over.
“Then I said, ‘What if I bring people to the football game?’” Hull told The Daily Iowan Kaelyn O’Brien and her family will be in the Kinnick stands on Saturday, having heard of the event through Hull’s Facebook page. Kaelyn, 11, hails from Jesup, Iowa, and was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in May of 2024.
She underwent four cycles of chemotherapy and was in remission after the second cycle, her mom Tammy said, adding that the family received scans in September confirming that Kaelyn is still in remission.
The Iowa-Troy matchup will be Kaelyn’s first Hawkeye football game, and she’s most looking
forward to participating in the Wave at the end of the first quarter.
Max Bailey has experienced the Wave from the football stadium before, having attended Iowa women’s basketball’s Crossover at Kinnick in October 2023. The 9-year-old from Clinton, Iowa, is also a basketball fan, splitting his loyalties between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Fever.
Max was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia a month after his fourth birthday and has undergone three-and-a-half years of treatment at the Stead Family’s Children’s Hospital. He finished treatment at the end of March 2022 and is still in remission.
Max’s mother Traci is looking forward to meeting with family friends at the game. After spending time in the hospital, the Baileys have connected with other families going through similar situations.
“Some of them live far away; we don’t get to see them very often,” she said. “You know, events like this, we get to reconnect and see each other and get to do fun things that aren’t hospital-related … It doesn’t have anything to do with a finger poke or taking blood or anything like that.”
Traci and her husband haven’t been to an Iowa football game since Max’s diagnosis. Traci said she knows what it’s like for the families watching from the hospital and got emotional describing what Saturday will mean for her.
“Hopefully that’ll give them hope,” Traci said. “That they’ll be out and that that will be them someday [in the stands], they won’t be in the hospital anymore.”
Contributed by Traci Bailey and Tammy O’Brien
Vander Zee rises to the moment
The small town sensation has adjusted quickly to his switch in position.
Colin Votzmeyer Sports Editor colin.votzmeyer@dailyiowan.com
While 6-foot-4, 207-pound Iowa wide receiver Reece Vander Zee towers over those lining up against him, he prioritizes respect around others.
Hailing from Rock Rapids, Iowa, Vander Zee is a reflection of his environment. A small town of less than 3,000 people nestled in the state’s far northwest corner, Rock Rapids is home to a loyal citizenry. Everyone wants everyone to succeed.
“Reece came from a very organically connected community,” his mom Meredith told The Daily Iowan. “I think that shows in his settled assurance. I think it shows in his competence and confidence in who he is. It’s because we have a really great support system here.”
As the oldest son of five younger siblings growing up in a Christian household, family and faith are dear to who Vander Zee is today.
“He just really cares about people not for what they can do for him but just for who they are, and so he really loves his siblings well that way,” Meredith said. “He’s very intentional with connecting with them and asking things about them and cheering them on.”
Before diving into any question from the media after his breakout game against Illinois State, he started with a thank you to “my lord and savior Jesus Christ.”
“Seeing him be able to be an ambassador for Christ in that avenue — I’m not surprised,” Meredith said, citing his faith originates from both of his parents’ involvement in ministry. “He is … humble enough … and so his ability to speak from the heart is pretty [impressive] for a kid his age.”
Meredith noted her son’s respectful character. She said she’ll never forget when, in high school, he took the responsibility for a mistake that wasn’t quite his own, telling the media it was his own fault.
Vander Zee was then a senior quarterback for Central Lyon/George-Little Rock High School. The 12-0 Lions were trailing by three with less than five minutes to go in the 2A state title game against undefeated Van Meter.
Vander Zee led his squad down to the threeyard line, and on fourth down, called a play change after the huddle. His center misinterpreted him as calling for a snap and fired the ball past the unaware quarterback. As the pigskin bounded down the turf, the Lions saw their state championship hopes go down the drain, but Vander Zee didn’t let the calamity
of the moment disrupt his character. He took accountability for the error rather than throwing his teammates under the bus.
“He knows his role, so I’m not surprised, going into Iowa, that he is going to do every-
thing he can to do what’s best for the team and stay really humble,” she said. “He reads the room really well, and so he’s going to come in wanting to learn and not wanting to lead right away.”
