Linebacker by committee

IOWA CITY -- James Morris and Shane DiBona started at linebacker for the Hawkeyes. By the time it was over, Tyler Nielsen, Jeff Tarpinian, Troy Johnson, Lance Tillison and Ross Petersen played.

By the time it was over, it was full-on linebacker by committee.

"A lot of guys in there did very well," said Tarpinian, who saw his first action since a neck/shoulder stinger kept him out of most of the last three games. "We had a lot of guys in there. No one put their head down. Everyone did some good things."

Morris, a true freshman, and DiBona, a redshirt freshman, got the start because Tarpinian was allowed to only play passing downs Saturday and senior Jeremiha Hunter sat out with a knee injury.

Petersen, a fifth-year senior who's paid tuition all five years as a walk-on, got in when Nielsen, the last of the starters who wasn't injured, left the game with an undisclosed injury.

"He's a fifth-year senior, a really smart kid," Tarpinian said. "He knows one guy goes down, he's going to be in there. I was happy to see him out there."

The weird thing about it is the Hawkeyes went ahead and played some 3-4 defense in the first half, when 1) it was still a game and 2) Michigan State was clearly in pass mode.

So, Iowa was out of linebackers, but coaches decided to play personnel packages that called for more linebackers. Tillison, a senior, was linebacker No. 4 in the 3-4 alignment.

"We used that package (Iowa calls it 'raider') a lot more today than we have in the past," DiBona said. "All the linebackers know what to do and we just did it. Everyone had to play today and everyone did a good job. You never know when your number is going to be called. You have to be ready to play full speed and be physical. That's what the Big Ten is all about."

So, linebackers next week will be . . .

"Coaches decision," DiBona said. "Whoever he puts out there."

Linebacker by committee?

"That's what it is right now," DiBona said.