AMES — Tyler Sash has a knack for stepping up in big moments.
Last year as a redshirt freshman, when the Iowa defense needed a turnover, he came up with big interceptions. And in wins over Iowa State, Penn State, and South Carolina, Sash made the most of his opportunities.
Now a sophomore, he is continuing to shine in the Iowa secondary. In fact, he was the brightest gleaming Hawkeye in the team’s 35-3 victory over Iowa State on Sept. 12.
The Oskaloosa native led the defense with 10 tackles, eight of which were unassisted. He also forced a fumble recovered by linebacker Jeremiha Hunter and came away with three interceptions.
The three picks tied a school record held by former Hawkeye Grant Steen in 2002 against Indiana.
“I treat every game the same, and whatever happens, happens,” Sash said. “I come in every week trying to be prepared as much as I can.”
To the chagrin of Cyclone fans sitting inside Jack Trice Stadium, Sash wasn’t the only Iowa safety making plays on Sept. 12. Junior safety Brett Greenwood also came away with two interceptions of his own against Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud.
The five picks between the two starters were the most since the Hawkeyes had five interceptions in a game against Illinois during the Hawkeyes’ magical season in 1985. Sash and Greenwood also played a big part in preventing Iowa State from scoring a touchdown for the third consecutive game in this annual rivalry.
“All we did was we just came in, we made adjustments, put in two different defensive schemes, and we just practiced it all week,” Greenwood said.
As a whole, the entire secondary looked much better against Iowa State than it did in Iowa’s season opener against Northern Iowa. While the Panthers managed to get 270 yards passing on Sept. 5, the Cyclones could only muster 113 yards through the air.
Perhaps no statistic illustrates this point better than Iowa State wideout Darius Reynolds’ team-leading seven receptions which amounted to only 19 yards.
But it isn’t just creating turnovers that exemplify what both safeties have meant to the Iowa defense already through two games. Sash currently leads the Hawkeyes with 20 tackles, but right behind him is Greenwood, who has 18.
“We’ve got two guys now that are experienced back there, so you’re sure hoping that you get something besides just average play back there,” Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said.
The experience both Sash and Greenwood bring to the defense and the ability both possess when it comes to making plays at critical junctures has definitely been taken notice by their Hawkeye teammates.
“It’s huge to know that whenever we do our job, the guys behind us are going to follow it up, and we’re going to get the ball,” senior linebacker A.J. Edds said.