Logan Jones, Koen Entringer among Iowa players ruled out ahead of Music City Bowl

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Iowa football will be without another four players because of either injuries or an eligibility issue.

Center Logan Jones, wide receiver Seth Anderson and safety Koen Entringer are all out for the Music City Bowl on Monday due to injuries, head coach Kirk Ferentz said in the pre-bowl news conference.

Linebacker Kyler Fisher also will be out because of an “unmet eligibility requirement” despite having already graduated, Ferentz said. Fisher has remained with the team during its preparations for Monday’s game against Missouri, which would have been his final game as a Hawkeye.

“A little slip there, so he missed something — an assignment, whatever it may have been,” Ferentz said. “He’s chosen to stay with the team. He’s a senior and has practiced each and every day, been on the look squad. That was not beneath him. … It’s unfortunate he won’t play, but he’s been here doing a great job, and he’ll be on the sidelines with us tomorrow.”

Ferentz said he found out about the eligibility issue “maybe a couple weeks ago, somewhere in December.”

“He made every effort to make it to the finish line, but just wasn’t able to,” Ferentz said. “It’s unfortunate. I’ve got a son who graduated — I have three sons that have graduated from Iowa — and one, I remember in May, just asking distinctly, ‘You sure you got this thing measured up?’ Because I was just watching what he was doing, and I wasn’t quite sure. He made it maybe by that much.”

Jones’ absence is much less surprising considering that he had a cast on his right hand (which also is his snapping hand) during the team’s open portions of practice on Thursday and Friday. Tyler Elsbury — a fifth-year senior who has starting experience at center and guard — is the expected starter at center.

“It’s a luxury item, quite frankly, to have (Elsbury) available,” Ferentz said.

Entringer and Anderson also missed practice time last week. Entringer is Iowa’s second-team strong safety behind Xavier Nwankpa. Anderson, a 6-foot wideout, has five receptions in seven games this season.

Fisher has been Iowa’s first-team Leo linebacker. Cedar Rapids native Jaxon Rexroth is officially listed as Fisher’s backup on the pre-bowl depth chart and “will be out there,” Ferentz said.

The Hawkeyes are already without running back Kaleb Johnson and cornerback Jermari Harris, who are focusing on preparations for next year’s NFL draft. Missouri is without wide receiver Luther Burden III and offensive lineman Armand Membou for that same reason. That is a relatively low level of opt-outs for a non-College Football Playoff bowl game.

“When you look across college football, I think our two programs have done a really good job,” Missouri Coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “We’ve had two opt-outs, I think, on both sides because of potential NFL futures and careers, and we totally understand that. But the rest of the senior classes are wanting to play, and they want to play together for the brotherhood.”

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