The Daily Iowan Pregame - 09.23.2022

RUTGERS +7.5

Both defenses have the advantage here. The Scarlet Knights rank top-40 in Success Rate against both the run and the pass. They also come in at 45th in Finishing Drives, so if Iowa’s offense finds its way into Rutgers territory, it won’t be easy to put TDs on the board. I’m expecting a low-scoring affair. That kind of game script favors the dog of over a touchdown.

UNDER 35.5

Can I just copy and paste what I wrote above (and what I’ve written the past three weeks)? Each defense has a significant advantage in Finishing Drives. Iowa’s defense ranks 12th in that category, while Rutgers’ offense comes in at 76th. Rutgers’ defense ranks 45th in Finishing Drives, and the Iowa offense sits at 128th.

EASTERN MICHIGAN -4.5

I scooped this line at Eastern Michigan -4.5 against Buffalo earlier in the week and would play it to -6.

RUTGERS +7.5

I’m not sure either team will score a touchdown in this game. It’d be hard for Iowa to win this one by more than seven points without scoring a touch down. Rutgers’ defense ranks 10th in the nation and Iowa’s offense is last in the 131-team FBS. That doesn’t seem like a formula that will enable the Hawkeyes to win by eight points or more.

UNDER 35.5

If this total moves to 34, it’d be tied for the lowest closing total in college football since 2000, according to Barstool Sportsbook. The last time I saw a total this low was ahead of the 2021 Iowa-Wisconsin game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison. The total for that game was set at 35.5, just like this Sat urday’s Iowa-Rutgers game. The Badgers beat the Hawkeyes, 27-7, last year.

LT 78 Mason Richman

LG 56 Nick DeJong 65 Logan Jones 70 Beau Stephens

RT 7 7 Connor Colby

WR 14 Brody Brecht

WR 10 Arland Bruce

TE 84 Sam LaPorta

QB 7 Spencer Petras

RB 25 Gavin Williams

FB 38 Monte Pottebaum

PK 18 Drew Stevens

LE 92 John Waggoner

LT 99 Noah Shannon

RT 85 Logan Lee

RE 13 Joe Evans

OLB 46 Logan Klemp

MLB 31 Jack Campbell

WLB 4 4 Seth Benson

CB 2 Terry Roberts 26 Kaevon Merriweather SR

FS 30 Quinn Schulte JR

CB 33 Riley Moss SR

P 9 Tory Taylor JR

Ruden’s 2022 record:

USC -6.5

Inscribe this in stone: USC is going to win by triple the 6.5-point margin it’s favored to beat Oregon State by.

Each week during the Iowa football season, Daily Iowan Pregame Editor Austin Hanson 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.

For advanced analysis and statistics, read the full version of The Daily Iowan’s bettor’s guide

Hanson’s 2022 record: 6-3

OT 72 Hollin Pierce

OG 55 J.D. DiRenzo

C 57 Ireland Brown

OG 51 Curtis Dunlap

RT 7 7 Willie Tyler III

TE 21 Johnny Langan

WR 7 Shameen Jones

WR 12 Joshua Youngblood

WR 1 Aron Cruickshank

QB 0 Noah Vedral

RB 4 A aron Young 93 Jude McAtamney

DL 23 Wesley Bailey

DL 7 1 A aron Lewis

DL 92 Mayan Ahanotu

DL 48 Kyonte Hamilton

LB 2 2 Tyreem Powell

LB 17 Deion Jennings

DB 16 Max Melton

DB 5 Kessawn

DB 2 Avery Young

DB 4 Desmond Igbinosun

DB 0 Christian Izien 94 Adam Korsak

The Daily Iowan’s official bettor’s guide to Iowa football’s Week 4 matchup with Rutgers. the

PETE RUDEN

College Football Editor. Action Network Daily Iowan Alumnus

AUSTIN HANSON Pregame Editor

An Australian punting showcase

Chloe Peterson Sports Editor

Punters Adam Korsak and Tory Taylor play almost 1,000 miles away from each other, but their American football careers started in the same place: Melbourne, Australia.Iowa’s Taylor and Rutgers’ Korsak both trained with Prokick Australia — a program specifically designed to help Australian athletes play American football at the college or NFL level — before coming to the U.S.Korsak was a neighbor and friend of Jordan Berry,

an Australian who used Prokick’s services on his way to a six-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings in the NFL.“Initially, I found out about Prokick Australia and the opportunity to punt pretty much through what Jordan Berry did,” Korsak said at Big Ten Football Media Days in July. “Especially in that first year with the Steelers.

“Prokick Australia does all the recruiting, pretty much. So, all we have to do is just try to be the best we can be. We get enough film and we try to talk to enough people to where Prokick can

put us into a position to try to sell us and try to get us a scholarship.”Taylorstarted with ProKick Australia just for fun, he said. Taylor was a strong kicker in Australian rules football, and his friends encouraged him to work with Prokick.

In 2017, Korsak committed to punt for Rutgers. In 2020, Taylor signed to play for Iowa.While playing for their respective teams, Taylor and Korsak have met multiple times — including once in Melbourne in May.

“We weren’t actually punting together on the

same day, unfortunately, because it would have been nice to get a few tricks off him,” Taylor said on Tuesday.