“He just really cares about people not for what they can do for him but just for who they are, and so he really loves his siblings well that way. He’s very intentional with connecting with them and asking things about them and cheering them on.””
As a coach herself, Meredith noticed her son’s hand-eye coordination from a very young age. His athleticism continued all the way up to pitching a perfect game for the high school’s baseball team in July of 2023 against Western Christian High School — the first in his school’s history. So, she naturally felt that baseball would be his path to the next level.
“He had a special gift that way,” she said. “[There are] definitely some God-given abilities there.”
But as Vander Zee continued to grow and gain size, his hand-eye coordination translated even better to the gridiron.
Just watching Vander Zee play football for Iowa, it would be difficult to tell he’s a true freshman — and even harder to tell he’s only
Isabella Tisdale | The Daily Iowan
Iowa wide receiver Reece Vander Zee prepares to block Iowa State defensive back Malik Verdon during a Cy-Hawk football game between then-No. 21 Iowa and Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 7. The Hawkeyes fell to the Cyclones, 20-19. Vander Zee had one catch for 10 yards.
Meredith Vander Zee
Reece Vander Zee’s mother
Iowa wide receiver Reece Vander Zee tries to catch the ball during a Cy-Hawk football game between then-No. 21 Iowa and Iowa
Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 7. The Cyclones defeated the Hawkeyes, 20-19.
been playing wide receiver for two months. Vander Zee was as surprised as anyone else to emerge as the starting wide receiver for Iowa’s season opener against Illinois State on Aug. 31. But Kaleb Brown had been suspended for an OWI, and Seth Anderson was sidelined with an injury. So, the 18-year-old without an ounce of college football experience suddenly felt the big brunt of a desperate offense on his back.
And where many didn’t expect much, not
of last year’s anemic offense, which notched just three passing touchdowns to receivers last year.
But things were heating up under the surface.
Iowa and its new offensive coordinator Tim Lester flipped into a fast-paced scheme in the second half, the results of which permanently cemented the name Vander Zee into Hawkeye fandom: The young wideout brought home five receptions, 66 receiving yards, and two
“The atmosphere is crazy. At first, it was a little daunting, I guess, but I got over that, and I went out there.”
much was received in the first two quarters of play, as the Hawkeyes were dependent on a run offense that stalled as it neared the red zone. Such an inefficiency bore the impression
touchdowns in the 40-0 win.
The first touchdown came when quarterback Cade McNamara rolled right, slinging a cross-body dart at Vander Zee’s hip, who slid
the end zone.
“It was amazing,” Vander Zee said. “The atmosphere is crazy. At first, it was a little daunting, I guess, but I got over that, and I went out there.”
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, watching from home due to a self-imposed one-game suspension for a recruiting violation, was impressed with the sight of No. 15 flashing across his television.
onto his back for the catch and a seven-yard score. The stadium erupted into roars — the Iowa offense was back.
Dating back to last season, the touchdown was the Hawkeyes’ first in more than eight quarters of play. The sound of 69,000-plus black-and-gold-clad fans screaming his name was hard to soak in as Vander Zee was quickly swarmed by his teammates in celebration.
Afterwards, Vander Zee said he never really expected to be put in that situation in his first game.
“I just kind of trust my preparation and go out there and have fun,” Vander Zee said.
Vander Zee’s second touchdown came on a play fake on the other end of the field. McNamara was blitzed by two Redbirds and opted to heave a prayer that resembled something like, “Reece must be down there somewhere.”
Engaged with three other Hawkeye receivers and a handful of Redbird defensive backs, Vander Zee turned his back to the end zone and rose up to snag the football up and away from anyone else, ripping it over the heads below him and into his chest as he moved into
“I thought, again, just watching it on TV, it looked like he performed well the other day,” Ferentz said. “He just seemed to handle things in stride … It’s not too big for him, and he certainly likes to compete, and it was good to see him go up with his hands and catch balls and make some plays for us.”
In fact, Vander Zee was the very definition of “athlete” at Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, also known as CL/GLR, where he competed in several sports.
