The hot spot on defense

They have bodies in place, but there is no arguing Iowa's defense is going to miss linebackers Pat Angerer and A.J. Edds.

Angerer was a two-time all-Big Ten pick at middle linebacker. Edds was a three-year starter who was a virtuoso at outside linebacker. Everything about them was sound.

You know the names in place to replace them.

In the middle, it'll likely be senior-to-be Jeff Tarpinian, a 6-foot-3, 233-pounder. Senior Troy Johnson and junior Bruce Davis will provide a big-time pushes here, though. In his only chance to do anything in '09, Johnson, a 6-2, 235-pounder, earned Big Ten defensive player of the week after 11 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup in a 12-0 victory over Minnesota. Davis was a special teams star last season, with most of his 14 tackles coming in that capacity. At middle linebacker against Minnesota, Davis recovered a fumble.

Johnson got the start because Tarpinian suffered a knee injury after he replaced Jeremiha Hunter at Ohio State. Hunter left the OSU game with an ankle injury. Davis came in against Minnesota when Angerer went out for a series or two.

Tarpinian has a ton of experience in 3-4 situations. He has been the fourth linebacker for the last two seasons. He also showed some thunder on kick coverage this season, with highlight reel hits against Michigan and in the Orange Bowl.

On the strongside, it's Nielsen's time. The 6-4, 235-pound junior was Edds' backup all last season. After Nielsen, it's probably Johnson, who's spent some time on the outside, too.

Assuming Hunter returns to the weakside linebacker he's played the last two seasons, it's four players -- Tarpinian, Nielsen and Johnson -- for two spots.

It's definitely time to take a paragraph or two and recognize what Hunter has done at Iowa. He'll be a three-year starter. He's been No. 2 on the team in tackles the last two seasons, checking in with 80 and 89. He's been good in pass coverage. He's been a solid tackler. He's a pretty good place to start for Iowa's linebackers corps next season.

Going over the roster was sort of an eye opener. I can see why Iowa has four LB commitments in the '10 class.

MIDDLE

Jeff Tarpinian (sr.) -- It's his time, but he'll have to win the job. And I'm just assuming he'll slide into the open spot in the middle, where he's never really played as far as I can remember. Maybe this will get more creative than we all can imagine. But for now, because it seems logical, let's put Tarpinian in the middle. He's got the size and has decent wheels (as shown by his kick coverage this season). He's also one of the smarter players on the team, an accounting major who's a three-year academic all-Big Ten. Broke up two passes last season as the 3-4 linebacker.

Troy Johnson (sr.) -- Same as Tarpinian, has never actually played middle linebacker in a game, but this is the

 opening. After spring practice '09, he was listed as co-second team at outside linebacker with Nielsen. When Jacody Coleman transferred out last summer, Johnson was listed as the No. 2 MLB behind Angerer, so he's at least seen practice reps at the position. He pretty much filled out his stat sheet with the career game against Minnesota. It was an eye-opener and it's definitely put him on the map for 2010. He's earned his special teams stripes the last two seasons.  

Bruce Davis (jr.) -- Davis was especially impressive on special teams. He showed great discipline and that he listens to his coaches when he recovered a surprise offsides kick against Iowa State. Of the three candidates at this spot, Davis might have the most MLB build, with the Cleveland native coming in at 6-0, 232. This is his first real shot at PT.

Terrance Pryor (fr.) -- A walk-on from Thornwood (Ill.), I'm not sure if he's a middle linebacker. He's listed at 6-1, 220.

Marcus Kloos (fr.) -- The 6-1, 195-pounder from Iowa City Regina took a redshirt last fall. With his height and weight, I'm guessing middle linebacker. 

Austin Gray (fr.) -- The 6-2, 220-pounder suffered a torn ACL last fall, so that'll likely send him toward a redshirt after he signs with the Hawkeyes. I'm guessing that he ends up in the middle. He played middle linebacker for Fitzgerald (Warren, Mich.) High School. He also played some fullback on offense, but not the kind of fullback with thoughts of carries and touchdowns, more of a lead blocker. Here's what he told me last fall: "I love the physicality of the sport,” said Gray, who had seven scholarship offers, including Michigan State, Pittsburgh and Illinois. “I think that's what makes it the best sport in the world. That's the way I've been coached, very physical, downhill and hard to the football.”

