Iowa bowl notebook: Deacon Hill expected to 'go the distance’ in Citrus Bowl

ORLANDO — Those hoping to see Marco Lainez’s Iowa football debut at some point in the Citrus Bowl might not want to hold their breath.

Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz said he expects quarterback Deacon Hill “to go the distance on Monday” against Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl.

“Deacon is the starting quarterback, Ferentz said in response to a question about giving Lainez any plays. ”Deacon has played really good football for us. Deacon has led this football team to a lot of wins.”

Lainez has earned positive reviews during his first season in Iowa City. While not officially listed on the depth chart right away, Lainez surpassed Joe Labas as the team’s second-string quarterback ahead of the Nov. 4 game against Northwestern.

“I felt like Marco had elevated above Joe at that time,” Ferentz said. “We want to invest the reps in the guys that we think can help the football team win. That is why we made that decision.”

Why Jay Higgins is staying an extra year

Linebacker Jay Higgins cited his relationships at Iowa and the “environment that puts the players first” as some of the reasons he chose to use his extra year of eligibility in 2024.

“I felt like if I came back another year, I could be a better football player,” Higgins said. “Having Coach (Phil) Parker, having Coach (Seth) Wallace being the two guys I spend most of my time with, I felt like that was an easy decision for me.”

Higgins has a Power Five-best 155 tackles with an opportunity to add to that in the Citrus Bowl.

Jermari Harris undecided about 2024

Defensive back Jermari Harris still is considering whether to return to Iowa in 2024 for a sixth season. He anticipates making a decision after the bowl game.

“I haven’t really put too much thought into it,” Harris said. “I’ve really been focused on Tennessee. … If we could fast-forward a week from now, I would have a better answer for you.”

Harris bounced back this season from an injury that kept him out of the entire 2022 season. He has started the last 11 games at cornerback after missing two games because of a sports wagering suspension.

Xavier Nwankpa now ‘knows the system really well’

Former five-star recruit Xavier Nwankpa “knows the system really well” and “knows where he fits in” as he wraps up his second season with the Hawkeyes, defensive coordinator Phil Parker said.

“Last year he was just so young and probably not as vocal and not understanding exactly what he had to do in the system,” Parker said.

Nwankpa has been the Hawkeyes’ starting strong safety in 11 of Iowa’s 13 games this year. His first career start was in last year’s Music City Bowl, where he returned an interception for a touchdown.

“He dropped them all during practice and he picked it in the game,” Parker said.

Drew Stevens works past ‘bump in the road’

Kicker Drew Stevens experienced a “bump in the road,” as special teams coordinator LeVar Woods phrased it, when he missed two field goals and had two kickoffs land out of bounds last month against Nebraska.

That has not shaken Woods’ confidence in Stevens, who has “worked incredibly hard” since then.

“Drew is going to be fine,” Woods said. “Drew, long-term, I think is a phenomenal, phenomenal talent.”

Iowa did not attempt any field goals in its 26-0 loss in the Big Ten championship game, so any attempts against Tennessee will be Stevens’ first in a game setting since Nov. 24.

“I'm really anxious to see him get back on the field,” Woods said. “I know he's anxious to get back on the field as well.”

Younger players who have stood out in bowl practices

When asked about younger players who have stood out, Woods mentioned wide receiver Jacob Bostick, defensive back Zach Lutmer and running backs Terrell Washington Jr. and Kamari Moulton.

“Guys that we’ve sort of had our eye on all year, at the beginning of training camp, but now they’re really getting the opportunity to get out there and get some good work with the developmental practices we’re having,” Woods said.

Woods is not the only person who Bostick, a redshirt freshman wide receiver who has often battled injuries, has impressed. Veteran wide receiver Nico Ragaini has noticed Bostick “come into his own and really start to pick things up.”

“It's like the first time he's been healthy for a real long period of time,” Ragaini said.

Ragaini also said Kaleb Brown has “stepped up in a leadership role,” and Seth Anderson “had his best couple of practices” during the team’s stay in Orlando.

“I’m excited for all three of them,” Ragaini said.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com