Taylor will have a chance to see Korsak’s tricks on Saturday, however, when the Hawkeyes and Scarlet Knights meet in Piscataway. Multiple people from Prokick Australia will be in attendance at SHI Stadium, TaylorWhilesaid.Iowa and Rutgers fans alike have dubbed Saturday’s matchup a punting battle, Taylor doesn’t see it that way.

“I’ve never really thought about that,” Taylor said. “But it seems to be coming up a bit

on Twitter. So, I’ll leave that one up to all the media and all the fans and supporters around the country that think that, but like I said, I’m just gonna go out there and worry about what I can do.

“Adam’s a hell of a player, but I really don’t have anything to do with that,” Taylor added. “And as much as I wish I could do something about it. I can’t. But I’m really looking forward to seeing all those guys.”Iowa and Rutgers last met in 2019, when the Hawkeyes shut out the Scarlet Knights, 30-0. But Korsak, a secondyear American football

punter at the time, made it difficult for Iowa.

Korsak saw the field 10 times that day at Kinnick Stadium, averaging 47.6 yards per punt with no touchbacks.“You’vegot two punters that can really alter the game,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said on Tuesday. “We spent a lot of time trying to come out of the end zone, I know that, last time we played against [Korsak]. That’s one more thing that’s on the list. That really impacts a game. It’s huge. If you can master that down — it takes a good punt, but it also takes guys on the

Both Iowa’s Tory Taylor and Rutgers’ Adam Korsak started their college football journeys in Melbourne.

Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan

Rutgers punter Adam Korsak sits on the set of Big Ten Network during day two of Big Ten Media Days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on July 27. Korsak received questions throughout the day on what it means to be an Australian. The event marked the 50th annual Big Ten Media Days.

Grace Smith/The Daily Iowan

Iowa punter Tory Taylor during a football game between Iowa and Iowa State at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Sept. 10. The Cyclones ended a six-game Cy-Hawk series losing streak and defeated the Hawkeyes, 10-7. Taylor’s longest punt during the game was 63 yards.

coverage unit doing a nice job.”The Hawkeyes had touchdown drives of 97, 75, and 56 yards against Rutgers in 2019.

This year, the Hawkeyes are creating a plan to return some of Korsak’s kicks. Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods pointed out on Wednesday that Korsak has punted 136 times without a touchback — a stat that dates back to 2019.Last season, Korsak set an NCAA record with 3,299 net punting yards in one season. He’s punted 12 times so far in 2022, racking up 505 yards for an average of 42 yards per kick.The Hawkeyes lost reigning Big Ten Returner of the Year Charlie Jones when he transferred to Purdue ahead of the season. Following Jones’ departure, the Hawkeyes held a competition between senior Riley Moss and sophomores Cooper DeJean and Arland Bruce to determine who would returnBruce,punts.one of Iowa’s top receivers, won the job. Through three games, he’s amassed 69 punt return yards.“With Korsak, first off, he’s a tremendous punter,” Woods said. “We all saw that firsthand here in 2019, and then he hasn’t gotten any worse over the past couple years, so he’s definitely a very good punter. He can put the ball where he wants to, when he wants to. I think, from our perspective as a returner, we want to be smart with

which balls we field and choose to return. Inside the 10, we have a pretty hard and fast rule that we’re not trying to return balls that deep.”Woods is also anticipating a hostile environment for his special teams unit — something that will be a first for a lot of his players, he said. Bruce will be returning punts for the first time outside of Kinnick Stadium for the first time as well.

Woods said the vibe is

“never quite the same’’ outside of Kinnick Stadium, as the adoration will not be there. While there may still be Australian flags at SHI Stadium, Woods said, they’ll be for Korsak, not Taylor.InIowa City, fans come to Kinnick Stadium clad in “Punting is Winning” and “I Cheer For the Punter” T-shirts. When Taylor makes an appearance on the field, “MVP” chants are shouted from Iowa’s student section.

Iowa fans are enamored with Taylor’s punting prowess, but he said his power isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

“I feel like I’m going to be a little bit of a smartass when I say this, but that’s something I’ve been doing for 20 years,” Taylor said. “I know everyone kind of goes crazy when we put them inside the 5, but really, it’s not that difficult of a punt for me. I mean, it’s more so just like that touch punt; doesn’t really

have as much to do with technique or anything like that.”The Hawkeyes have seen a lot of the Australian so far this season. Taylor has punted 23 times — including 10 times against South Dakota State, — averaging 48.3 yards each boot.Taylor has 1,110 total yards with nine games remaining — well on pace to smash Kosak’s one-yearold NCAA punting yards record.

“[Taylor is] such a tremendous player,” Korsak said in July. “He really is. And you’re in awe watching him sometimes, the way he punts in pressure situations for Iowa, he can put them in good spots. And top of that, even more than that, he’s just such a great dude. He’s a really good guy and you root for those guys, and I’m excited to play. They’re coming to us, and that’s going to be such an exciting game. I’m excited.”

chloe-peterson@uiowa.edu

Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan

Iowa special teams coach Levar Woods hugs defensive lineman Henry Marchese after Marchese blocked a punt during a football game between No. 16 Iowa and Nebraska at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Nov. 26, 2021. Iowa punter Tory Taylor and long snapper Austin Spiewak joined in the celebration.The Hawkeyes defeated the Cornhuskers 28-21.

