The question of whether the Hawkeye defense was going to rebuild or reload after three-year starters Josey Jewell, Bo Bower, and Ben Niemann graduated was answered Sept. 1.

After holding Northern Illinois to 211 yards of offense and a near shutout, it was obvious that there was no sign of rebuilding this defense. The Hawkeyes reloaded, and they proved it. N-I-Who?

Once the first-drive jitters were out of the system of new linebackers Jack Hockaday, Kristian Welch, and Niemann’s brother, Nick Niemann, the Hawkeye linebackers looked like homing missiles that exploded on contact. Each was flying to the football, doing all they could to prove they are the current and future hit men of the defense.

With big bodies up front to clog running lanes and occupy blockers, there was little chance any running back could spring free from any of the new starters. Anthony Nelson, Matt Nelson, Parker Hesse, and A.J. Epenesa are just a few that wreaked havoc up front.

While the big boys at the line of scrimmage gave the Huskies a run for their money, the linebackers covered the receivers with a man- and zone-coverage blanket. The tight coverage by the linebackers, ranging sideline to sideline, forced Northern Illinois to stall in the pocket and allowed the defensive line to rack up 5 sacks.

With Week 1 in the books, the Hawkeye hit men will now try to contain one of the nation’s top running backs in David Montgomery, a consensus first-team All-Big 12 and first-team All-American from a year ago. But no task is too tall, especially during the fall.

Much of the offseason football buzz centered on the Hawkeye tight ends. This is for good reason, because the young group enjoyed great success last year. Expectations were met on Sept. 1, when the tight ends played a major role in the passing offense and in pivotal blocking situations.

The trio of T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, and Nate Wieting caught 8 of the team’s 13 receptions, accounting for 104 yards.

Fant caught the lone Iowa passing touchdown, and Wieting and Hockenson caught the two longest passes of the day for 30 and 24 yards, respectively.

Though there is much room for improvement in Iowa’s passing game, these three guys leave many possibilities for Brian Ferentz’s offense.

Several other tight ends played pivotal roles in rushing touchdowns, as well. Early in the second half, Shaun Beyer and Fant laid out key blocks to break the scoring open and put the Hawkeyes up 10-0. Wieting, a veteran, protected Stanley on the Fant touchdown reception.

This is all very promising with Iowa State coming to town Saturday. The Cyclone defense has improved coming into this season, so the role of blocking and receiving by the Iowa tight ends will be imperative in moving the ball.