Week 1 of Iowa football is finally here, and things look as though they are starting to come together for the Hawkeyes.
The announcement that Nate Stanley would be Iowa’s starting quarterback come Sept. 2 was made Monday morning, but the decision was actually made last week.
This was to keep matters among the team while he settled into his role for a few days, Stanley said, although he did call his parents and let them know the news.
Throughout both spring and fall camps, coaches were undecided on whether it would be Stanley or Tyler Wiegers to be the one under center to start, and the staff continues to say that both quarterbacks are close in competition.
Stanley knows Wiegers is right behind him, too.
“It pushes me super hard every day,” Stanley said. “You have to have the mentality that you’re only one play away. I know that he has that mentality. I have to continue to focus on getting better every day.”
While Stanley has the job to start the season, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz did not say it was because he was the better quarterback. It’s because he is the better quarterback for the job.
Ferentz said the decision was a tough one to make, but all the coaches ended up being in agreement that Stanley was the right choice.
Wiegers is not letting the decision affect his play, Ferentz said.
“They were both outstanding. Tyler was great. I expected that, and he’s practiced really well since that time and his demeanor has been tremendous,” Ferentz said. “I think if it had gone the other way, I would have expected the same thing out of Nate. Again, they’re both team-oriented guys and they both have really competed hard.”
Experience on special teams
Both Akrum Wadley and Matt VandeBerg will make appearances on special teams in the first game.
Both will be returners — Wadley for punts and VandeBerg for kickoffs.
Wadley has been campaigning for the job since the end of last season and is excited to get out on the field as much as he can.
“The coaches, they trust in me, and I just have to trust in the team, and I’ll be good,” Wadley said. “It’s just another way to create a big play.”
VandeBerg, on the other hand, has some experience already with returning punts for the Hawkeyes.
During his sophomore season in 2014, the redshirt senior returned 12 punts for 82 yards and two kickoffs for 36. His long for both were 23 yards.
However, VandeBerg had a hamstring injury in 2014 and ultimately lost out on the job for 2015 after Desmond King handled the duties.
“I’ve done it before, and I feel comfortable with it,” VandeBerg said. “If coach is confident enough to put me back there then I’m excited to be back there.”
True freshmen
There are six true freshmen listed in the two-spot on the most recent depth chart.
The two on offense are Brandon Smith and Tristan Wirfs, while A.J. Epenesa, Matt Hankins, Geno Stone, and Ryan Gersonde are all listed on the defensive side.
Ferentz said it would not be surprising to see those listed crack the lineup.
“Those guys have done well in camp. They look as if they can go out and perform,” he said. “We’ve got an open mind for everybody right now.”