0 Diante Vines WR 6-0 198 Soph Danbury, CT

1 Xavier Nwankpa DB 6-2 210 Fr Pleasant Hill, IA

1 Aaron Blom K 5-11 189 Soph Oskaloosa, IA

2 Kaleb Johnson RB 6-0 212 Fr Hamilton, OH

2 Terry Roberts DB 5-10 182 Sr Erie, PA

3 Carson May QB 6-3 221 Fr Jones, OK

3 Cooper DeJean DB 6-1 209 Soph Odebolt, IA

4 Leshon Williams RB 5-10 210 Soph Chicago, IL

4 Koen Entringer DB 6-0 199 Fr Ypsilanti, MI

5 Joe Labas QB 6-4 207 #Fr Brecksville, OH

5 Jestin Jacobs LB 6-4 238 Jr Englewood, OH

6 Keagan Johnson WR 6-1 194 Soph Bellevue, NE

6 TJ Hall DB 6-0 183 Fr Fresno, CA

7 Spencer Petras QB 6-5 231 Sr San Rafael, CA

7 Reggie Bracy DB 6-0 209 Jr Mobile, AL

8 Alex Padilla QB 6-1 200 Jr Greenwood Village, CO

8 Deshaun Lee DB 5-10 174 Fr Belleville, MI

9 Jaziun Patterson RB 5-10 188 Fr Pompano Beach, FL

9 Tory Taylor P 6-4 230 Jr Melbourne, Australia

10 Arland Bruce IV WR 5-10 198 Soph Olathe, KS

11 AJ Lawson DB 6-0 193 Soph Decatur, IL

12 Jaxon Rexroth DB 6-2 213 #Fr Cedar Rapids, IA

13 Reese Osgood WR 5-11 176 Fr Franklin, WI

13 Joe Evans DE 6-2 246 Sr Ames, IA

14 Brody Brecht WR 6-4 217 #Fr Ankeny, IA

15 Jacob Bostick WR 6-2 171 Fr Palatine, IL

15 Dallas Craddieth DB 5-11 207 Sr St. Louis, MO

16 Jordan Kumm WR 5-9 188 Soph Ankeny, IA

16 Jamison Heinz DB 6-0 205 Soph Humboldt, IA

17 Max White RB 5-10 203 #Fr Cedar Rapids, IA

17 Brenden Deasfernandes DB 6-0 192 Soph Belleville, MI

18 Alec Wick WR 6-1 196 #Fr Iowa City, IA

18 Drew Stevens K 6-0 180 Fr North Augusta, SC

19 Graham Friedrichsen WR 6-1 183 Fr Urbandale, IA

19 Gaven Cooke DB 6-1 184 #Fr Kentfield, CA

20 Deavin Hilson RB 6-1 192 #Fr Des Moines, IA

20 Kael Kolarik DB 6-0 211 Fr Indianola, IA

21 Kaden Wetjen WR 5-10 191 Soph Williamsburg, IA

49 Andrew Lentsch TE 6-4 252 #Fr West Des Moines, IA Ethan Hurkett DL 6-3 252 Soph Cedar Rapids, IA Louie Stec DL 6-0 268 Jr La Grange Park, IL Luke Gaffney DL 6-2 247 Fr Robins, IA Asher Fahey OL 6-5 289 Soph Waukon, IA Michael Myslinski OL 6-3 287 #Fr Jacksonville, FL Matt Fagan OL 6-5 296 Sr Council Bluffs, IA Dominic Wiseman DL 5-11 274 Fr Davenport, IA Jeremiah Pittman DL 6-3 297 #Fr Palatine, IL Nick DeJong OL 6-6 300 Jr Pella, IA Will Hubert DL 6-3 247 Fr Omaha, NE Taylor Fox OL 6-3 292 Jr Winthrop, IA Griffin Liddle OL 6-3 282 #Fr Bettendorf, IA Justin Britt OL 6-4 301 Jr Indianapolis, IN 65 Logan Jones OL 6-3 283 Soph Council Bluffs, IA 66 Jeremy Chaplin OL 6-2 263 #Fr Waverly, IA Gennings Dunker OL 6-5 316 #Fr Lena, IA 69 Tyler Endres OL 6-6 297 Jr Norwalk, IA Beau Stephens OL 6-6 307 #Fr Blue Springs, MO