The senior high school houses 239 students, according to U.S. News and World Report, and sits surrounded by suburban houses. A block north is the football stadium, hosting a program that’s won four state titles and has only posted one losing season in the last ten years.
“It’s huge, especially where I’m from — they teach toughness and grit, and exactly what they teach here: doing the little things right,” Vander Zee said. “Central Lyon — they prepared me incredibly well for this.”
Vander Zee morphed into a two-time allstate honoree, the District 1 Offensive MVP, and 2022 state champion, on the way to setting the school record in single-season receiving yards at 768 while also rushing for 1,767 yards and 24 touchdowns.
Reece Vander Zee Iowa wide receiver
Isabella Tisdale | The Daily Iowan
State at
Contributed by Meredith Vander Zee
VANDER ZEE
from 5
His senior year, he added quarterback to his duties as CL-GLR head coach Curtis Eben flipped him from wide receiver to replace Zach Lutmer, who is now a defensive back at Iowa.
“Most of the time, great athletes — the reason they’re great is because they’re super competitive, and Reece is a great example of that,” Eben said of Vander Zee’s execution on the field. “Reece is a guy that lives right on the field and off the field — he takes care of himself.”
Eben attributed Vander Zee’s success to his work ethic, authority, and accountability, as evidenced by Eben finding him leading a group of teammates on the track before school started – not in a conditioning exercise, but in yoga.
“[They did yoga] so they could improve their stretching abilities, and it’s something that wasn’t required,” Eben said. “He went above and beyond the things he needed to do to become a better athlete.”
Vander Zee was an all-state selection in baseball and basketball, winning a state championship for the latter, and was a twotime state track qualifier as a sprinter.
“I think he’s a freak of nature to be honest,” Eben said. “Reece made himself into the athlete he was … When you have a work ethic like Reece had, I think everything just becomes easier.”
Prior to his commitment to the Hawkeyes, Vander Zee was a 247Sports three-star recruit, the eighth-ranked player in Iowa and 137th-ranked receiver in his class, as he picked up over a dozen college offers — including from Iowa State, Nebraska, and Yale.
“I just liked the way he handles himself, carries himself,” Ferentz said of recruiting Vander Zee, noting he first saw him on the hardwood when he went to see Lutmer in a basketball game.
As Vander Zee grew toward committing to Iowa, Eben observed through the recruiting process that the wideout’s decision to join the Hawkeyes centered on personal development.
“Ultimately, I think for him to commit to the Hawkeyes, I think it’s all about just the relationships,” Eben said. “And you’ve finally just got to decide, ‘Where am I going to become a better human being?’ And I think that process led him to be a Hawkeye.”
Where Vander Zee might seem to be a quiet kid off the field, his Hawkeye debut made a big statement.
“Since we’ve been in practice, he just carries himself well,” Ferentz said. “He doesn’t get real demonstrative, just very steady, focused, and mature for his age and his experience level.”
The transition from high school quarterback to collegiate receiver wasn’t easy at first, but it didn’t take long for Vander Zee to find his groove and earn a starting nod.
“We got a lot of reps in practice, and it was rough for the first week or so, but I got back into it, just trusting my technique,” he said. “And at the end of the day, you’ve just got to go be an athlete and have fun with it.”
That’s again a testament to Vander Zee’s athletic abilities. He didn’t miss a step throughout offseason camp despite a slow start after an injury kept him out of spring camp. Vander Zee’s performance caught the attention of those around him fairly quickly.
“I think he really started gaining a lot of momentum toward the end of camp,” McNamara said. “His ability to go up and get it and make plays was something that he was getting some traction through. And I’m just so stoked for him because, as a true freshman, you don’t know how guys are going to react in game situations.”
Running against starting cornerback TJ Hall, the two have pushed one another to improve, impressing the latter as a result.
“Oh, man, it’s great,” he said of practicing against Vander Zee. “He started making some plays in fall camp, and I’m like, ‘Man, who is this kid?’ … And then he just kept making plays. I’m like, ‘Man, this kid’s going to be good.'"
“It’s great going against him. He gives me really great matchups, and he helps me prepare for the week ahead, and hopefully I help him too," Hall continued.
