How Iowa football seniors are helping their younger teammates prepare for a bowl game opportunity

IOWA CITY — It’s not just about themselves anymore, not that individuality is heavily influential in football.

Iowa football’s 27-man senior class takes the field one final time on New Year’s Eve, facing No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Although the senior Hawkeyes won’t opt out of the bowl game, they have one final opportunity to help the players waiting in the wings.

Bowl games, particularly in the modern era of college football, have become a chance to catch a glimpse at next season’s starters — before the transfer portal opens, though. It’s how coaches can evaluate where freshmen stand after a year on the scout team.

And while the coaches can evaluate, the younger players can take one final piece of advice from the starters.

“I've been trying to give some pointers here and there,” defensive back Xavier Nwankpa said. “You can watch the tape, but hearing it from a guy that's gone through it, it helps a lot more.”

The starting Hawkeyes had always known they’d play against Vanderbilt, and the Commodores thought the same. The only player for either team that isn’t confirmed is Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers, who was questionable last week before sources reported his decision to potentially opt out of the bowl game ahead of the NFL Draft over the weekend.

It’ll be well over a month since Iowa’s last game — the 40-16 win at Nebraska over Thanksgiving Weekend — but head coach Kirk Ferentz said the Hawkeyes treat preparations for a bowl game like a bye week. They’ll make sure the starters get their reps in, particularly once Iowa lands in Tampa, but it’s about maintaining football shape, breaking down film and readjusting back into the more consistent routine that hasn’t existed for a few weeks.

“So we've been pretty systematic with it and kind of handled it a little bit like an extended bye week, if you will, this portion of it where early in the phase the guys that have played this fall, we didn't put them in pads at all,” Ferentz said. “...and at the same time work on the guys that weren't playing all those snaps and giving them a chance to move forward as football players.”

Recommended Reading

5 young Hawkeyes to watch for in Iowa football’s bowl prep against No. 14 Vanderbilt

Of the younger Hawkeyes, some of the defense mentioned linebacker Cam Buffington has stood out. The redshirt freshman had a few opportunities throughout the season, and recorded an interception against Minnesota in October.

“I think he’s going to be a really good player,” defensive lineman Ethan Hurkett said of Buffington. “I think he’s mature for his age. He’s starting to really get the game and fly around. So it’s fun to watch.”

Ferentz’s job now is that he has balance a player like Buffington, who’s impressed his teammates and coaches, with the experienced players who’ve made an impact throughout the 12 regular season games.

“You have to try to use your best judgment. There's no perfect formula,” Ferentz said. “As much as anything, it's just how the players handle it. I think that's how their response is is what's key, and the guys have been great. They've really been practicing well, so I'm happy about that and relatively healthy, so that's good news, as well.”

It’s a strategy that may only be limited to practices, but with the NCAA transfer portal opening two days after the bowl game, Iowa has to weigh off its options.

But that’s the job of the coaching staff. It’s the seniors who have the task of passing along some final bits of motivation, wisdom and well-wishes.

The Hawkeyes chose to participate in the bowl game because they love being with their teammates. They’ll show the love on the field, just as much as they will off the field.

“I feel like the culture here, you dedicate everything you have to try and go win games here,” Nwankpa said. “So you have one more opportunity you want to do, especially when you're coming to a close your college career, and you want to do everything you can to help now and later.”

Comments: madison.hricik@thegazette.com, sign up for my weekly newsletter, Hawk Off the Press, at thegazette.com/hawks.