A Closer Look: Linebackers

THE DEPTH CHART

MIDDLE LINEBACKER

1. Josey Jewell, soph., 6-2, 230; 2. Travis Perry, sr., 6-3, 236

WEAKSIDE LINEBACKER

1. Cole Fisher, sr., 6-2, 236; 2. Bo Bower, soph., 6-1, 228 OR Aaron Mends, fr., 6-0, 212

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

1. Ben Niemann, soph., 6-3, 225; 2. Bower OR Mends

OTHERS

Brady Ross, fr., 6-1, 220; Jack Hockaday, fr., 6-1, 215; Angelo Garbutt, fr., 6-2, 210; Nick Wilson, fr., 6-2, 206; Justin Jinning, fr., 6-2, 210; Eric Grimm, red fr., 6-2, 200

THE GUY

Sophomore linebacker Josey Jewell was slated to start early last season, but he suffered a broken hand in training camp and missed the first two games. He traded repetitions at weakside linebacker with Reggie Spearman, who transferred to Illinois State, before starting the final four games.

Jewell put up a strong performance in Iowa's 45-28 loss to Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Bowl. Jewell recorded 14 tackles and was named the team's MVP. He's now the starting middle linebacker.

'It was a big learning curve for me, coming into college football,” said Jewell, a Decorah native. 'It's really fast for you and you're a little smaller. This year everybody, counting Bo (Bower), Aaron Mends and Ben Niemann, we've all gotten bigger now and understood our roles more and understood the defense more and it's getting better.”

Jewell finished with 51 tackles, including one sack last year.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Cole Fisher is a three-time academic all-Big Ten performer best known for an older brother who was a starting linebacker at Nebraska. Fisher played in all 13 games last year and registered eight tackles, including four in a blowout win against Northwestern.

But through his play and perseverence - he always had the respect of the coaching staff - Fisher became a surprise starter in training camp. He unseated starter Bo Bower at weakside linebacker and has the versatility to play multiple positions.

'He has done a good job this camp,” defensive coordinator Phil Parker said. 'He seems more comfortable and the game has slowed down for him.

'Obviously it's not easy to play linebacker when you have both facets of the game, the run and the pass. It's a lot of stuff and a lot of formations to understand, so it takes a little time to understand that and he is feeling more comfortable.”

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Bower, a sophomore, started all 13 games last year at outside linebacker. He shifted to weakside where he was the starter until Fisher unseated him. Bower finished with 38 tackles - including 5.5 for loss - and two interceptions last year.

Bower, who hails from nearby West Branch, has the versatility to play all three linebacker positions. Two years ago he watched James Morris, Chris Kirksey and Anthony Hitchens while red-shirting. Bower said he learned a great deal from viewing both their fundamentally sound plays to their mistakes.

'No one's perfect and when they weren't perfect, they had unreal effort,” Bower said. 'The Michigan game with Hitch yanking the ball to end the game. That was complete effort. Getting to the ball and ripping it out. It was stuff like that we need.”

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Red-shirt freshman Aaron Mends oozes with athletic ability, although he's a bit undersized right now. Mends (6-2, 212) likely will play on multiple special teams units and has a chance to contribute at linebacker.

'Coach (Kirk Ferentz) calls him a wild card,” linebackers coach Jim Reid said. 'So we'll coach him up and see where we're going to put him.”

l Comments: (319) 339-3169; scott.dochterman@thegazette.com