WEAKSIDE

Unless Darrell Wilson or Eric Johnson see a different combo, Hunter will step into this role for the third straight season. There might be scenarios where the 6-2, 235-pounder goes to the middle. He's been the No. 2 tackler on the team the last two seasons, so contact isn't an issue. With that logic, he'd be the middle linebacker, but that's pure spitballing. I'm guessing he stays put.

Who else is here?

Tarpinian -- See above.

Johnson -- See above.

Ross Petersen (sr.) -- He made the move from linebacker to tight end in spring of '08 and then moved back to linebacker going into last season. He's a senior listed at 6-3, 236 pounds. He probably knows the defense well, a psychology major with a 4.0 GPA on his resume. Fifth-year senior walk-ons stick around for a reason -- they love football. Can't have enough Ross Petersens around. You never know where they're going to help.

Shane DiBona (fr.) --  During Orange Bowl prep, the 6-2, 225-pounder looked as though he's starting to build himself into a Big Ten linebacker. It looked as though the program weight matched up with the visual for the redshirt freshman. Could dent the depth chart this season as the No. 2 WLB.

Tom Donatell (jr.) -- Switched from QB a few years ago. Has also seen some time at defensive back. The 6-2, 205-pound walk-on hasn't seen a big break in playing time, either on defense or special teams, which is probably his best chance to get noticed. Again, a walk-on who's been around. Great to have on the team.

Cameron Olson (s0.) -- A 6-1, 225-pound walk-on from South Hamilton High Schoo, Olson could contribute on special teams.

James Morris (fr.) -- At 6-2, 215, the incoming freshman could play a lot of positions, but he seems to be a good fit

here. Wouldn't be totally shocked if at some point he's looked at as a fullback, but I think he's too athletic for guard No. 3. Yes, he won three state titles at Solon High School and played dual QB some last season, but he won an MVP award at a Nike Camp in Champaign, Ill., last summer. Probable redshirt, but if he comes into camp more in the 220 range, he could be a depth player in '10.

OUTSIDE (AKA, STRONGSIDE) 

If it goes by progression, Nielsen locks into this position for 2010 and '11 and you throw away the key.

The junior from Humboldt has worked his way up the ladder. He was in meetings behind Edds all last season. This should be his time. You have to like his size (6-4, 235) and the fact that he's been a solid special teamer for two seasons. His responsibilities will be new, but he's not a new player. This said, of course, filling Edds' shoes is going to be a gigantic challenge. Edds was the gold standard a this position.

Who else?

Johnson -- See above.

Tarpinian -- See above.

Casey Kreiter (so.) -- The 6-2, 235-pound walk-on from DeWitt Central dressed a lot last season. I want to say he has a role on special teams as some sort of long snapper, but I might be wrong on that. Could work his way into a special teams role, but might be a year away from a depth chart run.

Jim Poggi (fr.) -- The 6-2, 215-pounder from Baltimore's Gilman School is a good get, with a stack of offers that included Auburn, Maryland and Boston College. I actually have a little insight to why I put him here. From a story I wrote last fall when he committed:

Poggi played strongside linebacker at Gilman, which also plays a 4-3 defense, last season. Iowa defensive coordinator Norm Parker told him that he'd be “interchangeable” between weakside and strongside, “whichever fits me the best.” The future at Iowa linebacker could go like this: Austin Gray (Warren, Mich.) in the middle with Solon's James Morris (scroll to the bottom for the Morris story and an extra) on the weakside and Poggi at outside linebacker.

“I feel I play pretty well in space, but I'll go wherever they need me,” Poggi said.

Christian Kirksey (fr.) -- At 6-2, 200, Kirksey is a supremely interesting prospect. Mike Jones, his coach at

 Hazelwood (Mo.) East, told me this fall that Kirksey is a brilliant athlete. He made 140 tackles last season for East. Iowa beat Wisconsin and Michigan State for Kirksey. Rivals.com lists his 40 at 4.5. If that's even in the neighborhood, Kirksey could be a possible safety or tight end. But 140 tackles say he likes contact and does pretty well with it.