Iowa bowl notebook: Latest on offensive coordinator search, stay-or-go decisions

ORLANDO — Before taking any questions, Kirk Ferentz cleared up the rumor that did not exist involving him and the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers.

“I just want to set the record straight,” Ferentz said. “San Diego has not reached out to me at all. It’s been really quiet. I did look at a job there in ’96, but haven’t heard from them since. So take that off the rumor board.”

Ferentz’s dry humor comes as Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh is among the names rumored to be in contention for the Chargers’ head coaching vacancy.

All jokes aside, Ferentz and select Iowa players gave updates on some newsworthy topics:

Latest on offensive coordinator search

As internet speculation continues about Iowa’s offensive coordinator search, Kirk Ferentz reiterated his intention to make a decision sometime in January.

“I hope to have a clear idea first two, three weeks of January,” Ferentz said. “I’d like to think by the third week of January, we got it done.”

The search is “tabled right now” ahead of the Hawkeyes’ Jan. 1 appearance in the Citrus Bowl.

“The focus is right on this game,” Ferentz said.

Nick Jackson mulling options after NCAA grants waiver

Iowa linebacker Nick Jackson is “still kind of processing” the situation he is in — and the looming 2024 stay-or-go decision that comes with it — after the NCAA granted his waiver request for another year of eligibility.

Jackson learned the waiver was approved “out of the blue.” He “honestly wasn’t even really expecting” the NCAA to approve his waiver, which stems from his shortened 2022 season at Virginia.

“I didn’t really know what was going to happen,” Jackson said.

Jackson is not one to declare “my announcement date is this” or drag out the decision process any longer than it needs to be.

“Trying to keep the main thing (and) the main thing right now in playing against Tennessee, but shoot, as soon as I know, I’m not the one that’s got to hold it in,” Jackson said.

The Atlanta native will make a decision based on “what’s going to be best for a lot of people around me — me and my family.”

“They’ve made so many sacrifices and done so many amazing things to benefit my life,” Jackson said. “I really can’t thank them enough. … They’ve never steered me wrong. Every experience they kind of guided me to has been unreal.”

Sebastian Castro nearing decision about 2024

Iowa defensive back Sebastian Castro, another one of the defensive players facing stay-or-go decisions, said Thursday he plans to “make my decision after the game.”

“Whether it’s right after the game or a day or two,” Castro said. “Probably the most would be two or three days, something like that.”

Castro earned third-team All-America honors from the Associated Press after recording a team-high three interceptions and eight pass breakups as the team’s “Cash” safety. He also had 61 total tackles, including eight tackles for a loss.

“Regardless if I stay or go on to the next level, it’s like a win-win situation,” Castro said. “I always wanted to play in the NFL. And to come back and play college football again, just get better and be around the environment — it’s not a bad deal.”

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