Iowa football welcomes back lineman, waves goodbye to punter

PEOSTA - Iowa football welcomed back a part-time starter and said goodbye to one of its punters.

Summer workouts began this week, and sophomore guard Sean Welsh rejoined the team after missing most of spring practice because of personal reasons. On an offensive line that lost two starters to the NFL draft, Welsh's presence was needed.

'The guys started lifting (Monday) and training, and he was back with us,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz at the I-Club stop at Thunder Hills Country Club near Dubuque. 'Doing great.”

Welsh (6-foot-3, 288 pounds) started the first seven games last season and then rotated at guard with Jordan Walsh. Welsh and Walsh are likely to play guard and flank three-year starter Austin Blythe, who moves back to center.

Senior punter Connor Kornbrath, however, will not compete this year. After spring drills, Kornbrath appeared to be third in line behind fellow seniors Dillon Kidd and Marshall Koehn, who also serves as the place-kicker.

Kornbrath (6-6, 242) punted 136 times in his Iowa career for a 38.8 yard-per-punt average and kicked 37 inside the 20-yard line.

'Connor's probably going to end up taking this year off and going to school,” Ferentz said. 'He's still on scholarship and one of the 85 (scholarship players).”

Tight end Jake Duzey (6-4, 245) had knee surgery after spring practice and hope still rests with the team that he will return in September. Last year Duzey caught 36 passes - the second-most among Big Ten tight ends - and hauled in three touchdowns. In three seasons, Duzey has 58 catches for 678 yards and five scores. He has 13 career starts.

'He's on schedule,” Ferentz said. 'Everything was smooth and routine. Just keep pushing forward.

'We'll probably know more in August certainly. So far everything's right on schedule.”

Defensive tackle Darian Cooper (6-2, 282) missed all of last season because of knee surgery. His future on the field remains undetermined. If he cannot play, Cooper could seek a potential sixth year of eligibility based on medical hardship.

Cooper hails from Elkridge, Md. He played in 25 games with two starts from 2012-13 and boasts 34 tackles, including five for loss.

'I think realistically we're shooting for this year, and he's not there yet,” Ferentz said. 'I think all of us thought it was going to be more in July when we'll know more. He's continuing to push hard, rehab and he's trying as hard as he can. It's just a matter of what he's able to do once he gets through a certain time period.”

Iowa's summer workouts go through July, then training camp begins in early August. The Hawkeyes open the season Sept. 5 against Illinois State at Kinnick Stadium.

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