iowa defenders nov 7 2023
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00:00 I don't think it's really affected me that much.
00:05 I wasn't thinking about it at all on Saturday when I was out there returning.
00:09 So I'd say, I don't think it's really changed the way I've played or
00:15 tried to return.
00:16 >> You practiced that spin move?
00:18 >> [LAUGH] Yeah, I've noticed I've kind of done that a couple times.
00:24 No, it's kind of, I guess, comes naturally, I guess.
00:30 When there's a defender in my face, I guess.
00:32 >> You're just waiting for them and if they're delayed and relaxed,
00:35 then you got a chance to do it.
00:36 >> Yeah, exactly.
00:39 I mean, that's just me doing something natural instincts, I guess.
00:46 >> Has LeVar or any of the coaches gone after you for doing something like that?
00:53 >> They haven't said too much.
00:55 That one last week that I caught off the house and
00:59 the defender was right in front of me.
01:01 He said something to me about just feeling it in the air.
01:05 Obviously, I'm just trying to protect the ball as best I can.
01:10 >> The one that you guys blocked, you came all the way up.
01:14 I mean, are you guys supposed to let that go?
01:16 Cuz you guys could have returned that, right?
01:18 >> Yeah.
01:19 >> Did you think about going and grabbing?
01:21 >> I thought about it, but there's a bunch of people around the ball.
01:25 >> [LAUGH] >> Usually,
01:28 it's past the line of scrimmage after the block.
01:30 We wanna get away from it.
01:33 >> Okay.
01:34 >> But I did think about it, yeah.
01:36 >> Is that just cuz if you touch it, then all of a sudden it's a turnoff?
01:38 >> Yeah. >> Okay.
01:38 >> Yeah.
01:40 >> Did you return kicks in high school?
01:41 You did, right?
01:42 >> I did, yeah.
01:44 >> When was the discussion, was that part of it?
01:47 >> [INAUDIBLE]
02:17 >> Is that the hardest thing you do on
02:18 a football field, returning punts?
02:19 >> I'd say it's one of the more challenging parts of the football game.
02:27 Just cuz you gotta read the spin of the punt.
02:31 You got a bunch of people running at your face.
02:33 But covering guys is pretty tough, too.
02:36 >> [LAUGH] >> Yeah.
02:39 >> Did you study other returners in the past?
02:41 Did you look at much time about it?
02:43 >> This- >> You said you recently saw Tim Dwight.
02:48 >> Yeah, this past, right before the season, me and
02:51 Coach Woods and a couple other returners were watching Tim Dwight.
02:55 But other than that, I haven't really.
03:00 Just from watching football on TV, obviously watch other returners, but
03:05 that's about it.
03:06 >> What'd you think of Tim Dwight when you were watching those films?
03:08 >> He was fast, really fast.
03:11 It was cool to watch, just to see how much different it is from back then to now.
03:20 But he was a great returner, yeah.
03:23 >> Have you met him before?
03:24 >> I've never met him, no.
03:26 >> What more do you think you can do on offense?
03:28 >> [LAUGH] >> You can't give that away.
03:32 [LAUGH] >> I mean, I'll help out in any way I can.
03:38 Whatever they ask me to do is what I'll do.
03:43 >> Did you know going into the game that you were for
03:45 sure gonna play offense?
03:46 Or was it something that was prepared and
03:48 then you knew once the play was called, or what did that look like?
03:52 >> Yeah, I knew that it was in the playbook, but
03:57 I didn't know for sure if we were gonna run it or not in the game.
04:02 But once my number got called, I got pretty excited.
04:06 So it was cool.
04:08 >> Can you take us through that moment of realization?
04:11 It's like, holy crap, I'm gonna be on offense?
04:13 >> Yeah, I got a little nervous there.
04:15 >> [LAUGH] >> Cuz I hadn't taken a handoff in a while.
04:19 So my main thing, I didn't wanna fumble the handoff.
04:24 And then other than that, I mean, it was kinda all natural, I'd say.
