Raw Chicago: DE Adrian Clayborn

Here is DE Adrian Clayborn's interview from Big Ten media days in Chicago.

It's long and in rough, unedited form, FYI.

Right, exactly. You got to enjoy it, you got to take it as an honor, but you also have to be level-headed and know that some of the things like preseason rankings are just rankings and preseason comes from the previous season so you got to take it, but you also got to know exactly how it works and things like that. It's just a ranking. You got to put in the hard work otherwise or you can easily drop down or out of the polls.

I know a lot of athletes and coaches say we don't pay attention to the magazines, but here you go to the supermarket, you go to the mall, and you see you picture on a magazine. When you were a little kid, didn't you have dreams of doing that stuff one day, so isn't it kind of a neat payoff a little bit? Yeah, it is neat seeing you picture on the front of a magaizine, but the magazines are the easiest to ignore. It's the TV, switching channels and every time you see all the college football stuff on or the internet and stuff and things like that. Yeah, it's an honor and it's fun to see those types of things, but like I say, you just got to take it and absorb it, but spit it back it out.

Have you seen your challenges on the field increase maybe through last year as you began to get more attention? Maybe teams game-planned more for you specifically. We saw in the Orange Bowl, Georgia Tech pretty much quit even going to the side of the field with you and Carl on it. And this year, with all the hype coming your way, talk about the challenges that you face from a football standpoint being a guy that people are game-planning for, double-teams, do you have to really just get a mindset that you have to take that and be happy because I'm guessing the work's a lot harder. Yeah, it's probably going to be a lot harder. I mean taking on more double-teams and people running away from me or sending multiple blockers at me, but that's college football. I mean, you can take it how you want to take it, but you you've got to play the game of football so no matter what happens, you've got to take on the blocks and defeat the blocks so matter who's coming at you.

What are some of the physical challenges that you face? What kind of things do people do to get you out of there that maybe we don't see as fans? Some of the, I don't want to say dirty tricks, but what are some of the obstacles that you do face out there specifically? There's no dirty tricks. Some things last year, they would mostly shift the ends with their running backs to give the offensive line a little bit more of a chance to block us or any defense in the conference. So teams do that, teams leave in a tight end in to block, just things like that.

Given the spotlight that was on Suh (Nebraska) and the national respect and acceptance of devastating a lineman can be, did u spend anytime this offseason looking at what he did even though he was an interior player, talk about the whole Suh effect that maybe he has had on u and your name being out there more is it real u think? Every summer coach would give us a packet and things to watch every summer, this it was Suh, I like watching Brandon Graham of Michigan, he played out as well with a motor. We watched a couple of defensive ends from Nebraska. We watched them a lot and it really showed how much work u have to put in cause there are taking on double teams and I know Brandon Graham took on double teams every time the ball was snapped. It really provides an outlook on what u need to do.

Coach Ferentz talked about the senior leadership coming back from last year, u were here a couple of years ago when u didn't make it to a bowl game, u basically go back in time thru Iowa history kids basically say from 2002 all they knew was orange bowls to Tate to Halloway, then adversity set in and no one knew how to deal with it so well, but u delt with adversity early on in your career, u didn't make it to a bowl game, what kind of things do u find yourself doing to the younger kids to remind them that u didn't wake up and get here it was a process to get here? Just tell them from the get go thru summer camp that this isn't going to be easy, that is what we tell recruits that it isn't going to be easy, it's a struggle, it's a grind but u have to embrace it. Nothing is going to be given to u in the big ten, we were 9-0 and then Northwestern came in and kicked our butts so nothing is given to u.

Do u feel based on your association with your team mates this summer that we have sort of unfinished business attitudes or u haven't sensed any complacency on the team? No not at all, we get talked to from the head guy, coach Ferentz that there is no complacency, we always have to work hard, we are always trying to improve.

How do u fight off complacency? Coach does that on his own, by always working us hard and that once u settle for something ur not going to get the next thing.

Is it kind of the mood of the team now is that there is more to be done? Oh yeah always, we finished 2nd in the league and that is not #1 so there is always work to be done and that is what we are trying to reach is # 1.

Ohio State has won 5 in a row is that something that u guys talk about, that u want to be the team that ends that? Not really, just winning it this year, everybody starts out 0-0 and those guys have kind of set the bar so what they have done is pretty much what everyone is trying to do.

