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From IHOP to sporting events, Erick All Jr. embraces Iowa City as new home
All quickly takes notice of ‘how nice everybody is’
John Steppe
Mar. 6, 2023 6:00 am, Updated: Mar. 6, 2023 9:15 am
IOWA CITY — As Erick All Jr. sat in an IHOP restaurant on his first day in the Iowa City area, an elderly man pulled up next to him.
“He just sits down and talks to me for about 20, 30 minutes and then buys my food,” All said incredulously.
They had never met before. As far as All knows, the man did not realize All was a tight end for the Hawkeyes.
“Was just a great guy,” All said.
The IHOP encounter is part of what’s been a warm welcoming for Iowa’s newest football player from the transfer portal.
“The waitresses, they were so nice,” All said to reporters Thursday. “Everywhere I go, it’s like insane how nice everybody is — even you guys.”
Fewer than two months into the spring semester, All already has taken notice of the team’s chemistry, whether it be from the offensive line’s Friday dinners or other off-the-field moments.
“It's a great feeling to be in this building and to be around the guys on the offensive and defensive side, too,” All said.
All experienced the Dec. 8 Cy-Hawk men’s basketball game on his visit and went again for the Feb. 16 Ohio State game. He also saw the Iowa-Nebraska wrestling match.
When the time comes for Iowa athletes from other sports to attend his games rather than vice versa, the expectations are high for All.
“We go from, I think, having two really good tight ends to hopefully the same situation,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said in December. “And that's certainly a good thing for us.”
All, a former all-Big Ten honorable mention, had 38 catches for 437 receiving yards in 2021. A back injury that required surgery cut his 2022 season short.
His 38 catches in 2021 were the most for a Michigan tight end since Jake Butt had 46 in 2016.
“I feel like I'm more of a natural pass-catcher, route-runner,” All said. “But I want to be all-around. I want to be a great blocker as well.”
Now, All is one of the top two tight ends at a school that has had a 50-plus-catch tight end in back-to-back seasons.
“They definitely have a recipe with these tight ends,” All said.
All also has the benefit of already having a rapport with new Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara, who also transferred from Michigan after the 2022 season.
“It's always great to have someone around that you’re close with and have known for a while,” All said.
All and McNamara were roommates at Michigan although they are not living together at Iowa.
“We grew out of that,” All said.
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As All continues to acclimate himself to Iowa City with his former roommate and other teammates, he’ll have another reason to go back to the Coralville IHOP.
“I got their chicken and waffles, and it was great,” All said. “I went to Atlanta, and it was up there with them.”
Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com
Erick All scores a touchdown pass while defended by former Iowa defensive back Dane Belton at the Big Ten championship game in 2021. All now is a member of the Iowa football team. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)