71 Jack Dotzler OL 6-6 266 Fr Waunakee, WI Kale Krogh OL 6-5 276 Fr Huxley, IA

21 Thomas Hartlieb DB 5-11 193 Jr Madison, WI Nolan Donald RB 5-9 197 Jr Morton, IL Carter Erickson 6-0 181 Fr Indianola, IA Landyn Van Kekerix 6-1 198 Fr Inwood, IA Gavin Williams 6-0 214 Soph Altoona, IA Kelby Telander 6-4 228 #Fr North Liberty, IA Kaevon Merriweather 6-0 212 Sr Belleville, MI Jack Johnson 6-0 194 Soph West Des Moines, IA Jermari Harris DB 6-1 190 Jr Chicago, IL Jackson Ritter WR Josef Smith LB 6-3 233 Soph Britt, IA Jaden Harrell LB 6-2 239 #Fr Urbandale, IA Denin Limouris FB 6-2 234 #Fr Glen Ellyn, IL Zach Twedt LB 6-3 240 #Fr Story City, IA Karson Sharar LB 6-2 224 #Fr Iowa Falls, IA Seth Benson LB 6-0 232 Sr Sioux Falls, SD Deontae Craig DL 6-3 266 Soph Fort Wayne, IN Nick Phelps P 5-10 200 Sr Kingsley, IA Logan Klemp LB 6-2 235 Sr Jewell, IA Max Llewellyn DL 6-5 243 #Fr Urbandale, IA

73 David Davidkov OL 6-6 309 #Fr Glenview, IL Josh Volk OL 6-4 308 Soph Cedar Rapids, IA Tyler Elsbury OL 6-5 308 Soph Byron, IL 77 Connor Colby OL 6-6 308 Soph Cedar Rapids, IA Mason Richman OL 6-6 308 Soph Leawood, KS 79 Jack Plumb OL 6-7 297 Sr Green Bay, WI Kyson Van Vugt TE 6-6 247 Fr Hull, IA 81 Cael Vanderbush TE 6-4 208 Fr Plainfield, IN Johnny Pascuzzi TE 6-4 224 #Fr Olathe, KS 83 Alex Eichmann WR 6-2 193 Fr Sussex, WI 83 Jameson Witte DL 6-5 270 Soph O'Fallon, MO Sam LaPorta TE 6-4 249 Sr Highland, IL Luke Lachey TE 6-6 252 Soph Columbus, OH 85 Logan Lee DL 6-5 275 Jr Orion, IL Steven Stilianos TE 6-5 264 Jr Hayes, VA Jeff Bowie DL 6-5 270 #Fr West Branch, IA Addison Ostrenga TE 6-4 234 Fr Sun Prairie, WI Andrew Kraus DL 6-4 227 Fr Barrington, IL Jackson Frericks TE 6-6 233 Jr Cedar Falls, IA Nico Ragaini WR 6-0 196 Sr East Haven, CT Brian Allen DE 6-4 263 Fr Lake in the Hills, IL Lukas Van Ness DL 6-5 269 Soph Barrington, IL John Waggoner DL 6-5 267 Sr Des Moines, IA Anu Dokun DL 6-3 230 Soph Iowa City, IA

Yahya Black DL 6-5 306 Soph Marshall, MN Aaron Graves DL 6-4 271 Fr Dayton, IA Lucas Amaya K 6-2 209 Jr Muskego, WI

97 Caden Crawford DL 6-4 253 Fr Lansing, KS 97 Liam Reardon LS 6-1 223 Soph Chicago, IL Chris Reames DL 6-7 274 Jr Van Meter, IA Noah Shannon DL 6-0 289 Sr Montgomery, IL 99 Max Hoskins P 6-1 175 Fr Salem, OR