There has been some offseason stuff with Broderick and such is that a distraction at all? I mean as a team we support him, I mean I remember texting him after I found out what happened and he was down on himself, but u have to support your teammates and everyone makes mistakes, I mean I had my mistakes last year and I had my team mates behind me so u just have to stick behind them.

What do think makes u successful if u could point to one thing? I think just having my fellow defensive lineman push me and I push them, I mean we always compete out there in practice and summer we competed like crazy and just trying to be the best.

What was last year like, the journey u took and then losing to Northwestern and Ohio State and then winning the bowl game, what was that like and what do u tell the incoming players to help u get further? Just embrace the ground, losing those two games kind of put us down but we knew we had to finish the season out right and we got past Minnesota and we just stuck in there and prepared like crazy for the bowl game and the we beat Georgia Tech, I don't know it took a lot but it was way worth it.

With all this talk of expansion and splitting divisions there is a chance u could lose one of your rivals in Wisconsin, how bad would that be? I'll be gone either way, but u know maybe we can start a new rivalry and u just have to roll with the punches.

How has that rivalry with Wisconsin been? It's a great rivalry, we love playing each other, it's always a hard fought battle and we pretty much run the same offenses and similar defenses so it's just hard noses football.

Do u guys have a top rival? I'd have to say Iowa State

How tired are u of Ohio State winning the conference every year? I mean I'm not tired of it, I mean I'd like to win one but u have to earn it and they have earned it for the last five years.

Is there a team u would like to beat more than Ohio State? I'd like to beat them all.

Northwestern is a team that has had some success against u during your time at Iowa, going into this year's game is there any extra grudge going into that game? I don't think there is a grudge per say, were just trying to figure out how they keep beating us for the past couple of years, and we just have to bring it even more.

Have u learned anything from those games where they have found a way to beat u guys to improve? U can always watch film and find things to improve, but they have pretty much beaten us in the fourth quarters, so we have to bring it every play every quarter and every down.

Hypothetically the schedule is the same and u could be having the same results going into that Northwestern game, how do u change your mindset so u don't have the same results? I don't think we need to change our mindset, we showed up for the game and were ready and just lost it, so I think we just need to bring it more and be ready to bring it again.

There was some talk that u guys were looking ahead to Ohio State the next week, do u think it was anything like that? Were u guys talking or were we talking? There was speculation thru the media that u guys might have been looking ahead to Ohio State. I think if u look back at last season and u look at our first game, there is no ways we can be looking at Ohio State, so we need to look at Eastern Illinois cause they can drop us just like UNI just about dropped us last year. We can't look past any team, cause if u do, that is how u get beat.

People think that this might be the best defensive line in the country, what do u think of that? I mean it's an honor people to think that, but we will see when September comes around, cause right now it's just on paper, but it's an honor and it's only preseason and we have to work hard and try to make it that way.

You return the same 4 key guys on the line as last year, what did u learn from playing with them last year? We learned what each other likes and what games we like to do and we know what everybody is confertable with and what everybody is thinking.

How do u deal with the high expectations and the honors u have been nominated for? It's hard to block it out and u have to listen to it and take it as an honor, but like I said u have come to work and in camp and put in the work so u can listen to it, cause if u take it in and don't work hard then you are not going to succeed and keep a level head.

Do u think about the next level at all, I mean next year and where u might be at the this time in a year? It goes thru my head, just cause u hear it from so many people, but I'm just focused on this camp and this season cause if I don't have a good season then who knows what will happen. U have to take it one step at a time.

Do u ever think about that decision that u made to stay? Not really anymore and I feel like I made the right decision and it's all going to work out for me.

What has it been like to be recognized everywhere that u go? It is good and bad, sometimes I like to go out and have a burger but u can't go anywhere to eat without someone wanting your autograph, but u have to take it as an honor that your well liked around the city.

Are u almost overwhelmed by all the attention? Not really cause I don't really pay that much attention to it. If someone brings something up then I'll look at it, otherwise I try not to pay that much attention to it.

How close is this defensive line with togetherness? Were pretty close, we hang out on and off the field, I feel like we know each other pretty well.

Are u anxious for camp? I'm ready to get started, everyone has been talking about it like it's right around the corner and now it's here so I'm ready to get going.

Talk about some of the young guys on the defensive line, like Lebron, Mike Daniels? They are ready play, I know Mike has been waiting along time so I know he's ready to go and play.

How strong is Mike Daniels? There is no way to explain it, he's just a natural beast. He's big and strong.