Hall noted Vander Zee’s catching abilities alongside his tall frame, at first thinking he was a tight end.
“There’s a couple [of plays in practice] where he just went up and got them,” Hall said. “I feel like he has strong hands. Anywhere in his vicinity, he’s going to go and grab it.”
Linebacker Nick Jackson wasn’t surprised coaches chose Vander Zee to start for the Hawkeyes’ opener, praising his week-byweek progress.
“Every single practice he’s getting better,” Jackson said. “There was really no surprise when it came to game time, and he was ready to make those types of plays.”
Vander Zee reacted well against Illinois State, running practices with the starters for a week in advance and again with Iowa State
the following weekend.
Despite an ugly 20-19 loss against the Cyclones that saw the offense stall in the second half, Vander Zee did have one reception for 10 yards — even as the Iowa State secondary had all Hawkeye targets on lockdown. His big hands and ability to go out and grab the ball were on display even if he did only catch one. He took a few hard hits but popped right back up.
“He just continues to grow, continues to do a good job with whatever we throw at him,” Ferentz said. “And as we went on, it just became apparent to us that he’s probably the right guy to have in there.”
Because that’s who Vander Zee is as a player and as a person.
Where he’s come from has taught him to rise to the moment.
Emily Nyberg | The Daily Iowan Iowa wide receiver Reece Vander Zee celebrates a touchdown with Iowa wide receiver Jacob Gill during a football game between Iowa and Illinois State at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Aug. 31. The Hawkeyes defeated the Redbirds, 40-0.
After a year playing for the Hawkeyes, fullback Hayden Large has found his groove.
Matt McGowan
Pregame Editor
matt.mcgowan@dailyiowan.com
Iowa fullback Hayden Large hadn’t taken a handoff since 2018. He was a junior in high school back then, helping Unity Christian win a Michigan state title. Six years later, the pigskin wound up in his hands again, and Large took the surprise in stride.
The Hawkeyes faced thirdand-1 in the red zone late in the first half, looking to protect a 10-0 advantage over the Iowa State Cyclones. Positioned outside Iowa’s right tackle, Large motioned behind quarterback Cade McNamara, received the handoff, and dodged a defender behind the line of scrimmage before plunging across the line for a first down.
The play appeared routine for Division I college football, but as is the case with Large, it didn’t arrive in conventional fashion. Back in his prep days, Unity Christian ran a Wing-T offense, where the running back would receive handoffs with his arms crossed and fingers
pointed to the ground – a style that’s rarely seen in the FBS. The first time Large practiced the play with McNamara over the summer, the fullback reverted back to his prep days, catching his quarterback off guard.
“We got the handoff, but [McNamara] looks at me like, ‘What the heck was that?’” Large remembered. “I was, like, ‘Oh, my bad.’ I had to learn how to actually take a handoff at that level.”
Large has a tendency to spark questions, the most prominent among them being how he wound up at Iowa in the first place. Before he starred in a storied position for the Hawkeyes, performing before crowds of 60,000-plus on a weekly basis, Large’s previous audience at Dordt College didn’t crack 5,000.
Where Large is now versus where he was two years ago is a difficult contrast for the fullback to wrap his mind around, but Large doesn’t regret taking the opportunity to walk on at Iowa last summer. Surrounded by the unfamiliar, Large embraces his unique situation and never takes it for granted.
“I get emotional about it, because I’m just so blessed to be here,” Large told reporters. “I always tell people, like, ‘If you were at Dordt
Hayden Fry, but the fullback grew up 370 miles away from Iowa City in Hudsonville, Michigan. L.arge took to the sport quickly in first grade, loving the team aspect but also the thrill of hitting someone in a competitive environment.
“I’ve been loving football ever since,” Large said. “I love football, and I feel like at [the college level] if you don’t love it, it’s just not going to go so good.”
Large’s passion for the game helped him traverse the highs and lows of his high school career. A three-sport athlete at Unity Christian, Large helped guide the football team to three straight playoff appearances, rotating between running back, tight end, linebacker, and safety. He earned first-team all-conference honors as a junior before his senior season was cut short due to a hamstring injury.
