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It can be tough on freshman at any position, much less a position that gets as much attention as linebacker at Iowa.
Just ask Josey Jewell and Bo Bower who were thrown in last season for the Hawkeyes and were expected to run with the job before learning to crawl or walk. Jewell himself admits that gaining the experience amidst struggles last season was very important according to The Gazette:
“It was an infinity amount,” Jewell said of the information he processed as a freshman linebacker. The experience was all of it. You get all the nervous feeling out.”
New linebackers coach Jim Reid believes there will be a step forward with the players this year but offers a bit of caution:
“Well, let me just say, I’m not sure that it’s going to be up, as much as it’s going to be consistent, Reid said. I think we are going to be playing hard. We’re going to be physical and we’ve got to make more plays. And I think we’ve got the guys to be able to do it.”
It will be important for the linebackers to continue their growth as the Hawkeyes hope to improve on allowing 200 yards rushing five times last season and the third most rushing yards in a season under the Ferentz era.
(h/t The Gazette)