What do u see from the offensive line, that is what everyone is asking? They are working hard over there, I don't really see a downfall from last year at all, they have been in the program for a while so they are ready to go.

U talked about Bulaga making u better last year, so are u making Riley better this year? I would hope so, I mean he works hard on his own, but I mean we push each other when were together yeah.

Last year u really jumped on the scene, talk about how u make that improvement from your sophomore to junior year? I think just us as a defensive line improved, not just myself but all of us we just pushed each other, every play, every practice, every drill we pushed each other and that made everyone better.

How good can this defensive line be this year? I think the sky is the limit for us, we have put the work in and if we continue it, I don't see why we can't be the best.

Can u talk about why u decided to come back? Just to finish what I started, I'd like to get my degree and finish off the job, and I feel if I would have left I wouldn't have finished what I needed to in college.

Degree in what? I'm going to get a degree in Rec management and Entrepreneur business

How tired are of u the Suh comparisons? I feel like he has done his thing and he has made that name for himself and we should let his name shine, and we play different positions and hopefully I can make a name for myself. I don't think it's that big of a comparison cause we don't play the same position.

Why is Brandon Graham so good? He just goes hard every play, he's got some good moves, but he just goes so hard all the time and that's why he gets it done.

I heard that this might be the year of the running back in this league, does that play into Iowa's strength? I think so, we have 3 good running backs, and there are a lot of good ones coming back.

How flexible are u to stopping the run? We are pretty good against the run, we had a couple of slip ups last year a couple of games but overall were pretty good.

21:37

getting by by the skin of your teeth?

“We play all four quarters, our style of offense and defense is not to blow teams out, we would love to, but we are just taught to grind and grind and grind. Not really into throwing up a 1,000 points”

Pick a running back –

“they are all good backs and bring something different, Jewell has a little more power, Wegher is shifty and fast, Adam Robinson hits the holes so fast”

Does Jewell have that burst back?

“oh yeah I've watched 7 on 7 drills”

Success against Penn State, how much more important is that game?

“playing them you have to step it up, it has been a great series, we got a wake up on the first play of the game when he threw it for 70 yards”

To stay or turn pro last year? “I know I made the right decision to stay, and I can't go back on it now” Rookie salary cap? “I didn't think about it, I feel like I put in a good year the rest will take care of itself.” Are you told to stay away from people? “Coach Ferentz and Coach Doyle sits us down and a guy with the NFL, pathway to the pros, the key thing is not accept anything” what do you do when contacted? “I send them to my mom, I told them not to contact me during the season and most respect that.”

How is this different from recruiting?

“More at stake now, guys offering you something, be stern with your values and know you cannot accept anything.” “I feel like you worked so hard since little league to high school, since the eighth grade, I'm not going to spoil it.” What about having an agent now? “They can't do anything for you so why even have one.”

Role your mom is playing? “she gets to hear their spiel”

Ferentz had your back through the dust up with the law “He's had my back, he believed me and stuck behind me, that's the type of person he is.” That word is the deal breaker isn't it? “It is a deal breaker, sometimes, taking it to a whole nother level is not smart, glad Shonn Greene was with me. And I need to hold back and know I have places to go and do.”

Do people know the story?, anything you'd like people to know “I'd rather not put it out there, words were exchanged that some people shouldn't say.”

Did u go through the NFL draft process last year and what did they tell u? I didn't even put in the paperwork.

What is the main reason for coming back? Just finishing what I started, I think I can take my game to a whole nother level.

Is there anyone a coach, a family member who looked u in the eye and said ur not ready, u can go higher? Not really, I knew if I came back I could get myself completely ready and finish my business.

What do u think is the biggest strength in your game? Speed and explosiveness

Can u imagine trying to stop Georgia Tech's offense with only a week to prepare instead of a month, do u think u could have done it in a week or did u need a month? I feel like having the whole month helped to break down a lot of things, with a lot the things they do with the offense, the dive, the pitch, the quarterback, I think we got a lot of advantage from the whole month.

What about playing extra football? I think it would be fun to have a playoff system.

Can your body take it? It would be an adjustment at first but yeah I think it could take it

Have u wondered why u weren't selected big ten defensive player of the year? Not at all, I mean Greg Jones has led the league in tackles the last 2 years, so why wouldn't he be it.

Is that an award u would like to win? I feel like if I play up to it and get it then I prolly deserve it, but if he leads the league in tackles again then he will prolly get it.

Was there anyone in the 8th grade that grabbed u and said hey u need to be playing football? My brother was a senior when I was going into my freshman year, so he kept on me about playing football and kept me going.

