Iowa football has long list of candidates to replace kick-returner Charlie Jones

IOWA CITY — The line has formed for replacements at kickoff returner and punt returner for the Iowa football team.

In an interview I had this week with Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods for this Sunday’s Gazette and this website, Woods talked about who might replace Charlie Jones, the 2021 Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year.

Jones is transferring to Purdue to reunite with fellow former Iowa wide receiver Tyrone Tracy for his super senior season. As for the Hawkeyes …

“You have Arland Bruce,” said Woods, “who is a really good football player, not just a really good receiver. I think he’s a great option.

“I think that (defensive back) Connor DeJean is a really good option. I think there’s a couple of young guys in Xavier Nwankpa and then also TJ Hall (freshmen defensive backs).

“And then (defensive back) Terry Roberts is another guy. I think we have options.”

The mentioned players “have all expressed interest,” Woods said.

“And I can tell you that as soon as it became public that someone was leaving our roster, the Big Ten’s Defensive Back of the Year (Riley Moss) — I got a text from him that said ‘Coach, I want to be the returner.’’’

Woods said candidates for the positions can use JUGS machines to catch footballs in summer workouts, “but the difficult thing comes when you have to catch it off the foot,” which the players won’t do until training camp starts in August.

“They’ve got to spend time with the kickers and punters and we’ve got to get their workouts going, reading the ball off the foot.

“So, teach them the mechanics of how to feel the ball, and then how to read the ball live. Because it’s different off a JUGS than it is off of a foot.”

Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com