04:30 >> I mean, you were a Jackson, Auburn, Jackson.
04:33 >> I'll do that, then we have the butt kiss semifinalist right here.
04:36 All time, not all time, but single season tackles leader at the University of Iowa,
04:39 set back in about 1977, I think was the year.
04:42 >> My dad shows me the list, and
04:46 soon as I see the title, I immediately just swipe out of it.
04:50 So that's why I didn't recognize the name, but
04:53 I do recognize that Duel Hodge and Jack Campbell on that list.
04:57 >> Jack Greenway?
04:58 >> I try to stay away, I try to stay away from the list.
05:01 I mean, it's one of those things where I don't want my focus to be there.
05:06 And I feel like that'll severely affect my play if I'm more worried about
05:11 gaining tackles than it is helping the defense get off the field.
05:16 So the more I focus on helping the team,
05:19 I just feel like the game comes easier that way.
05:22 >> Your consistency, though, has been incredible.
05:24 I mean, it seems like about every game you're good for at least 12 tackles.
05:27 I mean, how have you gotten to this point where every game just seems like you're
05:29 at the ball?
05:30 Because you're doing it so different than so many linebackers,
05:33 even the Iowas had.
05:34 >> I'd probably just say I'm an Iowa linebacker.
05:37 I mean, I feel like I play the game the right way.
05:42 I feel like I have an excellent D line in front of me.
05:45 And obviously, the back seven are helping me as well, and
05:47 just how we stop the run game.
05:49 And I mean, the difference about me is I'm being coached by Coach Wallace, so
05:54 I think that helps me out tremendously.
05:57 And I'm just trying to help my team as much as I can, and
06:02 just giving effort, making sure my effort is never questionable.
06:06 >> Looks like you just have a great time out there playing.
06:09 Has it always been like that for you?
06:10 >> I watched Campbell and Benson have a good time for a while.
06:13 So it's fun to be out there.
06:17 I mean, the environment in Wrigley was amazing.
06:21 I mean, so many Hawkeye fans, so obviously, big plays.
06:25 It was easy to get my emotions going.
06:29 I usually try to stay pretty calm, though.
06:32 >> Did you go back and watch that goal line stand?
06:34 Did you watch the goal line stand again?
06:36 And was it as impressive on film as it was playing in it?
06:40 >> I'd say the goal line stand is just everything a linebacker dreams of.
06:44 I mean, just being out there, jumbo personnel, you bring in extra D linemen,
06:50 you get all those DBs and stuff off the field.
06:53 And you're just having fun at that point.
06:56 It's tackle football, backyard football, how you used to play.
06:59 So I mean, that's one of my biggest dreams is to stop a team with four chances on
07:04 the two yard line or something like that.
07:07 Just really, really proud of my guys cuz that's the definition of a team defense
07:11 right there.
07:12 >> Now that you've got the fourth, the whole series honestly was probably one of
07:17 the best four downs I've been a part of.
07:20 I know after the first down and we got the stop,
07:24 it kind of got the momentum going and the field kind of got destroyed.
07:30 But that was like, to me, seeing the field all ripped up like that was like,
07:36 our D line is really getting in it, getting gritty down there, really holding them.
07:41 But yeah, I mean, that whole series is a great, great effort by the defense.
07:46 >> And then during your career, you've been around linebackers like Jack Campbell,
07:49 Jay Higgins.
07:49 What have you learned from them?
07:51 >> What have I learned from them?
07:52 >> Yeah.
07:54 >> I guess what I've learned from them is keeping your head down, being tough,
07:58 doing the little things that a lot of people don't want to do.
08:03 Yeah.
08:08 >> And I know you made, correct me if I'm wrong,
08:10 you made a switch from defensive back to linebacker, right?
08:12 >> I did, like my freshman year, yeah.
08:13 >> So what was that transition like?
08:17 >> It was kind of, it was okay,
08:21 cuz I know in high school I played linebacker.
08:26 So it was more comfortable, honestly, for me, coming and
08:30 switching down to linebacker.