What did u play when u first started? I played Defensive end and offensive tackle

Were there some health issues when u were a kid? Yeah I had some nerve damage when I was young, but it's all worked out now

U guys had a pretty wild game with Michigan last year can u tell me what u remember from that game? Chasing Forcier around, then chasing the other QB around, and tackling Brandon Minor, he busted my lip, he was a powerful runner, they have a great running game with two good quarterbacks that should be better this year.

Is it weird to come over to Chicago and have Michigan teams nowhere to be found in the top 3? Yeah they are going thru a transition with a new coach, but this year will be there turnaround year, so with 3 years in the new system they should be ready to go this year.

U haven't played in Michigan stadium correct? No, I haven't I travelled there my freshman year but didn't play.

Is that something you are looking forward too? Yeah, I'd like to play in the big house I think it would be fun.

Tell me what it is about that game and covering that sort of offense is compared to the power teams? Well the spread is always different, u can't be too aggressive and u have to be smart, I mean forcier sticks the ball in there and then pulls it out u can't just run all down there and try to make a tackle u have to be patient and look it out.

Do u think the defenses are getting better at defending that sort of offense? Some teams are, if u pay attention and break it down, u can't be too aggressive u have to wait it out and see what they want to do.

What is your relationship like with your brother? Yeah were pretty tight, he just got married recently so his wife has him on lock down, but we keep in contact.

Do u talk to him about decisions u have made or problems that u have had? Yeah not necessarily about football but about life skills.

What are some of your favorite stadiums or the best place u have played a road game at? I liked playing at Penn State with the white out and the stands look like they are never going to end and go up to heaven. A couple of years ago we played at heins field in Pittsburgh and that was fun.

What do u think of Kinnick? It ranks right up there, I love playing at home, I love my fans.

Greg Jones was the preseason big ten defensive player of the year, what do u think of that and do u think u got slighted? I don't think I got slighted at all, I mean he's led the league in tackles the last two years and like 9 sacks, he deserves it he leads his defense and leads his team, he sparks them.

Do u use something like that as motivation? Not necessarily, but more for motivation in general to keep getting better.

What is your general sense as u get ready for the upcoming season, and with the expectations so high? Everyone wants to win the big ten, we just have to work hard every weekend to get getting victories.

When u were growing up and working hard did u envision coming to Iowa and being in the National spotlight and now being called one of the best defensive players in the country? Not really, u are always hearing how kids started football back in the 4th grade, but I didn't think it would go this far, but keep pushing and make it last even longer.

Do u feel other offenses game plan and how they are trying to deal with u? Not necessarily, I feel like they game plan more for our whole defensive schemes than just for me.

How do u sense when the whole defensive line is playing well? What do u see in the offense? We pretty much, help out the linebackers and let them make the tackles,

If u were starting a team from scratch, which one player in the big ten would u take? Greg Jones, he's a tackling machine, then I'd take Haywood, I didn't know he was that big, he's huge.

When did the leap from being a good player to being a guy who can really disrupt an offense start to happen? My mindset isn't really like that, but if I play every down and every play like I can then I can make a change in the game.

Was there ever a time when u got to college when u thought I need to do this better or u were frustrated about how u were doing things? I think every college player goes thru that first step of should I really be here right now, and I went thru that early and it pushed me to want to stand out and want to be a starter at Iowa.

Was the difference then to get in the weight room more or the film room more? Being more of a college football player, it takes more than just coming to practice every day, it takes film work, it takes off season workouts, u can't just show up and play on Saturday.

Who is a guy in the NFL that u watch and try to emulate? I like watching Ray Lewis even though he plays linebacker, I like watching Jared Allen, he has a crazy motor, and he goes hard, he has a few moves but he just goes hard.

What was the biggest factor about not going to the NFL? I felt like I wasn't as ready as I could be.

So in order to get NFL ready what are a couple things u want to do? Get my body stronger, be more of a NFL player and have that mentality before I try and make it.

Once u get to within 18 months of being out of eligibility it is legal to start talking to agents about where u might be drafted, once this happened how many people have been calling? Not that many, I just been talking with my mom.

With your success now, do u have friends coming out of the woodwork? U have that sometimes, some friends that I never knew I had.

With all the strides the defense made last year, do u see the offense making some strides? Yeah, they made a lot of strides in the spring, the offensive line is getting better, they have a good group of wide receivers coming back and they are all getting better in the summer.

