5 Upper Iowa football storylines: Peacocks open the season Thursday at Drake, picked 3rd in Great Lakes Valley Conference

Upper Iowa enters the fifth season under Coach Jason Hoskins. The Peacocks are coming off their most successful season in more than 25 years. The new campaign begins with a Thursday night game at Drake. Here are five storylines to follow for Upper Iowa’s season opener.

SERIES HISTORY WITH DRAKE

The matchup between the Peacocks and Bulldogs seem unique. It is but it isn’t. Upper Iowa moved to D-II in 2003, while Drake has been a non-scholarship D-I program. Drake hosts Upper Iowa for the fourth time and first since 2008. The Bulldogs won all three meetings and won the last, 17-13. The first two games were more lopsided. Drake posted victories of 40-7 in 2006 and 45-27 in 2004. Drake has won the last two Pioneer League titles and was second in the preseason coaches’ poll under first-year head coach Joe Woodley, who led NAIA powerhouse Grand View.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR PEACOCKS

Upper Iowa was 7-4 last season and tied for second in the Great Lakes Valley Conference at 6-2. The Peacocks notched their first seven-win season since 1997. In their third GLVC season, Upper Iowa is third in the preseason coaches’ poll, receiving 43 points. University of Indianapolis received eight first-place votes for a league-best 64 points, while Truman State was second with 57 points and one first-place vote. The Peacocks return 14 starters, including eight on offense. They ranked fifth with almost 4,000 yards of total offense, averaging 357.5 yards per game. Hoskins appears to have turned the corner and set a new bar at Upper Iowa.

KEEP AN EYE ON MICHAEL MULHERIN

The former Cedar Rapids Kenndy graduate has already made an impact. Mulherin, a linebacker, led the Peacocks with 71 tackles last season, earning second-team all-GLVC honors. He is one of six returning defensive starters. Trevor Thompson, who was second with 65 tackles, is also back and adds experience at linebacker. Mulherin, who also serves as the long snapper, is a versatile athlete that can cover the run and pass. He tallied 24 solo tackles, an interception, a pass breakup and four tackles for loss. Mulherin could be poised for another good year.

WELCOME BACK, OVERSTREET

Quarterback Darryl Overstreet Jr. was named team captain for the second straight season. He will drive the Peacocks offense again. He passed for 2,299 yards with 18 touchdowns, completing 202 of 323 passes. He added four rushing scores. Overstreet can take over games, which was displayed by his 341-yard, three-TD performance against Missouri S & T last season. He has become the consummate leader for Upper Iowa’s offense, starting 28 games over three seasons including 11 each of the last two.

“He’s a great leader who manages the offense really well,” Hoskins told UIU Sports Information. “We just need him to play consistently. Consistency out of that position is what every football coach wants. He’s been in the system long enough that we need to make sure that he plays consistently and he’s able to move the offense efficiently.”

Overstreet does have all-GLVC receiver Mante Morrow and former Montezuma standout and senior tight end Eddie Burgess as targets. Morrow finished with 537 yards and nine TDs, while Burgess had 309 and three last year.

YOUNG TALENT JOINS PROGRAM

Hoskins said he was excited when 36 newcomers signed with Upper Iowa over the offseason. The group includes 16 former Iowa players. Hoskins and his staff addressed needs from a year ago.

"I like where our program is headed," Hoskins said. "The group we currently have on campus is working hard and has some lofty goals. This group of signees will fit into what we are building here at Upper Iowa. With the staff we have and the group of young men in our program, things are headed in the right direction here in Fayette, and we are looking forward to taking the field."

Among those signees are former Iowa City High defensive back Dominic Salibi, Cedar Rapids Xavier receiver and Wisconsin-Platteville transfer Coleton Beasler-Weber, West Delaware wideout Seth Jackson, offensive lineman Trenton Davies of Williamsburg and Clear Creek Amana defensive lineman Vinnie Keller.

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