Lacking college offers beyond Division III schools, Large accepted an offer from Dordt, a private Christian college in Sioux Center, Iowa. The Defenders compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, or NAIA, which is separate from the NCAA. During Large’s three seasons at Dordt, he reeled in 62 catches for 950 yards and 12 scores, primarily at tight end.
Despite competing far from the national spotlight, Large’s ability caught the attention of Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods, who offered Large a walk-on spot in the summer of 2023. Large said he didn’t know what role he would play on the Hawkeyes. But when
From Gordon Locke in the 1920s to Monte Pottebaum a century later, the fullback position has been a staple in Iowa football. Large is the most recent Hawkeye to bear the title under head coach Kirk Ferentz, who lauded Large for his adaptability.
“He just came in here and worked,” Ferentz said of Large. “He’s got an unbelievable attitude, really good learner, and is versatile in his play. I think he’s taken a real big jump.”
Such was on display against the Cyclones, where Large blocked, rushed, and caught a 10-yard screen toss. Two years ago, Large was still catching passes, only at a field in northwest Iowa that was ringed by an outdoor track and not towering rows of bleachers like Kinnick Stadium.
The transition from Dordt to Iowa is no easy bridge, and Large credits those who made the trek possible. He said he thanks Woods after every game and credits Iowa tight ends coach Abdul Hodge for taking the time to instruct “one of the lowest recruits ever.”
Before talking with reporters at Iowa’s media availability, Large shook hands and introduced himself to each reporter. Large may not be from Iowa, but he’s treated it like it’s home.
“I was pretty nervous all last year, I was trying to get in the groove of it,” Large said. “It’s hard coming from a small college, but this year I’m having a ton of fun. I love the guys. I love the program. I love everything about it.”
Cody Blissett | The Daily Iowan
Iowa fullback Hayden Large runs with the ball down the sideline in a football game between Iowa and Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 7. The Cyclones defeated the Hawkeyes, 20-19.
Large
Weekly Wager
PETE RUDEN College Football Editor, Action Network Daily Iowan alumnus
IOWA -22
The Daily Iowan’s official bettor’s guide to Iowa football’s Week 3 matchup with Troy.
Iowa wants to bounce back after letting the Cy-Hawk game completely get away, and Troy is the perfect opponent for that situation. The Trojans defense ranks 100th or worse in rushing success rate, passing success rate, finishing drives, havoc, pass rush, and explosiveness.
OVER 39
For the first time in over a year, I’m not taking an Iowa under. That’s how bad Troy’s defense has been. What was a solid stop unit in 2023 brought back only 37 percent of its production. That has led to a rank of 127th in defensive rushing success rate and 110th against the pass.
The Mountaineers and their trio of stud running backs will feast on a Pitt defense that ranks 79th in yards allowed per game.
MATT MCGOWAN Pregame Editor
IOWA -22
The Hawkeyes are motivated after falling in a heartbreaker to the Cyclones, and unfortunately for Troy, the Trojans will bear the brunt of that anger. The Troy defense allows a 55 percent conversion percentage on third down, and Iowa will take advantage.
OVER 39
The Trojan defense is not what it was last year. This unit has given up 33 points per game and can’t stop the run, yielding an average of 212 rushing yards per contest. Hawkeye running back Kaleb Johnson will have 100 yards and a touchdown by halftime.
The Tigers haven’t allowed a point so far this season and can shut down Boston College’s rushing attack.
YTD: $89
Ruden’s 2024 record: 1-5
Each week during the Iowa football season, Daily Iowan Pregame Editor Matt McGowan and Action Network College Football Editor
Pete Ruden will place three hypothetical bets of $100. The score of the contest will be kept in the piggy banks to the right and left with a winner to be declared at the end of the season.
YTD: $262
McGowan’s 2024 record: 3-3
One on One: Gennings Dunker
The Daily Iowan Pregame Editor Matt McGowan spoke with the Hawkeye offensive tackle on Iowa football media day on Aug. 9.
Matt McGowan
Pregame Editor matt.mcgowan
@dailyiowan.com
The Daily Iowan: What’s your ideal sandwich?
