The Contingency -- Linebackers

Linebacker

The Men: MLB Jeff Tarpinian, WLB Jeremiha Hunter, OLB Tyler Neilsen

The Contingencies: Bruce Davis, Troy Johnson, Ross Petersen

Iowa's starting three are pretty well set.

Quick rundown: Tarpinian is playing MLB for the first time, but DC Norm Parker loves him. Granted some of you have questioned Norm's hype, he's seen more of it than I have and has coached football since before I was born. Hunter will be a third-year starter. Nielsen has been locked in at OLB since three-year starter A.J. Edds graduated.

That leaves Davis, Johnson and Petersen as the only backups with on-field experience. We'll have to create a category for returnee Lance Tillison.

Davis (6-0, 232) didn't play a lot on the line of scrimmage last season, but did recover a fumble against Minnesota in, basically, his only time. He was a terrific special teamer. Remember the onsides kick against Iowa State? Davis showed he's not sleeping in meetings on that play. That's the kind of players coaches love.

In his only chance, Johnson (6-2, 235) earned Big Ten player of the week, recorded career-best 11 tackles , including a tackle for loss and a caused and recovered fumble with a sack and a pass breakup. He brings some experience (key pass breakup against ISU in 2008), but mostly he brings versatility. He played OLB for a few years and could play there if needed. He's played middle and weakside, where he's listed as Hunter's backup going into the season.

Petersen, a fifth-year walk-0n, has been moved around a bit during his career, starting at LB and then moving to TE and now back to LB.

Here's the key: After Davis, Johnson and Petersen, the next linebacker might be Shane DiBona, a 6-2, 230-pound redshirt freshman. After DiBona, it's . . . an incoming freshman.

That's Austin Gray, Christian Kirksey, James Morris or Jim Poggi. Morris might be the most ready to go in that group.

Tillison is one player who could keep true freshmen on the bench. The 6-2, 215-pounder switched from safety and worked his way into linebacker rotation in 2008. He decided to transfer, but apparently didn't, sitting out the 2009 season. He returned to campus last semester and is back on the team. He suffered a shoulder injury in spring, but should be ready to go this fall.

He's experienced, but he hasn't played since 2008. If he contributes, it probably keeps a freshman in a redshirt.