A good account

Jeff Tarpinian's spring included the classes valuation of financial claims and business law for accounting.

He also did some accounting on Iowa's spring football practice fields.

The fifth-year senior from Omaha started his spring as the No. 2 outside linebacker. During Saturday's scrimmage before an estimated 23,500 fans, the 6-foot-3, 238-pounder started at middle linebacker.

Earlier this week, defensive coordinator said Tarpinian will be a major part of the defense next fall. Saturday, head coach Kirk Ferentz said he's pleased with Tarpinian's progress.

"You look at Jeff Tarpinian, he's really been a good football player," Ferentz said. "If we didn't have guys like (Pat) Angerer and (A.J.) Edds hanging around here, he probably would've been playing sooner."

Tarpinian came to Iowa as an option quarterback from the venerable Millard North High School program in Omaha. Without ever having played a down of defense in high school, he began his Iowa career as a safety, switching to linebacker his freshman year. Two years ago, he went into fall camp as the No. 1 weakside linebacker, but a hamstring injury kept him on the sidelines and opened the door for Jeremiha Hunter.

Two years later, Hunter is going into his third season at that position. Tarpinian, finally, has a spot in the middle, the only linebacking spot he hasn't played at Iowa.

"I've really enjoyed it, I'm trying to pick it up as fast as I can and fill in Pat's shoes," said Tarpinian, who was switched to the middle five or six practices into the spring. "Mike (middle) is a little new and it's still a learning process, but I'm trying to improve on a day-to-day basis."

The middle linebacker is the quarterback of the defense, Tarpinian said. His job is to make sure things go smoothly and the Hawkeyes are in the right fronts and positioned correctly.

The learning part shouldn't be a problem. Tarpinian has been academic all-Big Ten the last two years. When he's done with school and football, he'll be an accountant.

"I need to keep improving and get more comfortable making the calls," Tarpinian said. "Now that I know I'm playing Mike, I can get into the film room and zone in on that."

Last season, Tarpinian had another chance to get his foot in the door stomped on. At Ohio State, he replaced Hunter after an ankle injury. A series or two into the second half, Tarpinian suffered a partial tear of an MCL. He still finished the game.

"It's exciting," he said. "We have so many guys on defense who do so many good things. We're excited as linebackers, even though we know we have big shoes to fill."

Tarpinian's ascension is perhaps the most interesting depth chart move of Iowa's spring practices. But the spot that continues to get the most attention because of all the new faces is the offensive line.

During Saturday's scrimmage, the starters were, from left to right, sophomore Riley Reiff, senior Julian Vandervelde, center James Ferentz, junior Adam Gettis and junior Markus Zusevics.

Just a spring scrimmage, so the eight sacks can be excused. But coach Ferentz probably isn't going to like the four illegal procedure penalties and as many as four botched snaps that led to fumbles, one of which linebacker Troy Johnson returned 48 yards for the day's only touchdown.

"We're young and we don't have many guys with experience," said Reiff, who started 11 games last season, "but all of spring has been concentrating on the things you can control. Get in there, watch films and correct your mistakes."

This O-line thing isn't a secret. Everyone Iowa -- teammates, coaches, fans and the goalposts -- knows the three new faces need to come online in a hurry.

The quarterback certainly knows.

"They've done a great job all spring of having good protection. They really have," quarterback Ricky Stanzi said. "Especially in certain situations that are really tough on offensive linemen because they're all passing drills. The defense knows it's going to be a pass, and you've got things weighted against you.

"The offensive line responded very well in all of those situations and I was very proud with the way they responded."

The wide receivers know.

"We've got a young line now, but they're playing against one of the best D-lines in the country, so no O-line is really going to look too good against them," wide receiver Marvin McNutt said. "But I've seen them actually make huge strides from beginning to the end of the spring ball."

Ferentz widens the lense, but also throws focus on what will be a younger, smaller and inexperienced offensive line.

"If you look at us offensively right now I think our skill positions, minus our second tight end, we have a chance to really have guys who've played well in tough situations, so that's reassuring," he said. "I think the whole quarterback group has done well, and now we've just got to get those interior guys and our backup tight ends to continue to make progress."