0 Noah Vedral QB 6-1 200 Sr Wahoo, NE

0 Christian Izien DB 5-10 200 Sr Far Rockaway, NY

1 Aron Cruickshank WR 5-10 170 Sr Brooklyn, NY

2 Gavin Wimsatt QB 6-3 220 #Fr Owensboro, KY

2 Avery Young DB 5-11 205 Sr Coatesville, PA

3 Evan Simon QB 6-3 205 #Fr Mount Joy, PA

3 Moses Walker LB 6-2 220 Fr Staten Island, NY

4 Aaron Young RB 5-10 200 Jr Coatesville, PA

4 Desmond Igbinosun DB 6-3 205 Soph Union, NJ

5 Sean Ryan WR 6-1 200 Sr Brooklyn, NY

5 Kessawn Abraham DB 5-10 190 Sr Brooklyn, NY

6 Christian Dremel WR 5-9 185 Jr Caldwell, NJ

6 Christian Braswell DB 5-11 185 Sr Washington, DC

7 Shameen Jones WR 6-2 185 Sr Bronx, NY

7 Robert Longerbeam DB 5-11 170 Soph Alexandria, VA

8 Mohamed Toure DL 6-2 235 Jr Pleasantville, NJ

8 Jamier Wright-Collins LB 6-1 215 Soph Paterson, NJ

9 Chris Long WR 6-0 175 Soph Willingboro, NJ

9 Khayri Banton LB 6-3 225 #Fr East Orange, NJ

10 Matt Alaimo TE 6-5 250 Sr Paramus, NJ

10 Shawn Collins DL 6-5 250 #Fr Montclair, NJ

11 Don Munnerlyn WR 6-5 215 #Fr Columbus, OH

11 Cam'Ron Stewart DL 6-5 255 #Fr Shillington, PA

12 Joshua Youngblood WR 5-10 185 Jr Tampa, FL

12 Kenny Fletcher DL 6-3 230 Fr Delran, NJ

13 Nasir Montgomery WR 6-1 190 #Fr East Orange, NJ

13 Q'yaeir Price DL 6-2 255 Fr Paterson, NJ

14 Isaiah Washington WR 6-3 205 Jr Jacksonville, FL

14 Jordan Thompson DL 6-2 250 #Fr Parsippany, NJ

15 Max Patterson WR 6-0 180 #Fr Arlington, VA

15 Zilan Williams DB 6-1 180 Fr Martinsburg, WV

16 Raeden Oliver QB 6-2 190 Fr Montclair, NJ

16 Max Melton DB 6-0 190 Soph Mays Landing, NJ

17 Gavin Rupp QB 6-3 205 #Fr Tampa, FL

17 Deion Jennings LB 6-1 230 Sr Sicklerville, NJ

18 Rashad Rochelle WR 5-11 170 Fr Springfield, IL

18 Keenan Reid DB 5-10 180 Sr Somerset, NJ 19 Austin Albericci QB 5-10 175 Sr Closter, NJ

19 Todd Bowles Jr. DB 5-11 185 #Fr Tampa, FL

20 Elijuwan Mack DB 5-11 185 Soph Newark, NJ Johnny Langan TE 6-3 235 Sr Wayne, NJ Carnell Davis DB 6-1 180 #Fr Galloway, NJ Tyreem Powell LB 6-5 235 Soph Vineland, NJ Kyle Monangai RB 5-9 205 Soph Roseland, NJ Wesley Bailey DL 6-5 250 Soph Ottawa, ON Thomas Amankwaa 6-0 205 Fr Hillsborough, NJ Shaquan Loyal DB 6-0 200 Soph Newark, NJ Al-Shadee Salaam RB 5-10 190 #Fr East Orange, Pine Hill, NJ Philadelphia, Canton, Jersey City, Mount Laurel, Trenton, Montclair, New Providence, Roseland, Toms River, Schwenksville, Wilmington, Aberdeen, Rahway, Summit, Tampa, Franklin Lakes,

40 Sebastian Jusma DB 6-1 190 Fr Teaneck, NJ

41 Jordan Kinsler RB 5-10 175 #Fr Franklin Park, NJ

41 Ryan Russo LB 6-1 225 Fr Harrisburg, PA

42 DJ Allen DL 6-7 250 Fr Leo, IN

43 Andrew Vargas DB 5-9 190 Fr Ridgefield Park, NJ

44 Anthony Johnson LB 6-1 240 Fr Philadelphia, PA

44 Jai Patel K 5-9 170 Fr Monmouth Junction, NJ

45 Dami Awoyinfa LB 6-1 220 #Fr Linden, NJ

45 Ed Rogowski LS 6-1 225 Sr Streetsboro, OH

46 Kareem Lewis DB 6-1 200 Fr Philadelphia, PA

46 Sammy El Hadidi LS 5-11 205 Fr Bridgewater, NJ

48 Kyonte Hamilton DL 6-4 270 Soph District Heights, MD

48 Antonio Chadha K 5-8 205 Fr Bryn Mawr, PA

49 Zack Taylor LS 5-11 215 #Fr Parsippany, NJ

50 CJ Hanson OL 6-5 310 Jr Jackson, NJ

50 Jordan Augustin DL 6-3 275 Fr Newark, NJ

51 Curtis Dunlap Jr. OL 6-5 335 Sr Jacksonville, FL

51 Troy Rainey DL 6-4 285 #Fr Bridgeport, CT

53 Mike Ciaffoni OL 6-3 300 Jr Sudbury, MA

54 Nick Ciaffoni OL 6-2 285 Fr Sudbury, MA

54 Timmy Hinspeter LB 6-0 230 Fr Ramsey, NJ

55 J.D. DiRenzo OL 6-6 315 Sr Hammonton, NJ

55 Zaire Angoy DL 6-3 325 #Fr Irvington, NJ

56 Tyler Needham OL 6-4 300 #Fr Newton, PA

56 Sean Cooper DL 6-5 240 #Fr Stanhope, NJ

57 Ireland Brown OL 6-3 300 Jr Jamaica, NY

57 Stanley Dennis II DL 5-11 280 #Fr Jersey City, NJ

58 David Nwaogwugwu OL 6-5 305 Sr Bronx, NY

58 Dariel Djabome LB 6-2 215 Fr Longueuil, PQ

59 Gus Zilinskas OL 6-2 295 Soph Englewood, CO

60 Moses Gbagbe-Sowah OL 6-1 295 #Fr Newark, NJ

61 Emir Stinette OL 6-5 365 Fr Philadelphia, PA

62 Brad Harris Jr. OL 6-4 275 Fr Vineland, NJ

63 Taj White OL 6-5 300 Fr Jersey City, NJ

64 Nelson Monegro OL 6-7 305 Fr Union City, NJ

65 Bryan Felter OL 6-3 305 #Fr Westfield, NJ

66 Joe De Croce OL 6-6 300 Fr Haworth, NJ

69 Kwabena Asamoah OL 6-2 330 Fr Pickerington, OH

69 Caleb Patterson DL 6-2 260 #Fr Jamesville, NY

70 Reggie Sutton OL 6-4 310 Sr Baltimore, MD

71 Kamar Missouri OL 6-5 295 #Fr Baltimore, MD

71 Aaron Lewis DL 6-5 250 Soph Williamstown, NJ

72 Hollin Pierce OL 6-8 330 Soph Trenton, NJ

73 Terrence Salami OL 6-2 290 #Fr Willingboro, NJ 74 Jacob Allen OL 6-6 300 Fr Spotswood, NJ

75 Beau Lanzidelle OL 6-4 305 #Fr Medford, NJ

76 Dantae Chin OL 6-4 310 Fr Weston, FL

77 Willie Tyler III OL 6-6 320 Sr Racine, WI

80 Jahzion Harris DL 6-4 205 #Fr Staten Island, NY 81 Jordan Smikle WR 6-0 170 Fr Farmingdale, NY Jordan Walker TE 6-4 230 Fr Rochester, NY

