Former Hawkeye Sash checks into NFL

Tyler Sash checked off just about everything off his list as an Iowa Hawkeye.

The 6-foot, 211-pounder from Oskaloosa made 37 starts (three seasons), picked off 13 passes and set Iowa's career record for return yards off interceptions. He earned first-team all-Big Ten as a sophomore and junior. He played on a team that won the 2010 Orange Bowl.

Check, check and check. So, it was time to go. Sash decided in January to forego his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL draft.

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz wanted him to stay. Iowa lost both starting safeties from the 2010 team, with Sash leaving early and Brett Greenwood graduating. But check, check and check. Sash wanted to try the draft.

Iowa's spring depth chart at safety is sophomore Tanner Miller, coming off shoulder surgery, and, maybe, senior Jordan Bernstine, who was one of the 13 Hawkeyes stricken with rhabdomyolysis in January.

“He [Ferentz] wanted me to stay,” Sash said Sunday from the NFL combine. “From a leadership standpoint, obviously, we lost a lot of guys on defense. We have four guys here from the defense and I feel like (former teammate Brett) Greenwood should've gotten an invite being a four-year starter.”

This was the first in the last three seasons that didn't have Sash under the knife for a shoulder surgery. He had both shoulders undergo MRIs on Sunday, which turned his medical exam into an ordeal. As a fourth-year junior, much of his peer group had departed or was departing Iowa.

“He [Ferentz] told me at the end of the day, whatever I decided once a Hawk, you'll always be a Hawk,” Sash said. “We're going to have your back no matter what you decide.”

Not long after he made the decision, Sash traveled to San Diego to work out with Velocity Sports. He wanted to concentrate on dropping his 40-yard dash time, something that Sash said would be crucial for him at the combine.

Sash found himself working with Auburn quarterback Cam Newton among others. He also spent time shadowing receivers and working 7-on-7 drills. Sash said his agility times improved.

“Tyler's a grinder and works hard,” said George Whitfield, an instructor at Velocity Sports. “He works like he's 5-9, 160 pounds. He's got that kind of chip on his shoulder.”

“A lot of teams want to see how I run coming up on Tuesday,” he said, then he was asked what time he expected to run. “As fast as I can, that's what I'm going to run.”

A couple questions came up about Iowa's defensive schemes and what Sash was asked to do in those.

“I think people are definitely questioning my speed and my man coverage ability,” Sash said. “We play in a pretty controlled defense. It doesn't allow you to go out and move around a lot. We play controlled and I played within the system.

“If a team gives me a chance, I feel as though I could play man. I just need some practice at it. It's something I feel like I can do.”

Sash said Iowa didn't run a lot of coverages, sticking strictly with zone coverages.

“We'll play a lot of quarters coverage (a cover 6) and a lot of cover 2,” said Sash, whose agent is Jack Bechta. “When we do send pressure, it's usually zone or zone fires, nothing man usually.”

For evidence of these schemes producing NFL-caliber defenders, you didn't have to look very far in Lucas Oil Stadium. On one of the pillars in the interview area, there's a 20-foot picture of former Hawkeye safety Bob Sanders, who helped Indianapolis to a Super Bowl title in 2007. The Colts recently cut Sanders, who's shopping his services around the league.

Also, former Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer started for the Colts as a rookie last season.

“It'd be tough to follow in Bob Sanders' footsteps,” Sash said. “He's a legend around here.”