10 rookies -- MLB Jeff Tarpinian

No. 2 -- MLB Jeff Tarpinian

Jeff Tarpinian is a million miles from a rookie. He's a fifth-year senior who's been in the lineup.

This is just the first time in his five years that he'll be the starting middle linebacker, the only linebacker spot he hasn't played at Iowa.

The 6-foot-3, 238-pounder has had somewhat of a star-crossed career at Iowa. He's been No. 1 on the depth chart only to have a buggy hamstring derail him. Last year at Ohio State, he entered the game at weakside linebacker when Jeremiha Hunter was injured. He suffered a sprained MCL but kept playing.

Here's what I wrote after a spring interview with him.

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.”

Situation

Where you really buy into the idea of Tarpinian in the middle is when defensive coordinator Norm Parker speaks on the subject.

Parker is prone to hyperbole on players, yes. But he also knows more than any of us and has input on personnel decisions at linebacker, which ultimately fall on linebackers coach Darrell Wilson.

Tarpinian made the spring's biggest move on the Iowa depth chart, starting as second-team outside linebacker before moving to the middle five or six practices in.

“Bad depth chart,” Parker said.

“I see Tarp right in the middle of the whole thing,” Parker said. “Nothing has been written in stone yet, but I see Tarp as a major factor in the whole picture. He could be middle, he could be outside, but Tarp will be a major factor in the whole thing."

Outlook

We haven't talked about what might make Tarpinian a success in the middle -- his brain.

Tarpinian is an accounting major. He made the move to middle linebacker this spring while taking the classes -- high-level accounting requirements -- valuation of financial claims and business law for accounting.

So, he'll butt heads with your fullback, cover your wheel route and do your taxes.

Smart is always good for your middle linebacker. Pat Angerer was a genius. The man could host his own late-night talk show and write all the material himself. Hey, comic genius is still genius.

Iowa is pretty well fortified at MLB this season. If Tarpinian is injured, it's probably junior Bruce Davis but also could be senior Troy Johnson. Iowa has five upperclassmen at linebacker who should hog all the PT.

Tarpinian has been on the cusp of playing time for the last three seasons. This is his first clear shot. Going off maturity and raw material, he's positioned to handle it.