It’s been fewer than six months since Brandon Snyder tore his ACL in the spring, but for anyone watching him play on Oct. 7, that was not apparent.
Snyder had an outstanding return to the gridiron, racking up 3 tackles, 2 pass breakups, and a huge 89-yard Pick-6 to boost Iowa in its 45-16 Homecoming win over Illinois.
In the third quarter, the Hawkeyes were beating the Illini 17-13, but Illinois was threatening at the Iowa 22. An Illini touchdown certainly would have turned the tide of the game.
But Illinois quarterback Jeff George Jr. overthrew his intended target and put the ball right into Snyder’s hands. Thanks to some good blocks, he raced 89 yards to score his first career touchdown.
“It’s just a really cool moment, just to run into a stand full of Iowa fans,” Snyder said. “It’s a great way to come back, that’s for sure.”
He arrived on the scene as a starter last season, taking over for team captain Jordan Lomax at free safety.
After an impressive 2016 season in which he led the team with 3 forced fumbles and shared the team lead with 3 interceptions, Snyder was set to be one of only two returning starters in a secondary that was a strength of last year’s team.
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Then injury struck. Many thought Snyder was going to miss the entire season, but he never wavered.
Jake Gervase and Amani Hooker did a solid job in taking over for Snyder, but there’s something about his presence that changes the complexion of the Hawkeye defense.
“I love Brandon. He represents what we stand for as a program. He does everything right,” running back Akrum Wadley said. “Every game he wasn’t in uniform, I could see it in his eyes how badly he wanted to go out there. For him to stay true to his game, just keep going, and he had a great day, so we’re all proud.”
Many Hawkeye defensive backs raved about Snyder even when he wasn’t on the field. While rehabbing, he stayed by his group’s side, serving as a leader while helping the secondary succeed.
Snyder used his absence to teach his teammates, but he isn’t the only one.
Impressed by his play and comeback ability after such a debilitating injury, head coach Kirk Ferentz is prepared to use the story in the future.
“For him to get back on the field in such a short amount of time like that, that’s remarkable,” Ferentz said. “Then for him to give us the spark he did today, that’ll be a great teaching moment for anybody that has an injury.”
It was originally a devastating injury, but after grinding away and preparing to get back, Snyder made the most of his opportunity. However, he credits more than just himself.
“I’m a big believer in my faith, and I’m a big believer in God, and I think that He created this and it’s from Him, and I believe that He’s the One who got me through it,” Snyder said. “I know that I wouldn’t have been able to do it day after day if it weren’t for my faith.”