Did the Iowa State stuff bug u? Yeah it definitely does, is that reporter here today? No. I mean I think it was taken out of context, he misinterpreted what I was saying.

Did u contact Iowa State to issue a statement? No, I didn't none of those guys know me, but they should know that I would never disrespect another program.

How much do u talk on the field? It depends on how much breath I got, it depends on if it's the 1st quarter or the 4th quarter.

Are u aware that there is a Penn State offensive lineman who has a picture of you as the backdrop of his cell phone? I heard about that, if that is what he needs to get motivated then he can do that.

What is your favorite thing to do to an offensive lineman? I like power, if u bull a guy it's more meaningful than just getting past him with speed.

Do u get a lot of double teams? Yeah it depends on the game and the scheme, but yeah sometimes.

Who is the best quarterback in the conference that u have faced? As far as running around wise, Forcier, he got me out of breath, but there are a lot of guys coming back that are good.

How good is your quarterback? He's in his 3rd year of starting so I think he's pretty good. Why would u say he's pretty good? Not only on the field but off he's pushed us and he's prolly the best leader we have on the team.

How does a guy throw that many interceptions and put up a record like he has? He's a leader, he knows when he makes mistakes to apologize and he keeps us up, then he gets back to work.

Have u dared to think about winning the Heisman or the national defensive player of the year? I don't think about those at all, especially the Heisman, I'm just trying to work hard for my teammates and provide a spark.

Do sense there is more freedom defensively now than there was a couple of years ago? I feel like with all the offenses getting more complex, then there is a need for defensive lineman to make more plays and tackles when they are needed.

Who are some guys u watched on video to pick things up from and learn from? This summer I watched the whole Nebraska defensive line, I like to watch Brandon Graham, I watched all his games this summer.

What stands out more about those guys? It's just there motor of getting to the ball and being around the ball and putting up there production like that.

What was the decision making process like to stay at Iowa? They pretty much put it on my shoulders, I pretty much knew right after the season that I was coming back.

That insurance that players can buy, did u do that? Yeah I did, but I'm not going to give the number out.

Does it take the weight off? Yeah it does so u know u have something in case tragedy happens, but most guys do it so I don't think it's that big of a deal, but u might as well do it to protect yourself since your coming back to play again.

Karl Klug is trying to get u to go hunting with him up at Caledonia? Not happening, I'm not sleeping outside, I'm not using the bathroom outside, I'm going to stay indoors.

What part of St. Louis did u grow up in? I grew up in the city.

What was it like? Crime like any other neighborhood, but I rode the bus to school everyday and just stayed out of trouble.

U had an older brother who died right, what were the circumstances there? Yeah, he was doing some things he shouldn't have been, and he was shot and murdered, his name was Anthony.

What is your other older brother doing now? He's an elementary school teacher, and recently got married.

U played basketball against Tyler Hansborough? Yeah it was fun, it wasn't fun getting powered at times, but it was good.

How old were u when your brother died? 10

Is that something u remember and carry with u? yeah it's motivation, knowing that him and my grandma are looking over me and just working for them.

I saw the shirt your mom wore at the orange bowl with u and the quarterbacks, tell me about that shirt? That was my first time seeing it, but it was pretty cool, I don't know who made it but they know what they are doing, I don't know how my mom got it, but she has a Forcier one also, from the Michigan games, it's a cartoon thing.

Was it hard to see Amare and Bulaga go early? Not really, I mean every guy has to make their own decisions and I know Amare was having his problems with school. He needed to leave and move on with life. Bulaga is at the point of his career where he could leave.

Can u run thru what your highlight from last year was? The Orange bowl, watching our defense play like that and show the nation that we can play some defense.

U had a stalker, and what do u know about it? Yeah apparently she was obsessed with me a little bit, it was pretty much months leading up to the game.

Was it scary? Yeah it was, I mean dealing with and not knowing what a person wants to do to u as far as violence and such. It wasn't a fun deal at all.

When u were in the game could u hear what was going on? Yeah I could hear it, and that scared me too, cause u know kinnick behind the benches there isn't much room and that was pretty much the final straw.

Did u call the police? Yeah I called them every time there was an episode.

Is she gone now? Yeah finally.

What do u remember about the Penn State game? That whole weekend was a great weekend, just seeing the stadium empty and then getting on the field with all those fans and then having a great battle and it was a great game.