08:31 But it was definitely a big change just because I'd spent that whole freshman
08:36 year learning the defensive, the coverage part of it.
08:41 And it honestly helped me a little bit when moving to linebacker,
08:43 getting the full picture of the defense.
08:45 >> In high school, you played every defensive offense.
08:47 How did that prepare you for the college level?
08:48 >> It kept me ready to go.
08:52 Cuz I come here and I play every special team, so it's kind of the same thing.
08:58 Just always being versatile and
08:59 being ready to go in any situation that we're out there on the field.
09:03 >> How much do you guys practice goal line during the week?
09:07 >> It depends week to week based on the looks that we get.
09:13 But yeah, it just depends on what team we have, the personnel they may have.
09:18 >> So not a lot though?
09:19 So when you're out there, it's trial and error a little bit?
09:24 >> Sure, yeah, you can say that.
09:26 >> [LAUGH] Did you feel like the emotion kind of built through those downs
09:31 where you guys kept getting energy as it went on?
09:34 >> Yeah, after the first down, or after first down, it really escalated.
09:39 And then we're like, okay, we're doing this.
09:40 And it kind of just took off from there.
09:42 >> Is it surprising they kept running it straight edge each play?
09:44 I mean, it seems like a lot of teams would pass it or something.
09:47 >> Yeah, I was ready for any trickery.
09:48 I was sitting on the edge just waiting for roll out or some pass or something.
09:53 But yeah, they kept trying to pound it in there and
09:55 our guys in the interior definitely held it down, so.
09:58 >> [INAUDIBLE] Every week, one on one.
10:02 So I guess what's your favorite part been about Iowa City so far?
10:08 >> Just the bond that everybody has with each other.
10:10 I mean, everybody's gonna say hi to you.
10:12 Everybody's gonna say what's up to you.
10:14 It's not like you're just gonna come in this building and
10:15 feel like you're just alone.
10:16 I mean, everybody's gonna make sure that you're present.
10:20 Everybody's gonna make sure that you get at least a word, like a hi, hey,
10:24 you're doing good and things like that.
10:26 >> Is there anything you like to do with your teammates off the field?
10:30 >> I mean, we're very competitive.
10:31 I wouldn't say we play basketball, but we know that we in season.
10:35 But we'll go around, shoot a couple hoops, play some video games,
10:38 and we'll here and there.
10:40 >> Did you have a favorite cartoon when you were younger?
10:44 >> Courage the Cowardly Dog.
10:45 I mean, I don't know, I just liked how you know it ain't real, but
10:50 the fact that a dog's able to talk a little bit and do that, it was just cool.
10:54 >> What stands out to you about Rutgers?
10:58 >> All I hear right now is that they're really good special team wise.
11:02 They're a really good special team unit.
11:04 And team wise, they're six and three, they know what they're doing.
11:07 So what we're focusing on right now is just making sure our defense is
11:12 playing the way they're playing now and just get our offense in.
11:14 >> Can you talk a little bit about Kyle Fisher?
11:16 >> You're talking about, okay.
11:18 >> Yes.
11:19 >> He's a leader.
11:19 I mean, he's also a leader.
11:21 He's not playing linebackers, but he's a leader.
11:23 I mean, he's a fast guy, special teams, he talks, and
11:28 he just puts us in the right spots.
11:29 >> So how did it come to pass that you, a defensive tackle,
11:36 are special teams here?
11:37 Cuz that doesn't really happen very often either Iowa or anywhere else.
11:41 How's it happen?
11:42 >> I mean, to be honest, I didn't know how it happened.
11:46 I mean, coming in, I didn't think that I was gonna play special teams at all.
11:50 I mean, I didn't play it that much.
11:52 I mean, if you wanna count Philgo block, if they score, but
11:54 I didn't really think that I was gonna get put into that position.
11:57 But I knew that I was gonna be able to make an impact with the way that I play.
12:01 I'm a fast guy, very strong guy.
12:03 So I knew I was gonna be able to make an impact there.
12:06 I just didn't know that I was gonna be this time.