Gennings Dunker: Oh my gosh, Subway, right? You get the cheesy bread. It’s pretty simple. You get ham, American cheese, get it toasted, and then I always tell them to put an unhealthy amount of mayonnaise on it. Then, I get a little bit of lettuce and I’m good to go.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
That’s a good one, probably luck.
What food do you just not like?
You know what really freaks me out? Cooked carrots. Those freak me out, bad. I love raw carrots but cooked carrots freak me out. I don’t know what it is.
How many unread messages do you got on your phone?
Honestly, zero. I usually read all my text messages. It’s kind of the respectful thing to do.
What do you enjoy learning about, besides just watching film?
At school, I really liked chemistry. It was my favorite subject.
What do you remember about the class that was fun?
I thought organic chemistry was pretty fun. Sounds like a weird thing to say, but it was fun.
What did you do in that class?
A lot of reactions of stuff, learning different functional groups and stuff. It was kind of boring, but I found it fun. I was entertained.
Did anything explode in your face?
Not yet. That would be pretty sweet, though. Well, I mean, depends on how close it is.
Is [chemistry] part of your post-football plans?
I’m getting my bachelor’s in human physiology and then I’ll take my MCAT next summer. I’ll apply to med school at Iowa next fall.
What made you want to get into that?
Well, I started as physical therapy because my mom was a physical therapist, but then I decided that I should probably go to med school.
What kind of doctor do you want to be?
I’m thinking about doing pediatrics.Working with little kids.
Have you done any internships or anything like that?
I’ve shadowed in the ER, and I also shadowed in pedia tric psychiatry. The doctor I shadowed worked with kids with epilepsy. I did some volunteer hours in the hospital and worked in a research lab as well.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned volunteering?
The biggest thing I’ve learned volunteering was how good we have it as football players. We get to play a game and have a good time together while a lot of other people
#67 Gennings Dunker
Junior
Right tackle
6-foot-5
Lena, IL
have a lot of stuff going on.
Do you have any irrational fears?
Probably none, besides cooked carrots.
What’s a book or movie that’s left a lasting impression on you?
I would say “Hot Rod.” Have you seen that movie? I just think it’s a true American story. It’s about perseverance. It’s pretty good.
Would you say you’re the funniest guy you know?
No, I would say it’s Jano [first-year offensive lineman Josh Janowski], he’s a pretty good time.
Cody Blissett | The Daily Iowan
Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker prepares to block before a snap during a Cy-Hawk football game between then-No. 21 Iowa and Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 7. The Cyclones defeated the Hawkeyes, 20-19.
Game Guide
Saturday | 11 a.m. |
No. 4 Alabama (2-0, 0-0) Wisconsin (2-0, 0-0)
Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI
Wisconsin might have made a huge mistake firing Paul Chryst three years ago. I’m a big fan of Luke Fickell, but his Air Raid system has struggled.
Line: Alabama -16 O/U: 50.5
Saturday | 11 a.m. |
Arkansas State (2-0,0-0) No. 17 Michigan (1-1, 0-0)
Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI
Arkansas State is a respectable Group of Five team, but they are no match for an angry Michigan team.
Line: Michigan -23 O/U: 47.5
Saturday | 11 a.m. |
Central Michigan (1-1, 0-0) Illinois (2-0, 0-0)
Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL
It’s a Hawkeye reunion as former Iowa quarterback Joe Labas of the Flames take on an Illini squad coached by former Hawkeye lineman Bret Bielema.
Line: Illinois -18.5
O/U: 48.5
Saturday | 2:30 p.m. |
No. 9 Oregon (2-0, 0-0) Oregon State (2-0, 0-0)
Reser Stadium Corvallis, OR
This rivalry has been so lopsided it hardly even feels like one anymore. Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel is my pick to win the Heisman Trophy.
Line: Oregon -16.5 O/U: 50.5
Saturday | 2:30 p.m. |
No. 18 Notre Dame (1-1) Purdue (2-0, 0-0) Ross-Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN
Notre Dame seems to be one of the most overrated teams in the country each year. Purdue is fresh off a bye week, so the Irish could be upset again.
Line: Notre Dame -10 O/U: 45.5
Saturday | 2:30 p.m. |
Prairie View A&M (1-1, 0-0)
Michigan State (2-0, 0-0)
Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI
It’s a good thing I’ll be covering the Iowa-Troy game instead of wasting my Saturday afternoon watching this snoozefest.
