Wednesday video -- Linebacker alert

The injuries at linebacker might be lingering.

Senior MLB Jeff Tarpinian is a fifth-year senior and time is running out on his career. He's extremely iffy for Saturday's game against No. 5 Michigan State. Also, he talks about freshmen James Morris and Shane DiBona, who could be the starters this week. Check the 2:13 mark. Sounds as though senior WLB Jeremiha Hunter might be on the "iffy" this weekend, too.

This would leave Troy Johnson, Lance Tillison, James Morris and Shane DiBona as the primary inside LBs against MSU.

Iowa free safety Brett Greenwood talks Michigan State, which turned out to be an extremely physical game for the Hawkeyes last season. Greenwood was among four players who missed a total of nine games after Iowa's trip to East Lansing. Greenwood suffered a jammed neck after colliding with teammate Tyler Sash.

Sophomore center James Ferentz talks about his challenge Saturday facing what is perhaps the Big Ten's strongest inside duo of tackle Jerel Worthy, middle linebacker Greg Jones and nosetackle Kevin Pickleman. Also, a lot of the Hawkeyes aren't focused on the "big picture" implications of Saturday's game, instead choosing to keep their eyes on the task at hand.

Senior fullback Brett Morse might have just been shaken out of a nap. He jokes here about his first two carries from scrimmage, which went for first downs last week against Wisconsin. He also talks about MSU MLB Greg Jones and LB Eric Gordon. "Two of the best players I've played against in my career." Also, more small-picture thinking, which, really, is all the Hawkeyes can afford at this point.