85 Taj Harris WR 6-1 185 Sr Beverly, NJ Evan Ward TE 6-4 235 Soph Rutherford, NJ Mike Higgins TE 6-5 240 Fr Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ Ifeanyi Maijeh DL 6-2 290 Sr Far Rockaway, NY Victor Konopka TE 6-7 250 #Fr Kinnelon, NJ Rene Konga DL 6-4 285 #Fr Ottawa, ON Mayan Ahanotu DL 6-4 290 Sr Tampa, FL Jude McAtamney K 6-2 200 Jr Derry, Ireland Adam Korsak P 6-2 185 Sr Melbourne, Australia

95 Henry Hughes Jr. DL 6-5 280 #Fr Tampa, FL 95 Flynn Appleby P 6-2 195 Fr Cohuna, Australia Keshon Griffin DL 6-4 290 #Fr Sicklerville, NJ Guy Fava K 6-0 195 Jr Mahwah, NJ Michael O'Connor K 6-1 185 #Fr Middletown, NJ

Daily Iowan Pregame Editor Austin Hanson chatted with Pallissard at Iowa Football Media Day on Aug. 12.

Austin Hanson Pregame Editor

The Daily Iowan: So, I work for The Daily Iowan and we do a fun segment every week where we talk to a guy one-on-one and ask some fun, non-foot ball questions. So, my first question for you has to do with your position on the team. It’s sort of unique to Iowa to have a backup full back or two fullbacks on the roster. Is that sort of a badge of honor for you to be like, “hey, I’m one of two fullbacks on the team.”

Turner Pallissard: Of course, it’s a huge badge of honor. I came in as a full back. Most guys come in and switch positions. But I came in as a fullback and have loved it ever since. Brady [Ross was here before] and [Monte Pottebaum] and I learned through Brady. It was a great time, Brady’s an awesome guy. Now, hav ing just Pot and I around is awesome. Learning from each other, especially me learning from him, it’s real ly a great time.

DI: Do you think it’s unique that you came here as a fullback? I feel like that’s sort of a dying breed — a guy that starts as a full back, stays a fullback, and is always going to be a full back.

Pallissard: It is a little unique, actually. I mean, most guys, like I said earlier, they come in as a linebacker. Like, Pot was a linebacker coming in from high school. He played running back, as well. I was a straight offen sive guy. I came from a high school that was just huge, so we only played one po sition. I was always on of fense. I’d play a little tight end, receiver, but obviously, I came in a little too short

or a little too heavy to be either. So, I mean, I love it. I’m embracing it now. I’ve been going for five years. It’s great. It’s great.

DI : Did you walk on here or were you recruited?

Pallissard: Well, like both. I was a walk-on, for sure. I came to a camp here in the summer of 2017. I came in as a tight end. I stood out, for sure, be

cause I was the shortest guy there. After the camp, coaches came up to me and said, “hey, if you would like to walk on, we’d love to of fer you a spot.” Then, I said, “there we go. That’s where I’m going to college.” So, that’s how I got here.

DI : Is there a guy you model your game off of? Is there a fullback out there? Like is it Anthony Sherman in the NFL?

Pallissard: I do watch a little Sherman. When I came up through high school, actually, it was al ways Dan Vitale. Do you know who that is?

DI : Yeah, he played full back for the Green Bay Packers.

Pallissard: That was my role model guy. He was the undersized guy from

Northwestern. And I was like, “Oh man, undersized tight end. There we go.” So, that was always my dream. He’s retired now. But com ing up for sure, he was my role model. Now, its kinda grown into just looking up to Pot. You know, see ing how he plays, I’m like, “that’s the perfect guy to watch film and try to learn from.”

DI : Do you think you’re a good pass-catcher? I know you said you used to be a tight end. Are you a multi-faceted guy?

Pallissard: I mean, I sure hope so, at this point, you know? I mean, yes, we’re fullbacks and we block. But we’re always practic ing both sides. You know, we’re pass blocking, we’re run blocking. Obviously, we’re with the tight ends as a position group. So, we’re always catching the ball as well. I would say we all can catch the ball very well.

DI : Sweet, thanks so much for chatting with me.

Pallissard: Of course, thank you.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Read the full interview at dailyiowan.com.

with Iowa fullback Turner Pallissard

Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan Iowa fullback Turner Pallissard jogs on to the field during a football game between Iowa and Nevada at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Sept. 18 . The Hawkeyes defeated the Wolfpack, 27-0.