Line: NA
O/U: NA
Saturday | 2:30 p.m. |
Nevada (1-2, 0-0) Minnesota (1-1, 0-0)
Huntington Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN
Remember when Iowa hosted Nevada in the lighting-delay filled game in 2022? That was not fun, and neither is this contest in Minneapolis.
Line: Minnesota -17.5 O/U: 44.5
Saturday | 2:30 p.m. |
Washington State (2-0, 0-0) Washington (2-0, 0-0)
Lumen Field Seattle, WA
Fun neutral site matchup here between these two longtime rivals. Washington has dominated this series as of late, but the Cougars will be motivated.
Line: Washington -4.5 O/U: 55.5
Saturday | 3 p.m. |
Troy (0-2, 0-0) Iowa (1-1, 0-0)
Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA
After last week’s frustrating defeat, the Hawkeyes will look to blow off some steam against a Troy team that featured offseason departures.
Line: Iowa -22
O/U: 39
Schultz Assistant Sports Editor
Saturday | 6:30 p.m. |
Indiana (2-0, 0-0) UCLA (1-0, 0-0)
Rose Bowl Stadium Pasadena, CA
This game could potentially be a top-10 matchup on the hardwood, but we’re talking gridiron here, where both of these teams are irrelevant.
Line: Indiana -3 O/U: 45.5
Saturday | 6:30 p.m. |
Northern Iowa (2-0, 0-0) No. 23 Nebraska (2-0, 0-0) Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE
UNI and head coach Mark Farley are always tough against FBS foes, having bested Iowa State five times. The Huskers need to be careful here against the Panthers.
At first, I hated the idea of a temporary stadium. Now, after seeing the lakefront stadium, I want to see a game there. Not this game, though.
Line: NA
O/U: NA
Saturday | 7 p.m. |
Maryland (1-1, 0-1)
Virginia (2-0, 1-0)
Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA
Former ACC rivals Maryland and Virginia reunite for the first time since 2013. The Terps are reeling from a conference loss to Michigan State.
Line: Maryland -2.5 O/U: 57.5
Brad
THREE
Power Rankings
1. Ohio State
Brad Schultz Assistant Sports Editor
The Buckeyes are by far the most complete team in the conference right now.
2. USC
Believe it or not, the Trojan defense pitched a shutout last week.
3. Oregon
This team is loaded but has struggled through the first two weeks.
4. Penn State
Shaky outing last weekend, but it has so much potential.
5. Nebraska
Dylan Raiola might be the real deal.
6. Iowa
Horrific collapse against Iowa State last weekend.
7. Michigan
The Wolverines desperately need to find a QB.
8. Illinois
Really good win over Kansas. Can it keep the momentum going?
9. Washington
First real test comes against Washington State this weekend.
10. Wisconsin
Another tight game, this time against an FCS foe. A lot of concerns with this squad.
11. Michigan State
Nice win on the road at Maryland last weekend.
12. Rutgers
Kyle Monangai is an absolute stud.
13. Maryland
The Terps let one slip away against Michigan State.
14. Purdue
Boilermakers get a reeling Notre Dame squad fresh off a bye week. Huge opportunity for Ryan Walters and company.
15. Indiana
Time to play some real competition.
16. Minnesota
The boat is taking in more water by the week.
17. Northwestern
Tough overtime loss against Duke. This doesn’t look like a good football team.
18. UCLA
Bruins got a much-needed early bye week. Now it’s time for their Big Ten opener against Indiana.
On The Line
IOWA
We can finally say we beat an Alabama school with red uniforms.
KANSAS STATE
Purple, limestone, and good farming. No other Kansas school this cool.
WASHINGTON
Beautiful library next to the ugliest building of all time.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Hey Giants, give Devin “Motor” Singletary the ball.
APP STATE
The Pirate logo goes so hard, though.
TEXAS A&M
“These Gators got me sitting at a damn Dennys!” Watch the video.
The Daily Iowan staff share their predictions and thoughts on this week’s upcoming games.
