VIDEO: Jordan Cotton ready to contribute for the Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY - Jordan Cotton has now been in the Iowa football program a full year, working out, learning the system, finding out what it takes to be a Hawkeye.

Now a sophomore, a redshirt freshman in the program, Cotton is ready to start contributing.

''Last year was a good learning experience for me. I learned a lot, got the system down and everything," Cotton said during Iowa's media day Aug. 6. "I'm just looking to have a good camp. I'm trusting the coaches and everything and so I'm looking forward to progressing with what I'm supposed to be doing.

''I'm just still out here trying to learn things. Wherever they want me to play, I'm going to play. Just leave it at that."

During a recent open scrimmage at Kinnick Stadium, Cotton was returning punts.

The Hawkeyes are going through camp this summer knowing the high expectations placed on them by fans and the media, both local and national. While there are, of course, expectations internally around the football facility, Cotton said all the team can do is go about its business.

''We're expecting to come out every game and perform and do what we have to do. We know that the expectations are high so our practices are going to be a lot more tougher and everything," he said. "We're just looking to win a lot of games and see where we go from there."

In a couple of years, Cotton has something even bigger to look forward to when he puts on his Iowa uniform -- a friendly rivarly with his brother.

In June, Darian Cotton decided he is going to play football at Iowa State, making the big in-state rivalry a family rivalry for the Cottons.

Father Marshall Cotton played for Iowa in the 1980s.

''It's good for him," Jordan Cotton said about his brother's decision. "Every time I go home, we have a little rivalry thing going on. It's good. I'm happy for him. He made the right decision to go there. I'm looking forward to playing against him."

Story by Susan Denk, The Hawk Eye - Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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