The Sports Desk: Looking at LBs

Here's another installment of The Sports Desk, sponsored by Jim Miller Subaru.

KCRG's John Sears and I talk Iowa linebackers. Here's the link.

Two-thirds of this equation is solved. Sophomore James Morris is the starter at middle LB and senior Tyler Nielsen will resume outside linebacker after missing the final five games because of a broken neck.

On the weakside, it's a battle between sophomores Christian Kirksey and Anthony Hitchens. Kirksey has always been ticketed for linebacker. If you saw the two next to each other during the spring game, Kirksey was the taller, thinner one. Hitchens had a wild ride in 2010. When Iowa lost everyone but Marcus Coker at RB, the 6-1, 215-pounder went from safety to running back. I'm not sure how much running back, but Hitchens ended up in a linebacker/safety role during the Insight Bowl.

We didn't hit on freshman very much here. Maybe we should've. I think all three -- Quinton Alston, Marcus Collins and Marcus Spears -- have chances to play special teams and hold backup roles. Alston and Spears have college bodies right now. Collins is an incredibly interesting athlete -- a top wrestler and hurdler in the Philadelphia area.

I was asked on Twitter today if I thought Morris was Iowa's best defensive player. My first thought there is cornerback Shaun Prater, who I think is a fantastic football player, very tough and tons of energy. Morris is in the discussion. He's smart, he's athletic (I thought he was excellent in coverage last season) and he's tough.

I watched, with binoculars, his second blitz from the outside against Blaine Gabbert and Missouri in the Insight. Gabbert's attention was on the other side of the formation. Morris lined up on the inside shoulder of the slot receiver and sort of tipped his hand. Late in his read, Gabbert looked right at Morris. He had to know he was coming.

Morris still got him. He closed like a spider on a fly for a sack. I think he blitzed two or three times and affected Gabbert's decision-making each time. With Iowa re-tooling the D-line, you have to wonder where the pressure is going to come from. You have to wonder if Iowa doesn't try to activate linebackers a little more next season.

Here's what Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker said about Morris at last night's Linn County I-Club event:

"James Morris, he should be on the front page of a Wheaties box. Watch this kid next year. He's going to be a special, special middle linebacker. Abdul Hodge and Angerer, those guys were good. But this guy is going to be something special."