Anjali Sahu thriving in spotlight

From seeing the pink visiting locker room to walking out with Jack Plumb, Anjali has enjoyed her Kid Captain experience.

Kenna Roering Sports Reporter

Anjali Sahu loves being the center of attention. So, when her family found out the 6-year-old was going to be a Kid Captain, they knew she’d fit the role.

Carey Sahu, and her hus band Sajan, thought they were done having kids af ter their first two children, Spencer and Maya, were born. But when Spencer was a junior in high school and Maya was a freshman, Anja li came Careyalong.quickly sensed that there was something differ ent about her third child, as she started having abnor mal dreams around four or five weeks into her preg nancy.“Iknew right away,” Car ey said. “When I was four or five weeks pregnant, I had a dream that my child had special needs. And I had several of those all the way up until I got the diagno sis. Everybody in my family thought I was crazy.”

When Carey was about 13 weeks pregnant, her doc tor did an ultrasound and found Anjali had an abnor mally short nose — a possi ble indicator for Down syn drome. Her doctor sent her to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for an amniocentesis procedure — which involves testing and removal of amniotic fluid

from the uterus.

Carey said her family wasn’t too concerned about Anjali’s shorter nose be cause Sajan is from India, and people of Indian de scent typically have short noses. She added that both Sajan and Maya have short noses.The amniocentesis pro cedure Carey underwent, however, confirmed Anjali had Down syndrome.

But Carey said she wasn’t worried about the diagnosis because she holds a degree in special education from the University of Northern Iowa. She now works as a special ed teacher at Benton Community High School.

“Being a special ed teach er, I have worked with a lot of amazing people with Down syndrome,” Carey said. “And I know the pos itive impact they can have and what a wonderful life they can have.”

Anjali was born at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids on Nov. 13, 2015.

Anjali had trouble breath ing after she was born. The doctors at St. Luke’s ran tests, but couldn’t find any thing. They thought Anja li’s complications stemmed from low muscle tone relat ed to Down syndrome.

So, Carey and her family stayed and waited for Anjali to get stronger. But Anjali only got smaller and weak

er. At three or four-daysold, Anjali started throwing up.Doctors at St. Luke’s rec ommended a G-tube, but Carey declined because one of her students had a G-tube and still threw up. St. Luke’s told the Sahu family that they didn’t have anything left that could help them and recommend edAUIHC.surgeon and radiolo gist were waiting for Anjali when she arrived at UIHC. Looking at the tests taken at St. Luke’s, UIHC diag nosed Anjali with duode nal stenosis and drew up a treatment plan within an hour.Anjali had surgery to cor rect a blockage in the upper part of her small intestine within a few days. She was sent home on Christmas Eve.Now, Anjali still goes to UIHC every couple months to visit her pulmonologist and a few other doctors. She is in a traditional first grade class accompanied by an associate. She loves to play with chalk and bubbles and is obsessed with Baby Yoda.

While Anjali’s biggest struggle right now is lan guage, she likes using her communication device and sign language. She calls Spencer “dirty pig” and Maya “peach” in sign. Verbally, she calls Spencer

“duck” and likes to quack at Whenhim. Anjali and her family went to Kids Day at Kinnick on Aug. 13, she loved the pink visiting locker room and giving other Kid Captains high fives and hugs. She even formed a special connec tion with her favorite play er, offensive lineman Jack Plumb.“When we went to Kid’s Day, Jack Plumb was amaz ing with her and treated her so special,” Carey said. “He held her hand and when it was time for him to scrimmage, she didn’t want to let his hand go. And she

usually doesn’t connect with strangers that easily, so that’s a tribute to Jack and how wonderful he was withThoughher.”

Anjali and her family never experienced The Wave while they were inside the Stead Family Children’s Hospital, they have still felt support from the Iowa community.

Maya, who is currently a fourth-year student at the UI, said talking to vol unteers from Dance Mara thon and Ronald McDonald House while in the hos pital with Anjali made all the difference for the Sahu family.

Maya has been to sever al football games at Kinn ick Stadium and is familiar with Kid Captains. Now that Anjali has gotten the experience firsthand, it means a bit more to her.

“I think it’s really awe some,” Maya said. “I love how involved the college and football team is with the kids and the children’s hospital. It never really occurred to me that Anjali was eligible to be a kid captain, so it came as a complete shock when some of her doctors nominated her. But it’s super cool now to see her face on campus.”

Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan Kid captain Anjali Sahu walks out to the field with Iowa football players during Kid’s Day at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Aug. 13.

1. State

There’s still a lot of good, but mostly bad, football left.