IOWA
The masses are hoping a Trojan Horse isn’t rolling into Kinnick.
ARIZONA
How K-State has the NIL funding it has needs to be studied.
WASHINGTON
Hate week I guess?
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Game of the week. College GameDay GET THERE.
APP STATE I’ll reread “Hillbilly Elegy” in preparation.
TEXAS A&M
Taking this space to express my persistent pain with Notre Dame.
IOWA
Hawkeyes bounce back from last week’s disaster.
KANSAS STATE
Both teams struggled last week, but give me the ’Cats at home.
WASHINGTON
I’ve always wanted to try sailgating on the Puget Sound.
FIU Panthers do prey on owls after all.
APP STATE
I bet App State still gives Michigan fans nightmares.
TEXAS A&M
Billy Napier, figure out how to open a water bottle. Your seat is hot.
IOWA
Even if Iowa held +5000 odds, I’d still roll with ’em.
KANSAS STATE I didn’t even know Arizona was good at football.
WASHINGTON
Don’t lose the intrastate game like some other Big Ten schools ...
FIU
Just because I know someone who goes to FAU, I won’t pick them.
APP STATE East? I thought there was only a North and South Carolina?
TEXAS A&M
Florida Gators make me think of the gator scene from “Happy Gilmore.”
IOWA
Rebound game. IOWA It’s a bounce-back from the one that got away.
ARIZONA
May the best Wildcat win.
WASHINGTON
Can State represent the Pac-2?
FIU
Owls regain their wings.
KANSAS STATE
Yep, this is a Big 12 game.
WASHINGTON
The Apple Cup lives in this realignment world.
FIU A battle among the also-rans of the Sunshine State.
APP STATE Interceptions haunt ECU.
EAST CAROLINA I kind of wish App State was still an FCS team.
FLORIDA
The Aggies’ loss to Notre Dame looks a lot worse now.
TEXAS A&M
The Gators are a disaster.
IOWA
A blowout vs. Troy won’t heal last week’s wounds.
KANSAS STATE
Two Wildcats enter, but only one remains.
WASHINGTON
The Big Ten loves the Apple Cup.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
FIU struggles away from Pitbull Stadium.
APP STATE The Battle of the Lesser-Known Carolinas.
TEXAS A&M
It will be a long, long fall in Gainesville.
‘Choose happiness and choose kindness’
Kid Captain Mya Gilchrist faces her lifelong brainstem tumor with optimism.
Kate Perez Senior Reporter sports@dailyiowan.com
For 18-year-old Mya Gilchrist, the title of Kid Captain has been a long time coming.
Mya, who hails from Center Point, Iowa, has applied to be a Kid Captain multiple times over the last decade, first coming to the University of Iowa for treatment in 2007. This weekend, Mya will cheer on the Hawkeyes as the third 2024 Kid Captain this sea son.
Mya came to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics when she was diagnosed with a tumor on her brain stem, called a malignant pilocytic astrocytoma, at 18 months old. Her journey has been a long one. Surgeons at the hospital removed the majority of the tumor and Mya then underwent 74 weeks of chemotherapy.
The tumor returned twice after her initial treatment of chemotherapy when she was five and 12, respectively. Each time, different chemotherapy treatments resulted in a decrease in her tumor size, which is still being moni tored today.
In 2023, Mya went in for a check-up after experiencing fatigue and an inabil ity to focus. The result of blood tests showed a mutation in her blood cells that was causing them to be made at a very high level, making her blood too thick. Since then, Mya has had blood removed from her body at UIHC every couple of weeks.
Through it all, Mya has remained one of Dr. David Dickens’ easiest patients to work with. Dickens, the UIHC’s Clinical Director of Pediatric Oncology Services, has treated Mya since 2021.
“A lot of people have issues in their life that they’re struggling with, and to see people who know her story and what you see in front of you, as you interact with her, you would be surprised to see all the details of that medical history and all the names of the drugs she’s been on over time,” Dickens said of Mya.
Dickens added that she makes the experience of providing care to some one feel very positive.
“There are a lot of people, and I’m
“She’s
been through it before, but every time she’s like, ‘I beat it once, I’ll do it again.’”
