'The Hermanator'

IOWA CITY -- Just before Brad Herman was scheduled to meet the media Wednesday, fellow Iowa tight end Allen Reisner said to call him "The Hermanator."  

Right off the bat," Reisner said. "He loves that."  

And so, as you can imagine, Herman's response to "The Hermanator" was a giant eye roll.  

"Aw, jeez," the junior tight end said. "It's not the first time I've heard that, obviously, but someone wrote that in a paper somewhere and the tight ends have just been giving me crap ever since."  

Herman, a 6-foot-5, 247-pounder, is working his way up to nickname status. He had maybe his best game as a Hawkeye last week, catching three passes for a career-high 80 yards in Iowa's 37-6 victory over Michigan State.  

"I thought all three of those catches, they were all big catches," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "The one on the crossing route I thought was for sure we weren't getting that one. Next thing he came out of there with the ball, came out running. If we can get that kind of play for him, I think that's all ahead of him right now, that's exciting."  

The play Ferentz referenced was the jumpball that Herman beat Michigan State strong safety Marcus Hyde with body position. Herman took it down the MSU sideline for 56 yards and set up a TD.  

It's been a climb for Herman, who played as a true freshman in 2008 fresh out of Metamora High School outside of Peoria, Ill. He came in undersized at around 225. He put in his time behind future NFLers Brandon Myers and Tony Moeaki. 

"It's paying dividends for me right now," Herman said. "You learn so much. You're on the fast track. You've got to learn or die. I think I've learned."

This is how it's going at tight end again this season.

Reisner and Herman are tutoring true freshman C.J. Fiedorowicz, a 6-7, 250-pounder who was arguably Iowa's most heralded recruit last season. Fiedorowicz played wide receiver and free safety last season at Johnsburg (Ill.) High School. He's learning the ropes of hand-on-the-ground blocking.

He's in "learn or die" mode as the No. 3 tight end who sees time in goal line and PAT.

"Our job is to help bring along C.J. and help him understand the offense," Herman said. "We're going to need him. We might need him next week. You never know. He's got to be ready."