Isaac Goffin

isaac-goffin@uiowa.edu

MARYLAND MICHIGAN

Central Michigan (1-2, 0-0)

Penn State (3-0, 1-0)

Beaver UniversityStadiumPark, PA

Line: Penn State -26

O/U: 60.5

INDIANA

Saturday | 2:30 p.m. |

Indiana (3-0, 1-0)

Cincinnati (2-1, 0-0)

Nipper

CENTRALIOWAMICHIGAN

Line:Cincinnati,StadiumOHCincinnati -17.5

O/U: 54

Saturday | 6:00 p.m. |

Iowa (2-1, 0-0)

Rutgers (3-0, 0-0)

SHI Piscataway,Stadium NJ

Line: Iowa -7.5

O/U: Saturday35.5 | 11:00 a.m. |

MIAMI (OH)

Saturday | 6:30 p.m. |

Miami (OH) (1-2, 0-0)

Northwestern (1-2, 1-0)

Ryan Line:Evanston,FieldILNorthwestern -6.5

O/U: 51.5

PENN CINCINNATISTATE

At first glance, this looks like a recovery bout for Penn State. But the Nittany are coming off a big win over the Auburn Tigers, so maybe this is actually a trap game.

Saturday | 11:00 a.m. |

Maryland (3-0, 0-0)

No. 4 Michigan (3-0, 0-0)

Michigan Stadium

Ann Arbor, MI

Line: Michigan -14 O/U: 62.5

When Fox debuted “Big Noon Kickoff,” this was not the type of game I expected the network to schedule. But neither was Oklaho ma-Nebraska. Maybe Mary land hangs in for a half.

Last season, Cincinnati won this regional matchup, 38-24. The outcome of this year’s game probably won’t be too different.

MINNESOTA

Saturday | 2:30 p.m. |

Minnesota (3-0, 0-0)

Michigan State (2-1, 0-0)

Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI

Line: Minnesota -2.5

O/U: 51

MICHIGAN STATE RUTGERS

The top reason to tune into this game is the punters: Iowa’s Tory Taylor and Rut gers’ Adam Korsak. That’s Big Ten football at its finest.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC

Saturday | 6:30 p.m. |

Florida Atlantic (2-2, 1-0) Purdue (1-2, 0-1)

Ross-Ade Stadium

West Lafayette, IN

Line: Purdue -19.5

O/U: 61.5

I believe this is the most important Big Ten matchup of the week. If Minnesota looks good, the West has been put on notice as Mich igan State is no joke.

PURDUE

I miss the good ole’ days when Lane Kiffin used to coach Florida Atlantic. The Aidan O’Connell-Charlie Jones connection is like none other in college foot ball.

NORTHWESTERN

This is the least watch able Big Ten contest of the week. The RedHawks are a lower-tier MAC program and the Wildcats fell to the Southern Illinois Salukis — an FCS team — at Ryan Field last week.

WISCONSIN

Saturday | 6:30 p.m. |

Wisconsin (2-1, 0-0)

No. 3 Ohio State (3-0, 0-0)

Ohio Line:Columbus,StadiumOHOhioState -18

O/U: 57

OHIO STATE

I want to be excited for this matchup, but the Buckeyes are way ahead of everyone else in the Big Ten. College football doesn’t deserve this game in primetime.

Pregame Editor (8-7)

IOWA

The Hawkeyes are the most confusing team in CFB.

IOWA STATE

Cyclones down the Bears.

CHLOE PETERSON Sports Editor (10-5)

IOWA

Iowa is bad, but Rutgers is badder.

BAYLOR

A Bear could definitely eat a Cyclone, somehow.

Asst. Sports Editor (10-5)

IOWA

Nico Ragaini’s family will be in attendance. Breakout game alert.

IOWA STATE

Sam Knupp will like this one.

ISAAC GOFFIN Football Reporter (10-5)

IOWA

The Hawkeyes get it done in New Jersey.

IOWA STATE

Jack Trice Stadium is the difference.

IOWA

The battle for special teams supremacy.

BAYLOR

My mental health can’t handle a 4-0 Cyclones team.

IOWA

Still take the under, not matter how low.

IOWA STATE

Still take the under, no matter how low.

IOWA

These two great punters will get a lot of work.

BAYLOR Baylor’s offense will be slightly harder to stop than Iowa’s.

ARKANSAS

Hogs bring the liquor, not iced tea.

FLORIDA

Chris doesn’t know how to spell Tennessee.

KANSAS

DI dumpster fire game of the week brought to you by Home Depot.

TEXAS A&M

Green Aggs and ham.

TENNESSEE

Sometimes, I forget the Vols are good at football.

KANSAS

Austin wouldn’t let me put the Elmo over fire meme here. Boo.

ARKANSAS

Why would a pig want its razor back?

TENNESSEE

DUKE

When’s March Madness?

ARKANSAS

No 12th man in Jerry’s World. ARKANSAS

TAMU doesn’t live up to the hype it gets during recruiting season.

Tenisee. TENNESSEE

Where I almost went to college.

KANSAS

Also where I almost went to college.

TENNESSEE

Hendon Hooker is a slept-on QB.

KANSAS

*Insert March Madness joke here*

ARKANSAS

Hogs are for real.

TENNESSEE

Take the over on the number of times “Rocky Top” is played.

KANSAS

It’s a football school now.

ARKANSAS

Hogs run wild against the Aggies.

TENNESSEE

Volunteers have only one win against Florida since 2005.

KANSAS

I’d watch this if it was a basketball game.

AUSTIN HANSON

CHRIS WERNER

MICHAEL MERRICK DITV Sports Director (9-6) JOHN BOHNENKAMP Sports Writing Coach (10-5)

JASON BRUMMOND Publisher (9-6)