A closer look at linebacker

Last in an eight-part series looking at the Iowa football team before the final spring practice Saturday.

Tomorrow: A spring edition of GameDay.

FOURTH DOWN

Concerns: Experience is the least of this unit's concerns. What linebackers coach Darrell Wilson can hope to salvage from the drama of 2010 is smarter, tougher players who have been through some bad times and will be better for it.

James Morris (sophomore), Shane DiBona (sophomore), Christian Kirksey (sophomore) and, to a certain extent, Anthony Hitchens (sophomore) fall into that category. Morris is your middle linebacker for 2011. DiBona has a shot at the weakside position if he can overcome the rhabdomyolysis and shoulder surgery he endured over the winter. Kirksey got his feet wet in special teams, and Hitchens is a full-fledged outside linebacker.

There's experience but not a lot of depth. If you learned anything from 2010, it's that you might want to have some depth at the linebacker position, a high-impact, nowhere-to-hide type of deal.

THIRD DOWN

Additions/subtractions: Jeff Tarpinian, Jeremiah Hunter and Troy Johnson are gone.

Sophomore Dakota Getz probably doesn't count as a new player, but he'll be a new linebacker. The former tight end made the switch in camp and will be listed as an outside linebacker this spring.

Iowa has three incoming freshmen - Quinton Alston, Melvin Spears and Marcus Collins - who'll have a chance to play on special teams and maybe beyond.

SECOND DOWN

Battles brewing: Every spot on the linebacker depth chart has a little conflict to it. Some more than others, but there's enough to make you think about all three spots.

Middle linebacker should be a done deal for Morris. Bruce Davis, a senior, will be healed and hungry after missing his best chance to play in 2010 and has earned serious consideration, depending on his recovery.

Tyler Nielsen will assume the outside linebacker position, pending health. Behind Nielsen, it's wild and woolly again, with Getz and Hitchens competing.

The weakside spot is the most wide-open position on the team after punter and strong safety. DiBona probably would be the leader in the clubhouse, but he's had enough health problems for a lifetime since January. That opens the door for .., maybe Kirksey?

FIRST DOWN

Predictions for 2011: Let's try a depth chart:

Middle - Morris, Davis with Marcus Kloos and Melvin Spears

Weakside - DiBona, Kirksey, Jim Poggi, Terrance Pryor and Quinton Alston

Outside - Nielsen, Getz, Hitchens, Marcus Collins