Being how close it's been the last couple of years is it building up to a rivalry? Yeah I think so, I think it's going to be a great rivalry, we play a lot of similar styles and it's a great battle every year.

How much of an influence has coach Norm Parker had on u? he's our defensive coordinator and he's a great guy and a wise guy, so yeah he know me and he know the ins and outs and what to do and what not to do.

Have u gotten a chance to talk to Broderick at all since the incident? Yeah all of us have gotten a chance and were behind him and we know he's a great guy and he made a mistake and he's going to learn from it.

How has he handled it? He's a little down right now, but last year I was a little down with my situation so he will be alright with his teammates behind him.

How good to u feel u can be as a defense? I think we can be pretty good, but it depends on how much work we put in in camp.

What would u constitute a successful senior season? I mean just help my defense and my team win as many games as we can.

What did u learn from the cab incident? I learned how to deal with the whole situation. I think it made me a better person, u know sitting in the jail cell, and having to have cuffs on my hands, I mean I won't ever do it again.

Was the cab driver a big dude? He was kind short, but he wasn't a small guy.

What kind of advice did ur mom give u after that? Just always keep a level head and don't let people push u to where u don't want to go.

I heard your mom is moving to Iowa City, how did that come about? Just getting away from St. Louis and wanting to be here for my senior season.

When did she make that decision? April

How are handling the agents? Push them my moms way, have her deal with it, so I can focus on the season.

What is it like having so many of the big players of the big ten coming into Kinnick this year? It will be fun to have them at home, they will come in expecting to whoop our butt so we have to be ready for it.

How big of a bonus is it having the whole front four back? It's great, we know each other well, u know what each other is thinking.

What's the most prominent memory of the Ohio State game? Prolly the field goal at the end of the game and watching him make it.

Have u thought back to it much? Not really if ur looking back at it u can't focus on what is ahead.

U came back this year only to help win a big ten title? No not really, I knew we had a good group of guys coming back and I wanted to get my degree and there were more pros than cons.

Is there an individual player u would relish going up against this year? Not necessarily, I'm looking forward to playing everybody, if u look at Wisconsin u have to bring you're A game all the time cause there going to try to run the ball. When we play Michigan, they have to be ready for the spread, when we play Northwestern u know they are going to grind and grind the 4th quarter.

How eager are u to get Ohio State at your place? I'm eager for every game, I'm eager for Eastern Illinois cause that is the start of the season.

Does Terrelle create a unique challenge? Yeah he's the best athlete in the big ten and best I've ever been against.

What position did u play in baseball? Right field

Was football your first love? Not really, basketball was then football took over

How has the experience been at Iowa? It's been great, I started out rocky at first not playing, but it's been great so far.

Your really not going to shave all season? No way it worked last year so were going with it again.

What do u want to improve on? Just being more of a spark for the defense and being more consistent.

Right now it doesn't look like the defense will have to carry the offense as much as last season what do u think of that? I don't think we every had to carry the offense, I think the offense has gotten a lot better and Ricky is a year older, stronger and faster.

Is there anything u did this offseason that was special as far as conditioning? I really learned how to watch film more and be a film bug and learn how to critique guys and break them down more.

Do u ever think about how rich u could be right now if u had entered the draft? If it is here now, it will be here later, I'm not here for the quick fix. I'm pretty sure it will be there next year.

Are you guys pretty much sick of losing to northwestern at this point? U know it's always going to be a challenge when u play those guys, and they know how to get after us.

Ricky stated that all his interceptions last year were careless and completely his fault, what do u think when u hear your quarterback talk like that? He knows that he made mistakes and that he can be better.

What has been the hardest loss since u have been at Iowa? Prolly Northwestern last year, I feel like we could have played better, I think we laid it all on the line in the Ohio state game and came up short but Northwestern we should have played better.

How important is this year for u as u look to the next level? Anyone can come up with one good year, but to put another good year under my belt should answer a lot of questions and prove myself more.

How do u think the rest of the conference looks at Ohio State? They are the top dog, they have won five in a row, everyone is pushing to get where they are.

Coach in the big ten u most admire or always has his team ready to play? Pat Fitzgerald

Best offensive player in the big ten? Terrelle Pryor

Best defensive player in the big ten? Greg Jones

Best Rivalry game you are not involved in? Michigan verse Ohio State

Best venue in the conference? Penn State

What do u enjoy the most about playing in the big ten? Game in and game out u have to bring you're A game every week.

When u here the words Wisconsin Football what comes to mind? Hardnosed running attack