Bernstine unburdened

IOWA CITY -- That giant clack you heard on your TV that set Micah Hyde free for a 30-yard punt return really was an act of pure joy.

It was a giant, ultra-violent clack and it left a University of Louisiana Monroe player on the turf, but that sound also was pure football joy and happiness pouring out of Jordan Bernstine.

You get the feeling that if Kirk Ferentz asked Bernstine to collect the pylons and haul them into the lockerroom after the game, the safety would happily oblige.

Bernstine is healthy and having fun.

"It's my last go around, I don't have time to do anything but go fast and play hard," Bernstine said. "I've been sitting back waiting with injuries and this stuff. Now, I'm healthy and feel like I can help the team and that's what I'm trying to do."

Bernstine has helped the team in everything he's touched.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder from Des Moines averages 23.0 yards on eight kick returns, which should put him top 50 this week. There was the aforementioned block on punt return. Also, the fifth-year senior finally got the first start of his career last week and is sixth on the team with 18 tackles and among team leaders in tackles for loss (2.5), sacks (1) and forced fumbles (1).

Bernstine also made a play on punt coverage, scooping the ball just before it crossed the goal line and allowing the Hawkeyes to pin ULM inside its 5.

Hyde didn't hear about Bernstine's block during his return until he reached the sidelines.

"Bernstine is the hungriest player right now," Hyde said. "In practice, he's running around being vocal and being a leader. He's hungry and he's making a big impact on our defense."

The practice point is a bigger deal than you might think. Part of the reason it took two games for Bernstine to find his way to the starting lineup this season was inconsistency. And part of that reason for that was injury and practice time missed.

Iowa coaches just never had a sustained look at Bernstine because injuries -- "I can't even tell you there were so many, I can just say that I was injured" -- kept him in the training room. The biggie was a shattered ankle in 2009 when Bernstine was trying to make it as a corner, when Shaun Prater first emerged as a corner.

This spring, the injuries cleared up and he shifted to safety, which is a boost in responsibility. The safeties make calls for the defense, so Bernstine had to demonstrate football IQ, in practice not the training room and on a regular basis.

"It was a ding here or there," Bernstine said. "Then, I'd have a good practice and then not have a good practice. Now, I feel like I've earned the coaches' trust and I'm running with it."

And here he is, loving life and hitting everything in sight.

"I have a sense of urgency and I've been going out and doing it on a more consistent basis," Bernstine said. "I'm just trying to help the team out any way possible."

He's done exactly that, consistently and definitively.