Williamsburg’s Blythe picks Iowa and football

Austin Blythe's dance with the University of Iowa began about a year ago when he received an offer to play football for the Hawkeyes.

Blythe, 6-foot-3, 280 pounds, has grown up in Williamsburg, about a half-hour west of Iowa City. His parents, Curt and Mary, have taken him to Hawkeye football games and wrestling meets pretty much all of his life.

But it wasn't as easy as you'd think for the high school junior to say yes to the Hawkeyes. It's a life decision, and Blythe wanted to explore all his options.

After all, he was a second-semester sophomore when this started. He had offers from Iowa State, Stanford, Kansas, Kansas State, and Wisconsin.

“Some people were like, ‘man, why don't you just commit now,'” Blythe said. “People think it's an easy decision, but it's really not. It's where you're going to be living the next four years. I just wanted to be sure that Iowa was the right fit and I now know that it is the right fit.”

The Williamsburg all-stater and two-time state heavyweight wrestling champion ended it this week during an unofficial visit to Iowa City. He asked offensive line coach Reese Morgan if he could visit an off-season running and lifting session Monday, the last before the Hawkeyes break for finals.

“I wasn't planning on committing, but later in the week I decided enough is enough,” Blythe said. “I think it's time I made the decision. It's one that was made a long time ago, I think. I just wanted to be sure I was making the right decision.”

The next decision was football and/or wrestling? Believed to be the first freshman finalist in the heavyweight division in state history, he'll go for his third straight Class 2A title next February. He also plans to go for the crown at the USA Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D., this summer. A national crown is very much the goal.

But Blythe will be all football at the Iowa.

“I might be able to be good or decent in both,” he said, “but I don't think I could be great in one if I did both.

“I chose football because I love everything that goes along with football. I love the preparation and everyone working toward a common goal. I'm not saying they don't do that in wrestling, but just working within the team, I love that part about football. I love everything else that comes along with football.”

The next question is what position?

As a defensive tackle last fall, he had 40 tackles, including 18 for loss. But he was a 2A all-state offensive lineman as a guard and could perhaps project to center.

“I think I'll be playing offense for the Hawkeyes, and they said either guard or center,” Blythe said. “Wherever they put me, I think it'd be a fit. I play guard now. I think I could be good at center because with wrestling, I'm good with my hands and feet. I think I'm going to start doing some reps this spring and summer at center, just in case it works out there.”

The last decision might be a major. Right now, Blythe, who carries a 3.6 GPA, is thinking engineering but has time to nail that down.

There's one decision that he's sure about.

“I'm feeling really good about it, and I think it'll stay that way,” Blythe said. “I won't go through this again. I took the time to make the right decision and (this) felt like the right time to tell them.”